Good Trees and Good Fruit or Bad Trees and Bad Fruit

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit is good, or make the tree bad and its fruit is bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 Offspring of vipers! How are you able to say good things when you[a] are evil? For from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person from his[b] good treasury brings out good things, and the evil person from his[c] evil treasury brings out evil things. 36 But I tell you that every worthless word that they speak, people will give an account for it on the day of judgment! 37 For by your words you will be vindicated, and by your words you will be condemned.”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 12:34 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“are”) which is understood as temporal
  2. Matthew 12:35 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  3. Matthew 12:35 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun

33 “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, 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 things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. 36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. 37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”

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