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Luke 6:43-45
In this passage Jesus uses a description of a tree and fruit to lead into His teaching of the true intentions of the heart. A good tree will produce good fruit; a bad tree will produce bad fruit. A good man will produce good things; a bad man will produce bad things. But what makes a man good or bad? It is the condition of his heart, as Jesus tells us in Luke 6:45.
The Bible also teaches us that those who live their lives in the sinful nature set their thoughts and actions on the sinful nature, but those who strive to please the Lord will strive to live by the teachings of Jesus, as The Apostle Paul states in Romans 8:5 (NKJV), “5 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit.”
This is a promise that a man’s will is found in his heart.
This is a promise that a good heart brings forth good in a man.
This is a promise that a bad heart brings forth bad in a man.
This is an example of living a life in Christ through His Holy Spirit contrasted by living in the sinful nature of the world.
The Law was given to Moses in the Old Testament to make man aware of sin; to show man that he is incapable of following all the commandments that, if obeyed, would make man righteous in the eyes of God. Sin dwells in our hearts and controls our thoughts and actions.
Jesus came to make humanity aware that sin does not originate in our actions, but in our hearts. Jesus came to cleanse our hearts so that our motives and thoughts could be good, if we will invite Him into our hearts to cleanse them. 1 Samuel 16:7 states, 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”
Dear Lord,
This passage in Luke 6:43-45 teaches us that our thoughts and actions begin in our hearts. This is not a physical area of our lives that we can change because of the power of the sinful nature that controls us and dwells in our hearts. The only way for us to overcome the sinful nature is by inviting Jesus into our hearts to cleanse us of the sin that lives there. Please help us to overcome the grasp of Satan on our hearts and find the humility and sincerity to seek Your will for our lives. Please help us to seek a new life in Christ Jesus by asking His forgiveness and inviting Him into our hearts to cleanse our hearts from sin. Please help us then, to seek Your will for our lives each day as Your children, that we would be to the praise of Your glory and that what comes out of our hearts would be pleasing to You as Jesus states in Luke 6:45c, “for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” In Jesus name I pray, amen.