“Either make the tree sound (healthy and good), and its fruit sound (healthy and good), or make the tree rotten (diseased and bad), and its fruit rotten (diseased and bad); for the tree is known and recognized and judged by its fruit. You offspring of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil (wicked)? For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks.”
— Matthew 12:33–34 (AMPC)

Have you ever been in a conversation where someone says, “Now, I’m not one to judge,” and then proceeds to… well, judge? Maybe you’ve even caught yourself doing the same—starting with good intentions but sliding into gossip or criticism without even realizing it. Why does that happen?

Jesus gives us the answer: “For out of the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.” In other words, what’s inside of us will eventually come out, no matter how hard we try to filter it. We can’t put on a mask of kindness if our hearts are tangled with bitterness. It’s like trying to tape fresh apples onto a dying tree and calling it healthy. The problem isn’t the fruit—it’s the root.

Have you ever tried to control your words purely through willpower? Maybe you’ve thought, “This time I’m going to be positive,” only to find yourself slipping back into old patterns. It’s frustrating because you’re addressing the symptoms, not the source. You’re trying to change the fruit without dealing with the tree.

It starts with the heart. Jesus isn’t asking us to perform better; He’s inviting us to be transformed. Our thoughts are like seeds planted in the soil of our hearts. If we let negativity, jealousy, or criticism take root, they’ll grow—and not into something beautiful. But when we plant seeds of truth, love, and grace, those will flourish and bear good fruit.

Think about it this way:
When you nurture thoughts of gratitude, it becomes easier to encourage others.
When you rest in God’s love, it’s natural to show love.
When you forgive yourself, it’s easier to extend forgiveness to others.

Sometimes, our harshest words about others are reflections of how we feel about ourselves. We criticize because we’re carrying unresolved pain. But God doesn’t want us to live in that cycle. He wants to heal the root so the fruit takes care of itself.

Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:8 to think about “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable.” When we fill our hearts with these things, our words—and our lives—begin to reflect them.

Lord, I don’t want to just “sound” good on the outside while my heart is struggling inside. Help me to be transformed from the inside out. Cleanse my heart, renew my mind, and help me focus on what is true, noble, and pure. Forgive me for the times I’ve been critical of others, and help me speak words of life, encouragement, and love. Let Your Word sink deep into my heart until it shapes who I am. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.”
— Matthew 12:33 (NIV)