Matthew 12 35

Matthew 12:35 kjv

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Matthew 12:35 nkjv

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

Matthew 12:35 niv

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

Matthew 12:35 esv

The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.

Matthew 12:35 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.

Matthew 12 verses

Matthew 12 35 Meaning

The verse fundamentally declares that a person's outward words and actions are not accidental but are inevitable manifestations of their inner character. It portrays the human heart as a "treasure house" or reservoir: what is accumulated within — whether good or evil moral qualities — will naturally and inevitably flow out. A morally good individual, possessing an inner store of virtue and righteousness, will produce good words and deeds, while a wicked person, harboring a heart full of malice and depravity, will produce harmful and evil expressions. It establishes a direct, undeniable link between one's hidden disposition and one's overt conduct.

Matthew 12 35 Context

Matthew chapter 12 details a series of escalating confrontations between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders, particularly the Pharisees. It begins with disputes over Sabbath observance (Mt 12:1-14) and healing on the Sabbath (Mt 12:9-14), culminating in the Pharisees' decision to destroy Jesus (Mt 12:14). This hostility intensifies after Jesus heals a demon-possessed, blind, and mute man (Mt 12:22-23), prompting the crowd to wonder if He is the Son of David.

The immediate context for Matthew 12:35 is the Pharisees' blasphemous accusation that Jesus casts out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons (Mt 12:24). Jesus refutes this with several logical arguments (kingdom divided, strong man) and then pivots to a spiritual indictment of their character. He states in Matthew 12:33, "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit." This parable highlights the truth that one's true nature will be revealed by one's actions and words.

Directly preceding verse 35, Matthew 12:34 is a searing condemnation: "You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." Verse 35 then summarizes and expands on this principle, stating the general truth about what good or evil persons bring forth from their respective "treasures." The historical context highlights the Pharisees' rigid outward adherence to the law while harboring inner malice and spiritual blindness. Jesus is challenging their deep-seated hypocrisy, arguing that their very accusations and words betray their corrupt inner state, a direct polemic against a religiosity based solely on external performance rather than internal purity and submission to God's will.

Matthew 12 35 Word analysis

• The good person (ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος - ho agathos anthrōpos): "Agathos" (ἀγαθὸς) signifies inherent, moral goodness, benevolence, and uprightness. This person possesses an intrinsic goodness, often understood in a biblical sense as righteousness imputed or cultivated by divine grace. It refers to a character type, not just isolated good deeds.
• out of his good treasure (ἐκ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ αὐτοῦ θησαυροῦ - ek tou agathou autou thēsauroi):
  • Treasure (θησαυρός - thēsauros): While sometimes referring to literal stored wealth, in this context, it is profoundly metaphorical. It represents the accumulation or storehouse of one's inner being: character, motives, thoughts, desires, beliefs, values, and affections. It is the spiritual and moral inventory within the heart and mind.
  • Good treasure: This denotes an inner store of virtue, integrity, purity, truth, and love, aligning with divine principles and God's character. It implies a heart purified and devoted to God.
• brings forth (ἐκβάλλει - ekballei / conceptually: ἐκφέρει - ekpherei as in Luke 6:45, meaning "produces from within"): This verb signifies an outward production or manifestation from an inward source. It implies an inevitable, natural, and authentic emanation, not something forced or faked. What is stored within is actively drawn out or flows forth.
• good (ἀγαθά - agatha): This refers to morally good things, which include actions, words, and influences that are righteous, beneficial, and aligned with God's will. It is the fruit of the good treasure.
• and the evil person (καὶ ὁ πονηρὸς ἄνθρωπος - kai ho ponēros anthrōpos):
  • Evil (πονηρός - ponēros): Describes one characterized by wickedness, malice, harmfulness, and moral depravity. This isn't just lacking goodness, but actively injurious and corrupting. Jesus used this term earlier for the Pharisees as "a wicked (ponēros) and adulterous generation."
• out of his evil treasure (ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ αὐτοῦ θησαυροῦ - ek tou ponērou autou thēsauroi):
  • Evil treasure: An inner accumulation of sin, deceit, malice, pride, hostility, and destructive desires. This is the corrupt reservoir from which all harmful actions and words spring. It speaks to a heart that is not just empty of good, but filled with active evil.
• brings forth evil (ἐκφέρει πονηρά - ekpherei ponēra / similar sense to Matthew's, describing the outcome): Again, the natural and inevitable outflow.
• evil (πονηρά - ponēra): Refers to words, actions, or influences that are wicked, harmful, destructive, or morally corrupt. These are the negative fruits that expose the inner nature of the wicked person.

Words-group analysis:

• "The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good": This segment establishes a direct, undeniable chain of causality. The kind of person one is (good) is determined by their inner accumulation (good treasure), which inevitably results in specific outcomes (good). It speaks to authenticity; true goodness cannot be hidden but must manifest.
• "and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil": This phrase creates a stark parallelism, intensifying the prior statement's truth. It emphasizes that depravity likewise operates under the same principle. A person filled with inner malice and corruption will consistently produce words and actions that are destructive and contrary to righteousness. The phrase highlights the inescapability of the internal spiritual state defining the external reality. Both phrases together underscore a fundamental moral principle: like begets like; character is consistently revealed in conduct.

Matthew 12 35 Bonus section

• Divine Scrutiny: The concept of the "treasure" within the heart underscores that God is not merely concerned with external actions but perfectly discerns the deepest intentions and accumulated character (1 Sam 16:7). Human accountability extends to the inner landscape of the soul.
• New Covenant Implications: The challenge presented in this verse highlights the necessity of heart transformation, which the Old Covenant could not fully achieve but is promised and initiated through the New Covenant. God promises a new heart and a new spirit (Ezek 36:26-27), enabling the formation of a "good treasure" within believers, empowering them to produce spiritual fruit by grace.
• Spiritual Warfare: This passage forms part of Jesus' teaching on spiritual authority and kingdom principles. Just as one cannot serve two masters, a person cannot simultaneously possess both a good and evil treasure; one's allegiance will be unequivocally revealed by what they produce. This challenges spiritual neutrality.

Matthew 12 35 Commentary

Matthew 12:35 serves as a profound encapsulation of Jesus' teaching on the inseparable link between a person's inner moral state and their outward behavior. It goes beyond merely observing actions, instead revealing the source of those actions. The metaphor of the "treasure" effectively portrays the human heart not as a passive empty vessel but as an active repository where moral character is cultivated and stored over time. What we truly are on the inside—our values, motives, and disposition—will ultimately surface.

This verse functioned as a severe indictment of the Pharisees, whose outwardly pious demeanor belied a heart filled with spiritual arrogance and hostility toward Jesus. Their accusatory words ("He casts out demons by Beelzebul") were not merely errant speech but the natural outflow of their "evil treasure." Jesus emphasizes that genuine righteousness must originate from a purified inner being. For believers, this is a clarion call for constant introspection and for nurturing a "good treasure" by submitting to God's Word, embracing spiritual transformation, and allowing the Holy Spirit to cultivate virtues. It implies that true change is an inside-out process; superficial modifications of behavior are unsustainable if the heart's treasury remains corrupted. This principle holds immense practical weight, calling us to prioritize cultivating a virtuous heart, as it is the wellspring of all genuine and lasting good.