A Tree Known by Its Fruit^(A)

³³ “Either make the tree good and ^(B)its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. ^34 (C)Brood^[a] of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? ^(D)For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵ A good man out of the good treasure ^[b]of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. ³⁶ But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. ³⁷ For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit^(A)

^43 (B)“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. ⁴⁴ For ^(C)every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. ^45 (D)A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil ^[a]treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out ^(E)of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

The Untamable Tongue

3 My brethren, ^(A)let not many of you become teachers, ^(B)knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. ² For ^(C)we all stumble in many things. ^(D)If anyone does not stumble in word, ^(E)he is a ^[a]perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. ^3 [b]Indeed, ^(F)we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. ⁴ Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. ⁵ Even so ^(G)the tongue is a little member and ^(H)boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And ^(I)the tongue is a fire, a world of ^[c]iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it ^(J)defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of ^[d]nature; and it is set on fire by ^[e]hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, ^(K)full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made ^(L)in the ^[f]similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹² Can a ^(M)fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? ^[g]Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

⁶ Let your speech always be ^(A)with grace, ^(B)seasoned with salt, ^(C)that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Death Sentence on the Rebels

²⁶ And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, ^27 (A)“How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? ^(B)I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. ²⁸ Say to them, ^(C)‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you:

^29 (A)Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but ^(B)what is good for necessary ^[a]edification, ^(C)that it may impart grace to the hearers. ³⁰ And ^(D)do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

²² So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. ²³ For ^(A)assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. ²⁴ Therefore I say to you, ^(B)whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.