A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

BY YOUR WORDS       

Matthew 12:33-37 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. . . A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. . .by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” 

Peach trees produce peaches. You pick apples from apple trees. Pears don’t grow on peach trees or apple trees; they only grow on pear trees. Then there are trees like the holly tree that produce fruit that you never want to eat because its red berries produce severe intestinal distress. “By the fruit the tree is known. . .” (Matthew 12:33) 

The context of today’s devotional verses is Jesus continuing His discussion regarding the words that come out of the Pharisees mouths. What they say, Jesus said, reveals who they are and what they believe. E.g., Their words are the fruit produced by their hearts. It is the heart from which proceeds either good or bad, that which is pleasing to God or is evil and wicked. (See Matthew 15:18) 

On the last day as you stand before Jesus your judge, verse 37 says, “. . . by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Your words reveal the true you. They tell people whether the love of God in Christ Jesus is in your heart or not. A Christian says Jesus is Lord. An unbeliever says Jesus be cursed.   

Here is a prayer for you to pray, “Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord. You are my rock and my redeemer.”  

Faith and truth and life bestowing, Open now the Scriptures, Lord,  
See to life eternal sowing, Scattered on the wind abroad.  
Let not hearts, Your Worde receiving, Like a barren field be found,  
Choked with thorns and unbelieving, Shallow earth or stony ground. 

May the Spirit’s pow’r unceasing Bring to life the hidden grain,  
Daily in our hearts increasing, Bearing fruit that shall remain.    
So in Scripture, song, and story, Savior, may Your voice be heard.    
Till our eyes behold Your glory Give us ears to hear Your Word.  

Faith and Truth and Life Bestowing // LSB 584