From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. A good man brings good things from a good heart. An evil man brings evil things from an evil heart. Matthew 12:34b-35
Men, again, Jesus speaks in binary terms. Before we can move forward in agreement, we must ask; who decides what is good? How do we define “good”? How do we qualify, validate or affirm “good”? We’d all get car sick spinning around the revolving wheel of relativity if we looked around us for an answer. Let’s agree to look up to Heaven and into His Word for absolute truth from a vantage above creation.
The Pharisees are at odds with Jesus and expressing hostility toward Him. They know the Law, but they don’t recognize the author. Psalms 119 is rich in what it means to align our hearts to the source of good treasure. From the beginning, a wealth of lessons pour out. “Blessed are those who keep His testimony, who seek Him with the whole heart.”
The Pharisees didn’t seek Him. They sought enough “word” to maintain a posture of religious authority for personal and political gain. They knew much about rules, legislation, and condemnation, but little about seeking Him with the whole heart.
The Pharisees were captives of their own hierarchies. The Lord told the captives through Jeremiah 29:13. “When you seek Me with your whole heart, you will find Me.” The Pharisees aren’t ready to seek Him. They are seeking their own self-righteousness. Is there any good in the treasury of self-righteousness? History has seen horrible atrocities committed from self-righteous hearts. What will be spoken of us?
Move forward men, Psalm 119:9-15. Cleansing our ways by taking head to His Word; Seeking Him with the whole heart without wandering from His commands. Let’s hide His Word in our hearts so we don’t sin against Him. Let’s learn from His statutes and declare His judgments with our mouths. Rejoice in His testimonies as much as in all riches. Meditate on His Word and don’t forget it. Psalm 119:18 – open our eyes Lord to the wonders of Your Law.
Vance Durrance
