A Healthy Heart
In Matthew 12:33-45, Jesus discussed spiritual heart conditions and the stages of a healthy heart—in reverse order because that’s the way He dealt with them. First, Jesus calls you to maintain a good heart—“Out of the abundance
of the heart the mouth speaks.” (v. 34) Trees are known by their fruit, so, if you get good fruit, it was produced by a good tree; and if you get bad fruit, it was produced by a bad tree. Similarly, words from a mouth are produced by the heart. James presented the reality that the tongue must be connected to a good heart for good produce. (James 3:5-12) A heart filled with evil cannot speak good things. Second, Jesus calls you to develop a sensitive heart—and gives two examples of a sensitive heart. (a) Nineveh: “The men of Nineveh … repented at the preaching of Jonah.” (v. 41) … and (b) Queen of the South: “She came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon.” (v. 42) The scribes and Pharisees had the truth but demanded a sign from Jesus, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” (v. 38) Jesus had to purchase their commitment, revealing their character—“An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign.” (v. 39) Man has an appetite for the spectacular but Jesus is no one’s magician. Actually, Jesus gave them a sign to verify His Word: three days after His death, He would rise. Third, Jesus calls you to receive a regenerate heart—every person needs a heart transplant. The imagery in verses 43-45 is man as a house that a demon came out of. The spirit searched for a new home, couldn’t find one and returned to the place he left. Finding the place empty, he got seven of his fellow demons, and “the last state of that person [was] worse than the first.” (v. 45) Attempts at moral reform apart from regeneration and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit will eventually revert back to the pre-reform state.
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
