Matthew 12:35

The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses the Pharisees immediately after condemning their hypocritical speech in Matthew 12:34. He explains their verbal output right before warning of future accountability in Matthew 12:36.

The words — ἀγαθὸς (agathos) means good, and θησαυροῦ (thēsaurou) means treasure. The text states that a good man draws good things from a good treasure, while an evil man draws evil things from an evil treasure.

The thread — The link between internal moral quality and external speech runs through Proverbs 15:28 and Proverbs 15:4. Colossians 4:6 similarly instructs believers to regulate their speech, though it does not mention the heart.

Why it lands — The verse requires readers to examine the moral quality of their own inner store before judging their speech. It demands deliberate cultivation of a good treasure to produce good output.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Proverbs 15:4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
Proverbs 10:20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth.
Proverbs 16:21 The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
Psalms 37:30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.