Luke 6 45

Luke 6:45 kjv

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Luke 6:45 nkjv

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Luke 6:45 niv

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Luke 6:45 esv

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Luke 6:45 nlt

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. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

Luke 6 45 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Prov 4:23Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.Guarding the heart is crucial for life.
Matt 12:34...for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.Directly echoes the latter part of the verse.
Matt 12:35The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good...Parallel verse to Luke 6:45.
Mark 7:20-23What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts...Evil actions originate in the heart.
Jer 17:9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick...Natural state of the human heart is corrupt.
Ps 19:14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable...Connects speech and inner thoughts.
Phil 4:8...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just... think about these things.Importance of filling the mind/heart with good.
Matt 7:17-18Every healthy tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.Actions reveal true nature (tree by its fruit).
Jas 3:10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.Inconsistency in speech shows internal conflict.
Eph 4:29Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up...Emphasis on edifying speech.
Rom 10:9-10...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart...Belief in heart, confession with mouth.
Isa 32:6For the fool speaks folly, and his heart is busy with iniquity...Foolish words come from a wicked heart.
Titus 2:7-8Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works... and your speech...Deeds and speech demonstrate good character.
1 Pet 3:10For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil...Control of tongue for a blessed life.
Prov 10:20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.Contrasting righteous and wicked speech.
Ps 37:30-31The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice... The law of his God is in his heart...Righteous speech from an obedient heart.
Heb 4:12For the word of God is living and active... discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.God's word discerns inner motives.
2 Cor 3:3...written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.Transformed heart through the Spirit.
Gal 5:22-23But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience...Spirit produces good fruit (character).
Rom 13:14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.Putting on Christ transforms desires of heart.
Luke 10:38-42Martha was distracted with much serving, while Mary sat at Jesus' feet...Prioritizing nourishment for the inner person.
1 Sam 16:7...For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.God judges the heart, not just actions.

Luke 6 verses

Luke 6 45 Meaning

Luke 6:45 reveals that a person's words and actions are a direct manifestation of their inner character. It teaches that the heart, understood as the core of one's being (intellect, will, emotion, moral nature), acts as a "treasure" or reservoir. What is stored within this spiritual and moral center—be it good or evil—will inevitably surface through one's deeds and, especially, their speech. The verse underscores the principle that what is produced externally is a true reflection of the internal state, emphasizing the crucial importance of a transformed heart.

Luke 6 45 Context

Luke 6:45 is found within Jesus' broader teaching known as the Sermon on the Plain, a significant discourse that outlines the principles of kingdom living. This verse specifically concludes a section that begins with the parable of the tree and its fruit (Luke 6:43-44). Jesus emphasizes that just as a tree is known by its fruit, so too are people known by their actions and words. The preceding verses include teachings on judgment (Luke 6:37-42) and the warning against hypocrisy, especially concerning the speck and log in the eye. Historically, this teaching contrasted sharply with contemporary religious views that often prioritized outward adherence to the law and ritual purity over internal transformation and genuine moral character. Jesus consistently challenges superficial righteousness, redirecting attention to the state of the heart as the true source of either good or evil deeds and speech.

Luke 6 45 Word analysis

  • The good person (ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος, ho agathos anthrōpos): "Good" (agathos) signifies inherent moral goodness, uprightness, and beneficence. It points to one whose nature and disposition are fundamentally virtuous, resulting in beneficial actions.
  • out of the good treasure (ἐκ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ θησαυροῦ, ek tou agathou thēsauros):
    • "Out of" (ek): Denotes origin, source, or cause. What follows is the wellspring.
    • "Treasure" (thēsauros): Refers to a stored deposit, a reservoir, or a repository of something valuable. Here, it is an internal reserve within the heart, accumulating moral and spiritual substance.
  • of his heart (τῆς καρδίας αὐτοῦ, tēs kardias autou):
    • "Heart" (kardia): In biblical thought, the heart is not merely the seat of emotions, but the deepest core of the person, encompassing the intellect, will, reason, conscience, and moral decision-making. It is the spiritual epicenter of one's being from which all life flows.
  • produces good (προφέρει ἀγαθόν, propherei agathon):
    • "Produces/brings forth" (propherō): To bring forward, to manifest, to bear. It signifies that what is stored inside inevitably comes out and is displayed.
    • "Good" (agathon): Good things, actions, or words that are beneficial, morally excellent, and aligned with divine will.
  • and the evil person (καὶ ὁ πονηρὸς, kai ho ponēros):
    • "Evil" (ponēros): Indicates wickedness, malice, harmfulness, or corruption. It describes one whose nature is morally degenerate.
  • out of his evil treasure (ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ, ek tou ponērou thesauros - implied from earlier "treasure"): What is stored inside is corrupt, mischievous, and destructive.
  • produces evil (προφέρει πονηρόν, propherei ponēron): Displays actions, attitudes, or words that are harmful, immoral, or destructive, flowing from a wicked inner source.
  • for out of the abundance (ἐκ γὰρ περισσεύματος, ek gar perisseumatatos):
    • "For" (gar): Introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding statement.
    • "Abundance" (perisseuma): What is overflowing, surplus, superabundance. It implies a fullness or saturation.
  • of the heart his mouth speaks (τῆς καρδίας αὐτοῦ τὸ στόμα λαλεῖ, tēs kardias autou to stoma lalei):
    • "Mouth" (stoma): The primary organ of speech.
    • "Speaks" (laleō): To talk, utter sounds. Speech is highlighted as the clearest, most immediate outflow of the heart's contents, being spontaneous and revealing.

Words-group analysis

  • The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good: This phrase establishes the principle of internal integrity yielding external fruit. It means that genuinely virtuous individuals act virtuously because their inner being is full of goodness, which is then manifested. Their good deeds are not forced or feigned but are natural expressions of who they are from the core.
  • and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil: This contrasts sharply, showing the inverse. A person filled with wickedness in their heart will naturally express that evil through their actions. Their harmful behavior is not accidental but an outward sign of an inner reservoir of corruption. This highlights that external acts of evil are deeply rooted in internal moral depravity.
  • for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks: This clause acts as an explanation and amplification of the preceding two statements. It specifies speech as a particularly telling indicator of the heart's true state. What a person frequently and spontaneously speaks about, the nature of their gossip, blessings, curses, truths, or lies—all these reveal what genuinely fills and overflows from their deepest being. Speech is portrayed as the direct and unavoidable outflow of the heart's "abundance," meaning its prevailing preoccupations and character. This implies that true transformation must occur within the heart before speech can consistently reflect goodness.

Luke 6 45 Bonus section

This verse implies a diagnostic quality to our speech and actions. Just as symptoms reveal an underlying illness, our words reveal the true spiritual and moral condition of our heart. It serves as a consistent self-assessment tool; if our words are consistently critical, negative, or defiling, it signals a deeper issue in our heart that requires attention and change, ultimately through spiritual transformation. The verse underscores that intellectual assent to belief without a corresponding transformation of the heart is insufficient, as it will not yield true good fruit or pure speech.

Luke 6 45 Commentary

Luke 6:45 provides a foundational principle of human behavior: external expressions, particularly speech, are accurate indicators of internal character. Jesus uses the metaphor of "treasure" to convey that the heart functions as a reservoir or storehouse. Whatever is abundantly accumulated within this innermost part of a person's being—whether good, noble, and virtuous, or evil, corrupt, and malicious—will inevitably spill out. Actions and words are not merely superficial acts but authentic revelations of one's spiritual and moral state. This teaching profoundly challenges hypocrisy, emphasizing that true righteousness must originate from an inwardly transformed heart, not merely outward conformity. One cannot genuinely produce good if the internal wellspring is poisoned with evil. Thus, the verse calls for a radical heart transformation rather than just behavior modification.