Matthew 12:33-37
“Notice what you notice.” Matthew again on good and bad trees and their fruit… It’s intriguing that Matthew has this item in chapter 12 when he had already covered it in chapter 7 in the Sermon on the Mount. I can’t recall any other items like this (similes, metaphors, analogies, parables) that are repeated by any of the Gospel writers. That lends credence to the notion that Jesus spoke the same words to different crowds on a number of occasions.
Again, Jesus has been confronted by the Pharisees, the “brood of vipers”. But this time Jesus confronts them directly, bluntly: How can you speak good, when you are evil?(v. 34) I’m surprised that the Pharisees’ response is so restrained: Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you (v. 38). Rather, I’d think He might be headed for the cliff again!!
I’m intrigued by the “careless word” comment: …on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak (v. 36). I went to some commentaries to see what they had to say. Mostly they said that our “careless words” reflect our character: “the random utterances which, as being more spontaneous, betray character more than deliberate speech” (Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers). So, be careful about your idle chatter.
Not much pops up for me today…
Slava Bohu!
I was struck by verse 37 of having our words justify or condemn us, in my translation., vs. having justification by faith. This led me to two thoughts. One is faith in action v. faith by words alone, possibly faith lite. The other is that we will all be held accountable on judgement day, but for those who repent and put their faith in Christ, we are no longer condemned. Confusing or part of the mystery of Christ.
I’m guessing that the word “condemn” is not suggesting eternal condemnation, just a black mark on one’s overall record. But whaddo I know…??!!