Matthew 12:33-42

New American Standard Bible

Words Reveal Character

³³ “Either ^[a]assume the tree to be good as well as its fruit good, or ^[b]assume the tree to be bad as well as its fruit bad; for ^(A)the tree is known by its fruit. ^34 (B)You ^[c]offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, express any good things? ^(C)For the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart. ^35 (D)The good person brings out of his good treasure good things; and the evil person brings out of his evil treasure evil things. ³⁶ But I tell you that for every ^[d]careless word that people ^[e]speak, they will give an account of it on the ^(E)day of judgment. ³⁷ For ^[f]by your words you will be justified, and ^[g]by your words you will be condemned.”

The Desire for Signs

³⁸ Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, ^(F)we want to see a ^[h]sign from You.” ³⁹ But He answered and said to them, “^(G)An evil and adulterous generation craves a ^[i]sign; and so no ^[j]sign will be given to it except the ^[k]sign of Jonah the prophet; ⁴⁰ for just as ^(H)Jonah was in the stomach of the sea monster for three days and three nights, so will ^(I)the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for ^(J)three days and three nights. ^41 (K)The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because ^(L)they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something ^(M)greater than Jonah is here. ^42 (N)The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something ^(O)greater than Solomon is here.