The Heart Revealed by the Cross
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Matthew 12:33–37
+
The Heart Revealed by the Cross
Jesus teaches that our words reveal what fills our hearts. We may carefully guard our outward appearances, but our tongues often expose the pride, anger, bitterness, and unbelief that dwell within us. God’s Law leaves us without excuse. Even our best words cannot hide the corruption of our sinful nature. Yet Christ does not leave us condemned beneath the judgment of His Law. The One who knows every careless word also willingly bore our guilt upon the cross. There, Jesus suffered the judgment our sinful hearts and tongues deserve. His blood cleanses us from every sin, including those committed with our mouths. Through Holy Baptism, the Holy Spirit gives us new hearts and renews our lives in Christ. Our words do not earn God’s favor; rather, they become fruits of faith. Therefore, repent of sinful speech, trust Christ’s forgiveness, and let His Word dwell richly in you, that your words may serve your neighbor in love.
Matthew 12:33–37
+
The Heart Revealed by the Cross
Jesus teaches that our words reveal what fills our hearts. We may carefully guard our outward appearances, but our tongues often expose the pride, anger, bitterness, and unbelief that dwell within us. God’s Law leaves us without excuse. Even our best words cannot hide the corruption of our sinful nature. Yet Christ does not leave us condemned beneath the judgment of His Law. The One who knows every careless word also willingly bore our guilt upon the cross. There, Jesus suffered the judgment our sinful hearts and tongues deserve. His blood cleanses us from every sin, including those committed with our mouths. Through Holy Baptism, the Holy Spirit gives us new hearts and renews our lives in Christ. Our words do not earn God’s favor; rather, they become fruits of faith. Therefore, repent of sinful speech, trust Christ’s forgiveness, and let His Word dwell richly in you, that your words may serve your neighbor in love.
Recent
Archive
2026
January
In The GardenBy Your Own LawA Kingdom Not From HereThe King Who Bears Witness to the TruthWhich Jesus Will You Have?Behold the King We MockedBehold the Man, Lifted for YouAuthority from Above, Glory from the CrossBehold Your King, Lifted Up to JudgeThe Place of the SkullIt Is WrittenEvery Promise KeptStabat MaterIt Is FinishedThese Three TestifyA True TestimonyA Quiet Courage at the CrossThe Empty Tomb and the Wounded SaviorSeeing, Believing, and the Linen Left BehindCalled by Name in the GardenDo Not Cling, Go and TellPeace in Wounded HandsThe Wounds That Speak PeaceYou May Have LifeMy Lord and My GodFishingIt Is the LordThey KnewFeed My LambsFollow HimFollowing Jesus, Not Comparing Paths
February
The Testimony That Is EnoughBefore Kings, Before the CrossBefore You Were Born, the Word Was GivenSet Like FlintRemembering First LoveForsaking the FountainBroken Cisterns and the Living CrossAshamed of Our False RescuesForgottenWe Have SinnedLift Up Your EyesLike SisterReturn to the LordThe Gift of ShepherdsOur Only HopeShame That Leads to SalvationCircumcised HeartsBlow the Trumpet in the LandWhen Wisdom FailsThe Storm We Have SummonedThe Sound of the TrumpetWhen Wisdom Becomes FollyThe Earth Shall MournCan You Find One?There Is No DifferenceThe Lord Must InterveneSpeak TruthEnduring Nation
March
A RemnantA Deaf People, a Faithful GodFlee to the StrongholdCut Down to Be HealedNo Superficial PeaceStand at the CrossroadsRefined by Fire, Redeemed by the CrossTrust in the Lord, Not in Your HandsHe Flipped TablesPoured Out on JesusYou Are His PeopleTruth Has RisenSilence in the CitiesWhat Have I Done?Not a Bone Shall Be BrokenWhen Wisdom Becomes FoolishnessBitter MedicineThe Hiss of Judgment, the Promise of the CrossThe Wound of Sin and the Healing of ChristIs There No Balm?Truth at the CrossRefined by the LordScatteredRuinedDeath Has ComeBoast In The LordLike ScarecrowsNone Like Our GodGods That PerishWounded, Yet Not ForsakenDisciplined, Not Destroyed