Good Fruit, Good Words
Words matter, so determining where words come from seems to matter as well, at least according to Jesus. The Pharisees were more than uncomfortable with the words of Jesus; they had become hostile to Jesus. They didn’t like what he suggested about the temple. They didn’t like that he healed a man on the Sabbath. And they didn’t like that people were listening to and beginning to follow Jesus.
But reading through Matthew 12 we find that Jesus didn’t yell or scream in protest to how he was treated. He withdrew from the hostility on some occasions, he quoted scriptures that were familiar, and he ultimately suffered so that all people would discover the mercies of God. Yes, he would bring justice, but ultimately making things right would come only through the cross and be completed when Jesus returns to renew and restore all things.
This isn’t the first time Jesus spoke of trees and their fruit. In this context he tied fruit to words and asked a relevant question, not just in this historical context but also in our current context: “How can you speak good, when you are evil?” Then Jesus continued with more clarity: “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.”
We would sometimes prefer to just focus on the words and not look at behavior, but Jesus made clear it is impossible to do that. Good trees produce good fruit and bad trees bad fruit, and as much as we twist and turn to make it otherwise, according to Jesus it isn’t possible. All of this leads us to a statement that is a bit frightening: we will give account for every careless word. Jesus followed that comment with this, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
So we are back where we began today: words matter. So, what about these careless words that bring judgment? I don’t think Jesus was thinking about whether we use good grammar or occasionally use a word that is not as good as another. I doubt the fishermen-turned-disciples had the vocabulary of a scholar or the grammar of a teacher of the common language of the day. But careless words might include words that are filled with gossip, exaggeration, anger, abuse, condescension, or retaliation.
It would be easy to apply this warning about the use of words to others and in some cases, it would certainly be justified. The challenge of scripture though must first and most importantly be applied to our self-evaluation. Do our words promote kindness, love, mercy, and truthfulness? Or do we sometimes give into the temptation so frequently modeled in the world of speaking harshly, exaggerating or misrepresenting truth, and filled with arrogance? If so, then repentance is our next step.
We can’t make our evaluation based on what most people or even most religious people say or do. Our evaluation must be as the Holy Spirit leads and should be based on what scripture teaches and Jesus modeled.
Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit and your word bring conviction to any area of our lives that are out of line with our identity in Christ. Forgive us for our careless words and guide us to be led by your Spirit as we live and speak life to others that flows from your presence in us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Matthew 12:33-37 ESV
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