What does it mean that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45)

 

This verse is from what is sometimes called the Sermon on the Plain. In this part of the sermon, Jesus tells us how we can judge a person’s character. We do it in much the same way we look at a tree or plant to tell if it is a “good” plant or not: “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers” (Luke 6:43–44). If you want to know what kind of tree or plant you have, you have to look at its fruit. A pear tree sounds like a good tree, but, if you have a Bradford pear tree, you will get small, inedible pears about the size of marbles. What is on the inside—what the tree is really “made of”—will determine what kind of fruit it produces. Jesus says that the same is true of people.

In Luke 6:45, Jesus says that people can be judged by what they say and do because these things reveal what is really inside the person: “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 wrong things . 

If you want to know what is on the inside of a person, you simply watch his actions; listen to what comes out of his mouth on a regular basis. This is not being judgmental; this is being realistic.

If a person is angry, rude, lewd, or immoral on a regular basis, you can be assured that this is what he is like “on the inside.” If a person is consistently kind, encouraging, and polite, then you can be sure that is what he is like “on the inside.” Of course, it is possible that someone might put up a façade to deceive others regarding his character, but eventually what is inside will come out. The mouth speaks out of the abundance—the overflow—of the heart.

The primary point of application in Jesus’ words seems to be this: when we see evil consistently coming out of a person in word and deed, we should not deceive ourselves by saying, “I think he really is a good person inside; he just has some bad habits” or “That’s just the way he talks, but he’s not really like that.” How many people fall in love and get married, thinking that the bad behavior they have observed is only an aberration? How many parents deceive themselves regarding the spiritual state of their children, thinking that they are true believers because of a childhood profession of faith, even though their lives demonstrate a heart of evil?

When Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks,” He meant that consistently sinful words and deeds are indicative of a sinful heart. Rather than always giving people “the benefit of the doubt,” we would do well to recognize the “fruit” we observe and respond accordingly. Being a “fruit inspector” does not mean we consider ourselves to be without sin; it does mean that we are realistic about whom to trust and whom we allow to exert influence over us and the people for whom we are responsible.

Understand that the satan is not invincible

Romans 6:5-10

"5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be [a]done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been [b]freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.'

In Roman 6:5-10 the apostle Paul expounds the truth that each believer is United with Christ in His total victory over sin death and satan. 

This is an infallible truth upon which each believer is responsible to stand. 

Sin and satan cannot rule over a dead person.

 Sin cannot master and put into slavery a person who is now " alive unto God" because of our union with Christ in His in resurrection. 

That is an infallible , unchanging truth upon which we are meant to stand regardless of experience.

So do not trust your experiences...

Decision to forgive

We are now going to focus on another vitally important decision—the decision to forgive. Perhaps you are surprised that I call that a decision.

I want to deal first with the relationship between forgiving and getting our prayers answered. It’s much closer than many people imagine. In Mark 11, verses 24 and 25, Jesus speaks about how to receive the answers to our prayers but He then goes on to warn us about one thing that will block the answer to our prayers. This is what He says:

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. [Notice, the time to receive the answer to your prayers is when you pray— ‘...believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.’ The manifestation of what you have received will follow in due course. That’s wonderful but now comes the warning.] And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Jesus warns us there that failure to forgive other people can block the answer to our prayers. Maybe some of you have been praying a long time and saying, “Why doesn’t God answer my prayer?” I suggest you need to check whether there’s someone you need to forgive. Failure to forgive blocks the answers to our prayers. That’s very important to remember.

Then, remember, as I’ve said already, forgiving is a decision, not an emotion. You don’t have to feel forgiving; you have to will to forgive.

And then, another very important point brought out by those words of Jesus, the initiative is with us, not with other people. If you hold anything against anyone, forgive him. Jesus doesn’t say, “When he comes up to you and asks to be forgiven, forgive him.” But He says, “When you’re praying—in fact, before you begin to pray, make sure you’ve forgiven everyone against whom you have anything.”

And then Jesus says at the end, “...so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” You see, the way we relate to others determines the way that God relates to us. If we have totally forgiven others, we can ask for total forgiveness from God; but if we withhold forgiveness from others, God will withhold forgiveness from us.

Prayer Response

Dear Father, thank You for the gift of forgiveness. Lord, if there is still unforgiveness in my heart show me to whom, and I want to forgive. Yes Lord, I want to forgive (name the person God brought to your mind) in Jesus’ name. I want to bless him/her, and ask You Lord to shower him/her with all Your blessings. Lord, I want my prayers to be answered! In Jesus’ Name, amen!