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Explanation for:
Matthew
12
:
35
A good man out of a good treasure bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of an evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
10
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The Savior warns us not to assume that this principle applies solely to the wicked; rather, the same holds true for the righteous as well. Their inner goodness often far surpasses what they express verbally. In this, the Lord illustrated that the Pharisees were, in truth, more sinful than their words suggested, while He, in contrast, embodied a greater goodness than His words disclosed. The term ‘treasure’ signifies vast quantities."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He refers to the Jewish people who slander the Lord, questioning from where they derive their blasphemies. Alternatively, linked to the earlier inquiry, it can be understood that just as a healthy tree cannot yield bad fruit and a corrupt tree cannot bear good fruit, Christ is incapable of performing evil deeds, just as the devil is unable to commit good acts."},{"author-name":"Basil the Great","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c889927158e4af30595484_Basil%20the%20Great.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"“I will declare my heart with the word of goodness” (Psalm 44:2). The act of confessing is akin to the release of internal air, which, when nurtured, rises from the bursting of the vesicles, filled with the heavenly bread that grants life to the world. It embodies the sacred teachings that flow from the mouth of God. In this context, the soul, enriched with divine truths, produces a confession that reflects the nourishment received. Since the nourishment is virtuous and wholesome, the Prophet declares ‘the word of goodness.’ “The good man, from the good treasure of his heart, brings forth good things.” Let us also seek sustenance in the Word to satisfy our souls (as it is said, “the righteous man eats to the full of his soul” - Proverbs 13:26), allowing us to speak only “the word of goodness” in alignment with what has nourished us. Conversely, a wicked individual, who is filled with corrupt doctrines, expresses from his heart a deceitful word. Are we not aware of the disgraceful and putrid words that emerge from the mouths of heretics? They clearly reveal the depth of their affliction. “For the wicked man out of the wicked treasure of his heart speaks evil” (cf. Luke 6:45). Hence, “scratching with the ear” (cf. 2 Tim. 4:3), refrain from choosing teachers that may inflict harm on your spirit and cause you to utter evil words, for which you will face condemnation on the day of judgment. For it is declared, “By your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned” (Matthew 12:37)."},{"author-name":"Cyrill of Alexandria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a8ea5c988a4fc073480_Cyrill%20of%20Alexandria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"When He references treasure, He indicates the vast wealth contained within the soul. To address any notions that individuals are inherently wicked, He clarified the condition of the Pharisees by asserting that a person cannot alternate between being good and evil; He stated, \\"A good man speaks out of the abundance of his heart, in like manner also an evil man.\\""},{"author-name":"Symeon the New Theologian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c897eec143c131d21207b3_Symeon%20the%20New%20Theologian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":10,"exegesis-text":"Just as nations are identified by their attire, particularly through their voice and language, the saints can similarly be distinguished by the way they conduct themselves with holiness and goodness, along with various outward indicators. However, their most definitive and unmistakable sign is the message that emanates from their mouths. For a person cannot speak of what is absent in their heart; and should someone attempt to do so, their own words will quickly reveal their wrongful speech. As the Lord taught, a good person produces good things from the bountiful resources of their heart, while a wicked individual brings forth evil from an evil treasury (Matt. 12:35). Consider the profound truth revealed by the Spirit: the Lord did not merely affirm that from a good heart one draws forth good aspects but emphasized that it is from the good treasure of the heart. This illustrates that every individual possesses a heart filled with one of two possibilities: either the grace of the Holy Spirit achieved through faith and righteous deeds, or the presence of the evil one due to disbelief, neglecting God's commandments, and engaging in wrongful actions. To ensure there is no misunderstanding that the Lord’s teachings permit those who partially follow God’s commandments—failing to observe them in their entirety—to possess the treasure of the Holy Spirit, He clarified elsewhere: \\"He that hath My commandments (indeed, all of them), and keepeth them, that is he that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will appear unto him myself,\\" adding, \\"If any man love Me, he will keep My word: and My Father will love him, and unto him we will come, and make our abode with him\\" (John 14:21, 23)."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"This passage illustrates that it is not just the wicked who express what fills their hearts; the righteous also convey their beliefs through their words. The concept of treasure represents the overflow and origin of both good and evil, signifying the distinction between righteous and sinful speech."},{"author-name":"Theophan the Recluse","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8983a6e0f4c3aecaae3fc_Theophan%20the%20Recluse.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"What you contribute to the treasury determines what you receive: if you offer gold, you reap gold; if you give copper, you obtain copper. While copper may be disguised as gold, a true expert will quickly detect the counterfeit. So, how can we ensure that our treasury holds genuine gold, representing the true goodness in our hearts? The heart is inherently a reservoir of goodness; any evil emerges afterward. However, with the discerning scalpel of mindfulness and without self-pity, we must identify and sever the unnatural elements. Gradually, the evil will diminish while the goodness will flourish and expand until only the true goodness remains. The key lies in distinguishing between the natural and the unnatural. Present-day naturalists often misinterpret this; they mistakenly label what is truly natural as unnatural and vice versa, calling evil good and good evil. Turn your gaze to the words of the Lord in the Gospel and the teachings of the Holy Apostles in their writings, and use their guidance to define what is authentic. In doing so, you will ultimately accumulate many blessings and carry them within your heart. Pray fervently to the Holy Spirit: ‘Treasure of good things, store up good things in my heart!’"},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Savior teaches that a righteous individual harbors within their heart, much like a storehouse, a wealth of goodness, and from this abundant treasure, they produce good deeds. Conversely, a wicked person fills their heart with malice, and from this corrupt reservoir, they bring forth evil actions. The righteous possess a deeper virtue concealed within than what is expressed externally, while the unrighteous hold greater evil in their hearts than in their spoken words. This understanding underscores that both actions and speech will face stringent scrutiny at God's Final Judgment, as words reveal the true condition of the heart."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The phrase “good man” is metaphorical. It depicts the human heart as a storehouse where the virtuous individual preserves righteousness while the sinful individual harbors iniquity. From this inner store, they express what they possess: the righteous share goodness, whereas the wicked express evil. What constitutes good and evil in this context? “Awareness of every virtue in relation to Christ, which brings glory to God, is a valuable treasure, while an awareness of vices concerning what the Lord has forbidden is a harmful treasure.” We should not believe that the disparity between the wicked's hearts and their words applies solely to those who are evil; rather, the same is true for those who are virtuous. Even they possess more goodness within than is reflected in their spoken words."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Jesus Christ, not satisfied with these accusations, illuminated even further the contradictions inherent in the Pharisees' claims against Him. \\"A tree is recognized by its fruit, not vice versa; yet you fail to adhere to this truth. You must prove that My actions are wrong when you seek to accuse Me, and when you commend My deeds, you should, alongside Me, absolve Me from your charges.\\" Either make the tree good, and its fruit will be good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit will be bad: for a tree is known by its fruit. This fundamental principle of nature was a rebuke directed at the accusers, whom the Lord addressed with a scornful label given by John the Baptist (Matt. 3:7): \\"O brood of vipers, how can you speak good when you are evil? A good man produces good from the good that is stored in him, while an evil man produces evil from the evil that resides in him.\\""}]}
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