Matthew 12:33-35 KJV
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 generation 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.
The fruit in
this context has to do with the spoken word. The word, having proceeded from
the heart is good from a good man and evil from an evil man. The evil man may
say good words, but because it proceeds from an evil heart, it is, in the end,
evil. A good man, whose heart is good, will not often say evil things, but when
he does, will quickly repent and make right. Sugar doesn't make poison better
but salt does enhance the flavor of the sweet.
Now, a man cannot
make a tree into what it isn't. A sour apple tree will always produce a sour
apple. Neither can a man make an evil heart good. This is a work that can only
be done by God.
- Religion
- Hard work
- Reformation
Can only trim a
tree or make a man look well on the outside. God must be at work for the tree
to change and for the heart of a man to be made new. Therefore this
passage is not an encouragement to work at reformation but one that urges men
to seek God.
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