Matthew 12:33-37
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. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Reflection
A person’s inner spiritual condition eventually becomes clear in the things he or she says. The Pharisees, who have conspired to kill Jesus (Matt. 12:14) and accused him of using demonic power (v. 24), have spoken words that arise from the “evil” condition of their hearts (v. 34). Unless they repent, they and others like them will be condemned on the day of judgment because the words they spoke in this life will reveal that their hearts were hard.
Romans 10:1-13
10: Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 or “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Reflection
Paul expresses his desire for his fellow Jews to be saved from God’s judgment (Rom. 10:1; see 1:18; 2:9). He affirms their moral and religious enthusiasm, but their zeal is misguided (10:2). The Jews mistakenly believe that they can earn God’s favor with their own obedience, rather than accepting God’s righteousness — the gift of a clean and perfect record that is given to those who believe in Christ (v. 4).
These verses are sobering. Evidently it is possible to be enthusiastic about God and morality (vv. 2–3) and yet be unsaved (v. 1). The question we must ask is not whether or not we are zealous, but whether or not we have faith in Christ. We must beware of trying to do what only Christ could do with his obedience (vv. 6–7). If we want God’s favor, we cannot earn it. All we can do is acknowledge that Jesus is the Lord and trust in him as the Savior who was resurrected from the dead (vv. 9–10). This is the only hope for humanity, regardless of our ethnicity or religious status (v. 12)
Psalm 9:9-10
9 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Because it is easy to trust in our own performance before God, we must prayerfully reject the notion of self-confidence and live by the strength of Christ-confidence. Ask God to help you find your assurance in the performance of Jesus alone.