Matthew 12:30-37 MKJV The one who is not with Me is against Me, and the one who does not gather with Me scatters. (31) Therefore I say to you, All kinds of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men, but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven to men. (32) And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this world or in the world to come. (33) Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit. (34) Offspring of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (35) A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings out good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings out evil things. (36) But I say to you that every idle word, whatever men may speak, they shall give account of it in the day of judgment. (37) For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.
Jesus began studying the scriptures at a very young age. His secret to understanding the deep hidden meaning of the scriptures was His total reliance on the Holy Spirit, and His understanding of the heart of the Word.
Jesus knew every one of God’s written Words was a reflection of His character, a reflection of His love and concern for humanity. If only the world knew the time, effort, and planning invested in God’s plan to redeem this fallen planet. So much is said and written about Jesus’ physical sacrifice, which was necessary for the payment of sin, but few can see, or experience the spiritual messages of salvation meant to teach and encourage God’s people.
Jesus knew the precise plan He had made with His Father long before He came to this world. Each detail was carefully recorded in the scriptures for Jesus to read, understand, and teach. Before Jesus began His ministry He was certain of the plan, and the effect it would have on this world. Early in His ministry Jesus warned, “The one who is not with Me is against Me, and the one who does not gather with Me scatters.” Jesus knew how to gather, and how man made doctrines had scattered people and their beliefs. “My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have caused them to go astray; they have turned them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place.” (Jeremiah 50:6 MKJV)
Jesus knew how the Holy Spirit revealed the true meaning of the scriptures. He dedicated His life to learning the heart of God’s word. “Therefore I say to you, All kinds of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men, but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven to men.” Watching from Heaven, Jesus had seen how traditions and doctrines had taken the place of God’s pure and Holy Word. “So says Jehovah, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one says, Do not destroy it, for a blessing is in it; so I will do to My servants, that I may not destroy them all.” (Isaiah 65:8 MKJV)
Jesus did not come to destroy the established Jewish religion, but to show them the errors of their ways. To turn them once again to the heart and understanding of God. The only way to do this was to put away their traditions and doctrines, and study God’s pure Word. Jesus knew the task would not be easy. He knew there would be opposition along the way. “And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this world or in the world to come.”
Jesus could see the consistency of God’s Word. Each symbol was used in a specific manner and form. Because God wrote the scriptures, there could be no mistake or contradiction. Because of this Jesus knew everything He said must be perfectly consistent with the existing scriptures. All the symbols must be in perfect order, and everything must agree with what was written before. Not only must scripture be consistent, it had to be written in a plain and simple form in which everyone could read and understand. “Then those fearing Jehovah spoke together, each man to his neighbor. And Jehovah listened and heard. And a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who feared Jehovah, and for those esteeming His name. And they shall be Mine, says Jehovah of Hosts, for the day that I will make up My treasure. And I will pity them as a man has pity on his son who serves him. Then you shall again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God, and him who does not serve Him.” (Malachi 3:16-18 MKJV)
God used simple, everyday symbols to explain each message. Jesus learned this system and used it in all His parables. Each parable spoken by Jesus was perfectly consistent, and explained by existing scripture.
The use of symbols was used and explained early in God’s Word. “And the earth was without form and empty. And darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2 MKJV). God used water as a symbol of His Spirit and the fact it covered the earth, all of it. Even in darkness the Spirit of God reached every corner of this world.
Later God used the symbol of a burning bush to represent Himself. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. (Exodus 3:2 KJV). The use of simple symbols continued and expanded as God influenced Moses, and His other prophets to use and record God’s symbols and their meaning. David explained how God used a tree to represent a man. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” (Psalms 1:1-3 KJV).
Jesus’ knowledge and understanding of the scriptures through the guidance of the Holy Spirit allowed Him to use these symbols in the parables He used to teach. “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit.” Jesus knew the connection between physical fruit, the portion of the tree which brings food, nourishes, and contains seed for future generations, and the human heart. “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” (Jeremiah 17:10, Proverbs 18:20, Proverbs 11:30 KJV).
As Jesus’ parable explained, there are good trees associated with good fruit, and corrupt trees which of course produce corrupt fruit. To further explain the serious nature of following a corrupt path, Jesus added the symbol of a viper. “Offspring of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Jesus chose a viper as a symbol for a reason. The word viper is found in scriptures only a few times. Jesus wanted His audience to understand His parables, so He made it as simple as possible to unlock the spiritual meaning. In this case, the word viper should have lead them to Isaiah.
Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. They hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. (Isaiah 59:1-5 KJV)
Whenever Jesus refers to scripture, it explains His message in far greater detail. This was Jesus’ plan, to turn the hearts of the people back to the Father, back to His Word. This is also the intent of all of Jesus’ parables. Not only does Isaiah provide the spiritual meaning of a viper, he also explains how people became separated from God.
Throughout His parables Jesus gave His audience a choice. The choice is between good and evil, right and wrong, God and Satan. Jesus provided common examples designed to be easily understood and followed. “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings out good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings out evil things.”
As with most of His parables, Jesus also provided a set of inevitable consequences. Jesus wanted people to understand, one day everyone will be judged, and the results will be permanent. “But I say to you that every idle word, whatever men may speak, they shall give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.”
Jesus wanted those listening and reading to carefully consider the instructions and consequences. What was the result for the priests, scribes, and Pharisees relying on their own knowledge to interpret Jesus’ parables? Did their understanding explain the real meaning of this, or any other parable? What does Jesus mean when He said, ” by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned?” As with all things, the Bible explains the proper use of words. “The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.” (2 Samuel 23:2 KJV).
The proper words are always supplied by God’s Spirit through His Word. “Seek Jehovah while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to Jehovah, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways My ways, says Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from the heavens, and does not return there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring out and bud, and give seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall My Word be, which goes out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall certainly do what I sent it to do.” (Isaiah 55:6-11 MKJV)
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