The words from our heart may or may not reveal the content of the heart. What I mean is that some are hypocrites and before others they try to hide what they believe. Jesus addressed this by saying to some Pharisees, “…for out of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). In the same verse, He calls them a generation of vipers (snakes). Matthew 23 is likewise Jesus speaking against their attempts to hide what was in their hearts. Our words, however, for most people will reveal the content of the heart.
Jesus had taught earlier that a tree brings forth either good or evil fruit (Matthew 7:17). By observing the conduct of a person one could come to know what kind of tree he was or what was the real content of his heart (verse 20). Toward the end of Jesus public ministry there was growing opposition to Him. It was not the miracles because the enemies could not deny that miracles were taking place. It was the doctrine that Jesus taught that was drawing so many to Him (Matthew 7:28). It was the same doctrine that condemned their hypocrisy.
One of the parables that Jesus taught was about the different kinds of hearts into which the truth would enter. One kind of heart was represented by the seed that fell on stony ground. This person with joy received the Word of God (Matthew 13:20). He had no root in himself and in time quit. The reason he quit was that when tribulation and persecution because of the Word came, the man became offended (verse 21). The doctrine that angered the Pharisees, likewise, provided the cause for this kind of heart to quit.
We are able to see the pressure which was building by looking at the case of the blind man whom Jesus gave his sight to in John 9. After being given his sight the man was questioned hard by the religious leaders. His parents were called in to verify that this was their son and that he had been born blind. Yes, this is our son but we do not know how he now sees. He is of age, ask him. Here is what motivated the answer by the parents. The Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess Jesus was the Christ they would throw him out of the synagogue (John 9:22). People were careful about what they said about Jesus.
Jesus made it clear that one saying with their mouth that He was the Lord must be accompanied by a person doing the will of the Father (Matthew 7:21). To say and then not do the will of God would reveal the content of the heart. This person is not willing to follow the Lord. A person who puts the hand on the plow and then looks back is not ready to follow the Lord (Luke 9:62; Matthew 19:22).
The statement by Jesus in Matthew 10:32 is more than just uttering words. The confession of Jesus under these circumstances refers to a revealing of what was really in a man’s heart. To arise from baptism is accompanied by a desire to seek those things above (Colossians 3:1). It is a change of heart by one setting their affections on things above (verse 2). Such a confession could lead one to be thrown out of the
synagogue and later on even the cost of their lives. The belief that Jesus is the Christ was then and is now an altering of one’s belief system. It is not about some ball player pointing to the sky or bowing down in public as if in prayer. Jesus warned in the early part of Matthew 6 about doing deeds to be seen of men. What Jesus spoke about was the heart that is given to God utters with the mouth what is the content of that heart.
Various state legislatures struggle with defining what marriage is. We as Christians should not be ashamed of the Word of God nor of the God we serve (Romans 1:16). The world tries to define for us what is a health human relationship between two men or two women. The Christian must have roots deep in himself which will cause him to speak out with words what is the content of his belief system. May we ever teach Jesus Christ and Him crucified (I Corinthians 2:2). We must teach it when it is popular and when it is not. Confess Christ.