What Jesus Did! 'Good Fruit' — Matthew 12:33-35

Saturday, June 14, 2025

[Jesus continued his reply to the Pharisees:] "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. 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. 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."
— Matthew 12:33-35 NLT

Key Thought

Blasphemy is what you would expect from Jesus' opponents, because their hearts are evil. They have demonstrated this again and again by their actions. But what about us? Is there a cynical, fault-finding heart that is always skeptically looking to cut down those who do good things? Is there an arrogant, hypocritical heart that allows us to look for the faults in others but not deal with our own? Is there an undiscerning, rebellious heart that allows us to see no need for standards or morals? We must remember that our mouths speak of what is in our hearts. Our deeds display the values of our hearts. We must guard our hearts and seek after truth, and in particular, seek after Jesus.

Today's Prayer

Purify my heart, O God, so that I may faithfully and honorably serve you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

4 Related Resources by Heartlight

Worthless Religion?
Article by Tammy Marcelain
What can empty our faith of its value? Tammy Marcelain shares insight on who we welcome and how we welcome them into our midst, and also reflects on what we do to push them away and hurt them with our words and actions.
Biting our Tongue?
Article by Lou Seckler
Can you keep it in check? We must watch our language for others and for God.
Hurts of the Heart
Article by Max Lucado
Is your storehouse of anger doing you any good? Are you happier? Better? More fun to be with? Max Lucado helps us deal with the hurts of the heart that lead to bitterness, anger, and depression, as we are provoked and frustrated into sullen and negative states of spirit and emotion and mind.
Are You Nice?
Article by Mike Barres
So is it really important that we are nice and courteous? Being nice is important if we are going to influence others.

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 12:33-35 NLT — "A tree is identified by its fruit."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Saturday, June 14, 2025

God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'His Power Within Us!' (Ep. 3:20-21)
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and....."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Joshua 5:12
"Israel's weary wanderings were all over, and the promised rest was attained. No more moving tents, fiery serpents, fierce Amalekites, and howling..."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'God Watches Over the Godly' (Ps. 1:6)
"For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'Jesus at Work Through His People' (Acts 1:1-2)
"In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen...."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!