A Tree and Its Fruit

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit will be good, or make the tree bad[a] and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.(A) 34 Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow(B) of the heart. 35 A good person produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil person produces evil things from his storeroom of evil.(C) 36 I tell you that on the day of judgment(D) people will have to account(E) for every careless[b] word they speak.[c] 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 12:33 Or decayed; lit rotten
  2. 12:36 Lit worthless
  3. 12:36 Lit will speak

Trees and fruits

33 “Either consider the tree good and its fruit good, or consider the tree rotten and its fruit rotten. A tree is known by its fruit. 34 Children of snakes! How can you speak good things while you are evil? What fills the heart comes out of the mouth. 35 Good people bring out good things from their good treasure. But evil people bring out evil things from their evil treasure. 36 I tell you that people will have to answer on Judgment Day for every useless word they speak. 37 By your words you will be either judged innocent or condemned as guilty.”

Read full chapter