Good Tree Bad Tree

Either make the tree good and his fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt and his fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by his fruit.  O generations of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things?  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.  Matthew 12: 33-35


Christ speaks here concerning other wicked words, the products of corruption reigning in the heart, and breaking out thence.  It was said (v. 28) that Jesus knew their thoughts, and here He spoke with an eye to them, showing that it was not strange that they should speak so ill, when their hearts were so full of enmity and malice, which yet they often endeavored to cloak and cover by feigning themselves just men.

Our Lord Jesus therefore points to the springs and heals them; let the heart be sanctified and it will appear in our words:

The heart is the root, the language is the fruit; if the nature of the tree be good, it will bring forth fruit accordingly.  Where Grace is the reigning principle of the heart, the language will be the language of Canaan.  And, on the contrary, whatever lust reigns in the heart it will break out.  Diseased lungs make an offensive breath.  Men's language discovers what country they are of, so likewise, what manner of spirit they are of.

Either make the tree good, and then the fruit will be good; get pure hearts and then you will have pure lips and pure lives.  Or else, the tree will be corrupt, and the fruit accordingly.  Unless the heart be transformed, the life will never be thoroughly reformed.  It should be more our care to be good--really; than to seem good outwardly.  (Matthew Henry)

The Pharisees were trying to trick Christ; but Christ already knew their hearts.  I used to judge the Pharisees harshly until I realized that unless I have Christ's Grace; my heart would be like theirs.  And, some days my heart is like theirs was--showing religion on the outside.  I have discovered my ears have been become sensitive to what comes out of my mouth when I put God's Word in my heart.  Not always a pleasant sound at times--but it is a good gauge to where you are in Christ.

I had a good spring break--went to SC for a few days.  I've been deep cleaning bedrooms this week; which to me is relaxing.  It has felt good to go through everything, get rid of things, and just scrub, scrub, scrub--a dub a dub (sorry).  Wish I had another week off, but in a month school will be over for this year.  It always goes by so fast.  I'm still working on trying to get accepted to West Georgia for the media program.  Problems with CSU sending them my test scores; so door open or door closed?  Time will tell.

I signed up for a knitting class next week.  Something about the needles intrigued me; so we will see....