Matthew 12:34-35

[34] O generation of vipers, how can ye, evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. [35] A good man out of the good treasure bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

What is the context of Matthew 12:34-35?

Good Trees and Good Fruit or Bad Trees and Bad Fruit (Matthew 12:33-37 true)
A Tree Known by Its Fruit (Matthew 12:33-37 true)
Words Reveal Character (Matthew 12:33-37 true)
A Tree and Its Fruit (Matthew 12:33-37 true)
A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit (Matthew 12:33-37 true)
Jesus and Beelzebul .( V .) (Matthew 12:22-37 true)
Jesus and the Prince of Demons (Matthew 12:22-37 true)

What does Matthew 12:34-35 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Everywhere else in Matthew where the "brood of vipers" figure occurs it refers to the Pharisees and other religious leaders ( Matthew 3:7; Matthew 23:33). That is undoubtedly whom Jesus addressed here too. The figure pictures deadly antagonists. Jesus" point was that a person"s character determines what he or she says and does. The mouth usually reveals what is in the heart. The Pharisees" extreme slander of Jesus revealed their rejection of Him. They needed a change of attitude toward Him, not just a change in their speech about Him.

It is going beyond what Jesus said to interpret this statement as meaning that no true believer will ever say or do what is contrary to the nature of a believer to say or do. All good people say and do some things that are good and some things that are bad. Likewise all bad people say and do some things that are good and some things that are bad. We are not exactly like the trees in this illustration.