How does Matthew 12:35 challenge us to evaluate our words and actions? Text and Context Matthew 12:35: “The good man brings good things out of his good treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil treasure.” • Spoken by Jesus immediately after He says, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (v. 34). • He is addressing religious leaders who have just accused Him of working by Satan’s power. • The verse is a picture: our hearts are storehouses; whatever we stockpile inside inevitably spills out. Why Words Reveal Our Hearts • Luke 6:45 echoes, “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” • Proverbs 4:23: “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.” • Our speech is a spiritual diagnostic tool—accurate and unfiltered. • Actions follow the same path: thoughts → desires → choices → behavior (James 1:14-15). Inviting Self-Examination Matthew 12:35 challenges us to run an honest inventory: • What do our everyday conversations sound like—complaints or gratitude (Philippians 2:14)? • Do our social-media posts encourage or inflame (Ephesians 4:29)? • Are our reactions marked by gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23), or by anger and sarcasm (James 1:20)? If the contents are wrong, the verse will not let us blame circumstances; the problem lies in the treasure we have been storing. Cultivating Good Treasure • Fill the heart with Scripture (Psalm 119:11; Colossians 3:16). • Meditate on Christ’s character and finished work (Hebrews 12:2-3). • Pray for the Spirit’s daily filling so that new desires replace old ones (Ezekiel 36:26-27). • Practice intentional speech habits—blessing, truth-telling, encouragement. Repetition builds new stores of goodness. Living It Out Today • Start the day by renewing your mind in the Word; what goes in sets the day’s tone. • Before speaking, pause and ask, “Is this coming from the good treasure or the old junk?” • When a wrong word slips, repent quickly—confession empties the trash before it festers (1 John 1:9). • Celebrate progress: every gracious response, every word of life, is evidence that Christ is filling the storehouse with Himself. |
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