Matthew 12

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:31-32

Parallel passages: Mark 3:28-30 and Luke 12:10 (where the context is not the same, he having passed straight from our Luke 12:30 to our Luke 12:43 , vide infra ) . It is to be observed that all three accounts differ a good deal in form, though but slightly in substance. The Apostolical Constitutions contain what is probably a mixture of these verses with 2 Peter 2:1 and other passages of the New Testament. Resch, in accordance with his theory, thinks that the Constitutions have... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:32

Our Lord applies the general principle of Matthew 12:31 to "blasphemy" against himself. This might be, comparatively speaking, innocuous if it was merely defamation or detraction of him as man; but if, on the other hand, it referred to his work in such a way as to mean a real detraction of God's actions considered as Divine, it indicated a state of feeling which did not admit of forgiveness ( vide supra ) . If it be asked whether the individual Pharisees referred to in Matthew 12:24-28 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:33

Either make ( ἢ ποιήσατε ) . Not "suppose" ( fac, pone ), still less "declare," but "make." The Lord is speaking in a parable. You would not, surely, make a tree in any other way; it would be against nature; how then imagine it can be so in your own persons? Matthew 7:18 and Luke 6:43 state as a fact that the reverse case does not take place in nature. The tree good, and his fruit good ( i.e. one if the other); or else make the tree corrupt ( Matthew 7:17 , note), ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:33

The tree and its fruit. This illustration is applied by our Lord to the use of the tongue. Words are the fruits of the heart that prompts them. But they are the simplest and least considered forms of action, and they stand for the extreme representatives of a process that applies to all conduct. Let us consider the laws of life thus set forth in their widest range. I. CONDUCT IS THE FRUIT OF LIFE . 1 . It is not possible without life. Growth in the tree is only produced... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:33-35

Parallel passage: Luke 6:43-45 (cf. Matthew 7:16-18 , notes). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:33-37

You wonder that I make so much of words; words are not trivialities, but are really the legitimate and normal fruit of the heart, and therefore by them each man will be judged. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:33-37

The heart in the tongue. The subject of the Pharisees' blasphemy is continued in these verses. From them we learn— I. THAT THE LICENCE OF THE TONGUE IS A PREGNANT EVIL . 1 . It is fruitful in robbery. 2 . It is prolific in murder. 3 . It is emphatically diabolical. II. THAT THE CONQUEST OF THE TONGUE IS A WORTHY AMBITION . 1 . Words are the vehicles of thought. 2 . By words thought stirs worlds. 3 . What an engine... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:34

The first clause is in Matthew only. O generation (ye offspring , Revised Version) of vipers ( Matthew 3:7 , note). Observe that the figure of the tree had also been used by the Baptist ( Matthew 3:10 ). How can ye. It is against nature. Being evil ; i.e. inherently worthless ( Matthew 6:13 , note); cf. πονηροὶ ὄντες , Matthew 7:11 . Speak good things . For out of the abundance; i.e. even to overflowing. Of the heart the mouth speaketh. In Ephesians... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:34

The law of good speech. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." It is in our Lord's mind here to account for the bad speech of the Pharisees. It was the natural expression of bad minds, minds full of prejudice and malice. How could they, "being evil , speak good things"? But a great principle is involved in our Lord's appeal. I. WORDS MAY BE MERE WORDS . Our Lord calls them "idle words." Much that we say we have not really thought. We often speak first... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:35

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart ; out of his good treasure (Revised Version), of the heart being added in the Received Text from Luke 6:45 . Treasure ( Matthew 2:11 , note). "Vere thesaurus est in quovis heroine, et copia latens" (Bengel); of. also Matthew 13:52 . Bringeth forth good things: and an ( the , Revised Version) evil man out of the ( his , Revised Version) evil treasure bringeth forth evil things . Bringeth forth ( ἐκβάλλει ,... read more

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