Matthew 12:33-37
No one makes better excuses for you than you do.
1. Jesus uses the root/fruit metaphor so commonly because his ministry highlights the heart.
2. When we deal plainly, all of us find evil in our hearts.
In our culture today, people no longer even consider you incorrect when you supply that biblical answer; they consider you impolite.
3. Your heart, bitten by sin, produces evidence against itself.
Titus 3:3-5
4. Your mouth reveals your heart.
Jesus here uses the words of the mouth as the perfect general picture of your entire spiritual health.
careless:
Are words just tools that have nothing to do with truth?
Only once we see the precious value of plain-dealing can we see the seed of salvation that Jesus has planted in our condemnation.
5. Faith is a new fruit.
To be justified by words mean you were not justified by works.
6. Your words connect you to God’s words.
The gospel just is the news that God declares the ungodly righteous.
