Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Matthew 12:34

Matthew 12:34

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

a. NLT: 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.

b. NIV: You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

c. Amplified Bible: You offspring of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil (wicked)? For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks.

d. A.S. Worrell Translation: “Broods of vipers! How can ye speak good things, being yourselves evil? For, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”

1. “O generation of vipers…”

a. generation [1081 * gennema] [Strong: offspring; by analogy, produce (literally or figuratively):--fruit, generation.]

b. vipers [2191 * echidna] [Strong: of uncertain origin; an adder or other poisonous snake (literally or figuratively):--viper.]

1). Jesus was speaking to the same group that was accusing him of being in league with Beelzebub, so he was speaking the truth about these people.

a). Matthew 12:22-24 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
12:23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

2). John the Baptist used the same language probably speaking to some of the same individuals.

a). Matthew 3:4-7 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
3:5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

2. “…how can ye, being evil, speak good things?...”

a. can ye [1410 * dunamai] [Strong: of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible:--be able, can (do, + -not), could, may, might, be possible, be of power.]

b. being [5607 * on] [Strong: being:--be, come, have.]

c. evil [4190 * poneros] [Strong: hurtful, i.e. evil (properly, in effect or influence, and thus differing from 2556, which refers rather to essential character, as well as from 4550, which indicates degeneracy from original virtue); figuratively, calamitous; also (passively) ill, i.e. diseased; but especially (morally) culpable, i.e. derelict, vicious, facinorous; neuter (singular) mischief, malice, or (plural) guilt; masculine (singular) the devil, or (plural) sinners:--bad, evil, grievous, harm, lewd, malicious, wicked(-ness).]

d. speak [2980 * laleo] [Strong: a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. utter words:--preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter.]

e. good things [18 * agathos] [Strong: a primary word; "good" (in any sense, often as noun):--benefit, good(-s, things), well.]

3. “…for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

a. abundance [4051 * perisseuma] [Strong: a surplus, or superabundance:--abundance, that was left, over and above.]

b. heart [2588 * kardia] [Strong: prolonged from a primary kar (Latin cor, "heart"); the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle:--(+ broken-)heart(-ed).]

c. mouth [4750 * stoma] [Strong: the mouth (as if a gash in the face); by implication, language (and its relations); figuratively, an opening (in the earth); specially, the front or edge (of a weapon):--edge, face, mouth.]

d. speaks [2980 * laleo] [Strong: a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. utter words:--preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter.]

e. Whatever is in abundance in a person’s heart will come out their mouth. This is why it is critical what we allow into our heart. Israel was commanded to keep the Scripture in their heart and meditate it always.

1). Deuteronomy 6:4-7 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:
6:5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

2). Joshua 1:8   This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

a). As we shall see in the next verse, what is in the heart is what will come out of the mouth.

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