'A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.' Jesus elaborates the heart/speech connection using treasure imagery. The heart is treasury; speech is what's withdrawn. 'Good man' (ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος/agathos anthrōpos) with 'good treasure' (ἀγαθοῦ θησαυροῦ/agathou thēsaurou) produces good output. 'Evil man' (πονηρὸς ἄνθρωπος/ponēros anthrōpos) with 'evil treasure' (πονηροῦ θησαυροῦ/ponērou thēsaurou) produces evil output. Reformed theology sees this as illustrating regeneration's necessity: you must be made good (new heart, Ezekiel 36:26) to produce good fruit. Behavior modification doesn't work—treasury must change. Conversion replaces evil treasure with good treasure; sanctification increases good treasure's proportion. The verse also teaches stewardship: what are you storing in your heart? Scripture, truth, worship, godly meditation—or bitterness, lust, greed, resentment? You'll eventually express whatever you've stored. Luke's version adds 'mouth speaketh' what heart treasures (Luke 6:45)—explicit connection between storage and expression.
Historical Context
Treasure imagery was common in ancient world where wealth was literal treasure—gold, silver, jewels stored in houses, temples, or buried. What you possessed determined what you could give. Jesus applies this metaphorically: heart is treasury; character/speech is disbursement. Jewish wisdom emphasized heart's centrality: 'as he thinketh in his heart, so is he' (Proverbs 23:7). Pharisees maintained external righteousness (appearance of good treasure) while hearts contained evil (Matthew 23:25-28—whitewashed tombs). Jesus exposed this: they could quote Scripture, maintain rituals, appear pious—but evil hearts eventually produced evil speech (accusing Jesus of satanic power). Early church recognized: conversion means new treasure (2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 4:22-24), sanctification means increasing good treasure through Word, Spirit, fellowship (Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:18-19). Puritans emphasized 'heart work'—cultivating inner piety producing outward godliness. Modern evangelicalism sometimes reverses this: focusing on external behavior without addressing heart. Jesus's teaching: start with heart; behavior follows.
Questions for Reflection
What are you storing in your heart—what inputs (media, relationships, thoughts) are you treasuring, and what output will they inevitably produce?
How does understanding that speech/behavior flow from stored treasure affect your approach to spiritual growth?
What practices help replace evil treasure with good treasure in your heart?
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Analysis & Commentary
'A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.' Jesus elaborates the heart/speech connection using treasure imagery. The heart is treasury; speech is what's withdrawn. 'Good man' (ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος/agathos anthrōpos) with 'good treasure' (ἀγαθοῦ θησαυροῦ/agathou thēsaurou) produces good output. 'Evil man' (πονηρὸς ἄνθρωπος/ponēros anthrōpos) with 'evil treasure' (πονηροῦ θησαυροῦ/ponērou thēsaurou) produces evil output. Reformed theology sees this as illustrating regeneration's necessity: you must be made good (new heart, Ezekiel 36:26) to produce good fruit. Behavior modification doesn't work—treasury must change. Conversion replaces evil treasure with good treasure; sanctification increases good treasure's proportion. The verse also teaches stewardship: what are you storing in your heart? Scripture, truth, worship, godly meditation—or bitterness, lust, greed, resentment? You'll eventually express whatever you've stored. Luke's version adds 'mouth speaketh' what heart treasures (Luke 6:45)—explicit connection between storage and expression.