Matthew12:34

Translation

You offspring

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of venomous serpents! How are you, being evil, able to speak anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

Paraphrase

You Pharisees are miniature Satans! Are you capable of saying anything true and right? No, you are not because your spiritual condition is evil. Your own words against the activity of the Spirit of God are the evidence that proves your spiritual condition is evil.

Footnotes

1

The word used here means “produce” when speaking of plants, and “offspring” when talking about people or animals. Here it is “offspring” because he is talking about the Pharisees and equating them to snakes.

THE EMPHASIS IS ON CURRENT CONDITION

The fruit is the evidence that proves the condition of the tree. The tree bears fruit that corresponds with its degree of health. It can be caused to be good by the presence of such things as minerals, water, light, and the absence of malignant bugs, chemicals, and other contaminants. This means that the condition of a tree can be changed from good to bad or from bad to good.

Punishment or reward will be given according to spiritual condition, but one’s spiritual condition can be changed. Hebrews 3:13 says, “But encourage each other every day while it is called ‘today’ so that none of you might become hard and stubborn due to sin’s deceitfulness.” The idea being conveyed by “today” is that we still have opportunity to repent and change our spiritual condition.

UNTIL THAT FINAL MOMENT ARRIVES THERE IS OPPORTUNITY TO REPENT

The message of the New Testament is that the blood of Jesus is enough to cover all sins and that we are still, as of this moment, living in the time called “today” in which we have the opportunity to repent. We do not know what the next second or even millisecond will hold, but up till this moment right now, we are extended one more opportunity to repent and change our spiritual condition.

CONCLUSION

Based on the points made above, I am convinced that this passage and its sister passages, indicate that as long as one is headed in a certain direction there is no forgiveness for him. However, if he changes direction, forgiveness is offered. Jesus said this because the Pharisees and other religious leaders were attributing His miracles to other spiritual powers rather than to the Spirit of God. They were headed in the wrong direction which is dangerous.