The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:25-37
Our Lord shows the monstrous character of their accusation, and urges the need of a complete change at heart. read more
Matthew 12:33-37
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:33
Either make ( ἢ ποιήσατε ) . Not "suppose" ( fac, pone ), still less "declare," but "make." The Lord is speaking in a parable. You would not, surely, make a tree in any other way; it would be against nature; how then imagine it can be so in your own persons? Matthew 7:18 and Luke 6:43 state as a fact that the reverse case does not take place in nature. The tree good, and his fruit good ( i.e. one if the other); or else make the tree corrupt ( Matthew 7:17 , note), ... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:33
The tree and its fruit. This illustration is applied by our Lord to the use of the tongue. Words are the fruits of the heart that prompts them. But they are the simplest and least considered forms of action, and they stand for the extreme representatives of a process that applies to all conduct. Let us consider the laws of life thus set forth in their widest range. I. CONDUCT IS THE FRUIT OF LIFE . 1 . It is not possible without life. Growth in the tree is only produced... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:33-35
Parallel passage: Luke 6:43-45 (cf. Matthew 7:16-18 , notes). read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:33-37
You wonder that I make so much of words; words are not trivialities, but are really the legitimate and normal fruit of the heart, and therefore by them each man will be judged. read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:33-37
The heart in the tongue. The subject of the Pharisees' blasphemy is continued in these verses. From them we learn— I. THAT THE LICENCE OF THE TONGUE IS A PREGNANT EVIL . 1 . It is fruitful in robbery. 2 . It is prolific in murder. 3 . It is emphatically diabolical. II. THAT THE CONQUEST OF THE TONGUE IS A WORTHY AMBITION . 1 . Words are the vehicles of thought. 2 . By words thought stirs worlds. 3 . What an engine... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:34
The first clause is in Matthew only. O generation (ye offspring , Revised Version) of vipers ( Matthew 3:7 , note). Observe that the figure of the tree had also been used by the Baptist ( Matthew 3:10 ). How can ye. It is against nature. Being evil ; i.e. inherently worthless ( Matthew 6:13 , note); cf. πονηροὶ ὄντες , Matthew 7:11 . Speak good things . For out of the abundance; i.e. even to overflowing. Of the heart the mouth speaketh. In Ephesians... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:34
The law of good speech. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." It is in our Lord's mind here to account for the bad speech of the Pharisees. It was the natural expression of bad minds, minds full of prejudice and malice. How could they, "being evil , speak good things"? But a great principle is involved in our Lord's appeal. I. WORDS MAY BE MERE WORDS . Our Lord calls them "idle words." Much that we say we have not really thought. We often speak first... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:35
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart ; out of his good treasure (Revised Version), of the heart being added in the Received Text from Luke 6:45 . Treasure ( Matthew 2:11 , note). "Vere thesaurus est in quovis heroine, et copia latens" (Bengel); of. also Matthew 13:52 . Bringeth forth good things: and an ( the , Revised Version) evil man out of the ( his , Revised Version) evil treasure bringeth forth evil things . Bringeth forth ( ἐκβάλλει ,... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-37
Casting out devils, and blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. The opposition of the Pharisees on this occasion much less excusable than when charging the Lord with sabbath-breaking. Contrasts with honest amazement of the people, exclaiming," Is not this," etc.? Pharisees felt evidence of miracle as much as common people, but refused to follow their own convictions. Make what they know to be a flimsy and insufficient explanation. Our Lord makes a threefold reply. 1 . It is absurd to suppose... read more