Matthew 12:35

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Matthew 12:35 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
Matthew 12:35 — American Standard Version

Context — Matthew 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
35The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“A good man, out of the good treasure of the heart, etc.] “A good man”, is a regenerated man, one that is renewed by the Spirit of God, a believer in Christ, a sincere lover of him, and one that follows him, wheresoever he goes, and who has the grace of God implanted in him: for “the good treasure the heart”, is not what he is naturally possessed of, but what is put into him: and is no other than the superabundant grace of God, or that grace for grace, which he has received out of Christ’s fulness, and the rich experience of it he is blessed with: and may well be called a “treasure”; for as a treasure is a collection of riches, so this consists of various graces, each of which is more…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“A good man, out of the good treasure of the heart, bringeth forth good things--or, "putteth forth good things": and an evil man, out of the evil treasure, bringeth forth evil things--or "putteth forth evil things." The word "putteth " indicates the spontaneity of what comes from the heart; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaketh. We have here a new application of a former saying (see on Mat 7:16-20). Here, the sentiment is, "There are but two kingdoms, interests, parties--with the proper workings of each: If I promote the one, I cannot belong to the other; but they that set themselves in wilful opposition to the kingdom of light openly proclaim to what other…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“O generation of vipers! - Christ here applies the argument which he had suggested in the previous verse. They were a wicked race; like poisonous reptiles, with a corrupt and evil nature. They could not be expected to speak good things - that is, to speak favorably of him and his works. As the bad fruit of a tree was the proper effect of its “nature,” so were their words about him and his works the proper effect of their nature. The “abundance” or fullness of the “heart” produced the words of the lips. “Vipers” are a poisonous kind of serpents, not often a yard long, and about an inch thick, having a flat head. The males have two large teeth, through which a most deadly poison is thrown into…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“good man: Mat 13:52; Psa 37:30, Psa 37:31; Pro 10:20, Pro 10:21, Pro 12:6, Pro 12:17-19, Pro 15:4, Pro 15:23, Pro 15:28; Pro 16:21-23, Pro 25:11, Pro 25:12; Eph 4:29; Col 3:16, Col 4:6 and an: Mat 12:34 Matthew 12:36”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification