I have to go out for a few hours, but here is a challenge Willis.
Tell me what Matthew 12:33 says in your own words. No looking at commentaries, just tell me what the words say to you.
I would appreciate that very much.
I will be back in a few hours.
I will and have many times, but you fail to respond. The reason: you are unteachable. You cannot refute my answer so you don't bother to respond.
Now first look at the context.
Mat 12:33-35
33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
If you really want to get into the overall context Jesus is speaking of those who will not change and cannot change.
Mat 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
Mat 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
--These Pharisees had committed blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. They had attributed the works of Christ to the works of Satan, another spirit other than the Holy Spirit. They did that while Christ was standing right in front of them, in the flesh, doing these miracles and speaking to them. I do not believe this sin can be committed today. But that is irrelevant. What is relevant is that it was a very serious sin, and they would not change, could not change, would not be saved. That is the context.
In verse 33 Jesus is speaking of a hypothetical situation which cannot be done. Can a person change the spots of a leopard, change the skin of an Ethiopian, change the nature of a fig tree so that it bear olive berries, or an apple tree that it may bear grapes? No. All these things are impossible. So it is impossible to change a corrupt tree to give good fruit, and a corrupt man to give good fruit. It is impossible. All of the above would take a miracle.
Look at verse 34. What does he call them? A generation of vipers! A generation of vipers, (a metaphor speaking of very evil people) is not suddenly going to start doing good! There is no way that is going to happen! Impossible.
Why? Out of the abundance of the mouth the heart speaks, and their hearts were evil. They were the ones that cursed Christ; mocked and scorned him. They put him on the cross and crucified him. They plotted his death--these Pharisees.
And then verse 35:
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
--The good heart is the regenerated heart.
Jesus said: "Why call me good; there is none good but One."
Unless the Holy Spirit dwells within there is no chance of one doing good.
There is no chance of that person ever producing the fruit of the Holy Spirit or good fruit, fruit that is acceptable in God's sight. His heart must be made good.
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Except for Christ, who here is an exception? Who does not need a Savior?
We need a Savior because we are sinners and our fruit is corrupted. The Lord will not accept it, just as the Lord would not accept Cain's offering although technically there is nothing wrong with the crops of the field.