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Jesus was being attacked by the Pharisees, who said that when He cast out demons it just went to show that He derived his power from Satan. Bad words like that, Jesus responded, came from bad hearts. It's clear that Christ wasn't telling his disciples to steer clear of any talk that some might find offensive. After all, in this heated exchange, He called his opponents a "brood of snakes." So what was He saying?

Matthew 12:33-37

1. What fruit was Jesus talking about in this encounter with the religious leaders (v. 35)?
2. What, then, is the tree?
3. Can you recall a time when someone's unguarded words tipped you off as to his true character?
4. In his "Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew 7:16-18), Jesus gave examples of the principle stated here (v. 33): A thornbush can't bear grapes, and a thistle can't bear figs. What does this tell you about superficial efforts to "clean up" your language?
5. So how can your language be cleansed at it source?

Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with new attitudes and motives so that your speech will be cleansed at the source.

33 A tree is identified by its fruit. Make a tree good, and its fruit will be good. Make a tree bad, and its fruit will be bad. 34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words from an evil heart.

36 And I tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak. 37 The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned."

Copyright © 2005 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Take control of what I say, O Lord, and keep my lips sealed. —Psalm 141:3

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