“33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.
34 “You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.
35 “The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.
36 “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.”
37 “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:33-37.
The scribes and Pharisees talked so sweetly. Their language was so polite, well-mannered, even charming. Yet, Jesus admonished them: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. “You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.” Matthew 23:25-27.
Before we get too critical on the scribes and Pharisees, we must consider that this condition was our condition too. As natural men, before God began the work in us of the regeneration and sanctification of our inner condition, we were “totally depraved” too. This total depravity is as rotten, even dead, as any content of a tomb.
“And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.” James 3:6. Who can tame the tongue?
We look to wisdom from above to tame the tongue. “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.” James 3:17. How can we get this wisdom from above? “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.” 1 Corinthians 1:30-31. (Emphasis added.). Out of this wisdom from above, good words will flow.
We look to Jesus who said: “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'” John 7:38 . Out of this living water, good words will flow.
We look to the Spirit to bear fruit within us of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” Galatians 5:22-23. Out of this good fruit, good words will flow.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 