The verse “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” is found in Luke 6:45. In context, Jesus is teaching that a good person produces good things from the good stored up in their heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the evil stored up in their heart.
The “heart” in Scripture represents the inner being, the seat of motives, thoughts, and character. What fills our heart and mind will eventually come out through our words and actions. As Proverbs 4:23 states, we must “guard our hearts, for everything you do flows from it.” Our speech often reveals what is truly inside us.
Specifically, in Luke 6:43-45 Jesus states:
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (NIV)
Jesus uses a metaphor of trees and fruit to illustrate that what comes out of us reveals our inner condition. Thorns cannot bear figs nor can briers produce grapes – it is impossible. Likewise, hateful words and actions reveal a hateful heart, while good words and actions reveal a good heart. What fills the heart will overflow into speech and behavior.
The abundance of the heart refers to the reservoir of thoughts, emotions, desires, and inner character that resides within. When our heart overflows with evil thoughts and attitudes, our speech will reveal that. When it overflows with love, joy, peace, and goodness, our speech will reveal that instead (Luke 6:45).
As Christians, we want our hearts to be filled by God’s Word, for “out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). Our aim should be hearts overflowing with the goodness and love of Christ. As we saturate our minds with God’s truth, our speech and conduct will become more Christlike. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, evil words and actions can be replaced with ones that honor the Lord.
In summary, this verse teaches that our words often betray what is truly inside us – “the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Our goal as followers of Jesus is to guard our hearts against impurity and instead fill them abundantly with God’s truth and love. This will be evidenced by our speech and actions, as we grow to be more like Christ.
1. Our Words Reveal Our Heart
According to Luke 6:45, our words reveal what fills our heart and mind. Hateful speech betrays a hateful heart. Loving speech betrays a loving heart. Our words are a window into our inner being.
Jesus said this after warning about false prophets who seem nice on the outside but inwardly are ferocious wolves (Luke 6:43-44). Appearances can be deceiving, but over time, a person’s words will reveal their true nature. Their vocabulary unveils their value system.
Likewise, good words and actions expose a heart dedicated to righteousness. Our speech flows directly from the inner reservoir that resides within.
This truth is seen throughout Scripture. For example:
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21)
“For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Matthew 12:34)
“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” (James 1:26)
The abundance of good or evil in our heart will make its way into our words. That is why Jesus said His followers will be known by their fruit (Luke 6:43-45) – not just outward actions but also speech.
2. Our Heart Should Be Guarded
Since our words flow directly from our heart, it imperative we guard what enters and fills our inner being:
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23)
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29)
We must be careful what we allow into our minds through the media, relationships, and life experiences. Garbage in results in garbage out. The abundance of our heart will pour out through our speech, so we must protect against spiritual pollution.
As Philippians 4:8 exhorts, we should fill our minds with things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Meditating on what is holy will help keep our hearts pure and prevent corrupt speech.
Ask God to guard your heart against bitterness, lust, envy, greed, pride, and immorality. Those can quickly corrupt our inner life and taint our words. Consistently washing your heart in the purifying truth of Scripture is essential.
3. Our Heart Should Be Filled with God’s Word
In contrast to guarding our hearts, we also need to actively fill them with God’s truth:
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly.” (Colossians 3:16)
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)
“My mouth will declare your praise.” (Psalm 51:15)
When our heart overflows with the goodness of Christ, our words will reveal that abundance. Allowing Scripture and biblical truth to dwell richly within is the best way to bear righteous fruit in our speech.
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts prevents sinful words from spewing out instead. As our inner life is conformed to Christ’s likeness through the Word, what flows out of us will also become more Christlike. Our speech will begin to declare His praise.
Thus we must treasure Scripture and saturate our minds with its truth. The abundance of God’s Word in our hearts will pour out in our conversation and conduct.
4. Our Heart Can Be Transformed by God’s Spirit
Thankfully, God provides everything we need to move from corrupt speech to life-giving words. Confessing and turning from sin is essential. But God’s Spirit also actively works within us to shape our inner being:
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.” (Ezekiel 36:26)
“He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5)
The Holy Spirit cleanses our heart and renews our mind as we yield to Him. He pours God’s love into us (Romans 5:5), allowing us to love as Jesus loved (John 13:34). The Spirit produces His fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23), transforming our conduct.
So if you struggle with gossip, profanity, slander, lies, or other sinful speech, do not lose hope. Confess it and submit those areas of your life to Christ. Cooperate with the Spirit’s work to purify your heart and fill it abundantly with God’s truth and love. What flows out will begin to change.
5. Our Words Have Power to Harm or Heal
Because our speech flows from the abundance of our heart, our words have immense power to destroy or edify:
“The tongue has the power of life and death.” (Proverbs 18:21)
“By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:37)
Our words contain potential to accomplish great good or great evil. James 3 explains that the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it boasts of great things. A huge forest can be set ablaze by a small flame; likewise, “the tongue is a fire” that can spread destruction far and wide (James 3:5-6).
However, our speech can also bring life, encouragement, and comfort to many. Words have power to build people up or tear them down. We must use discretion and self-control to season our speech with grace and truth, thinking carefully about what we say and why we say it.
Since words flow from the heart, we should examine our inner motives and convictions before speaking. Are our words infused with grace, compassion, honesty, and sincerity? Or do anger, pride, jealousy, insecurity, or impurity taint our vocabulary? What resides in the heart will eventually overflow into words.
6. Our Words Reveal What We Truly Believe
Ultimately, our unfiltered words reveal what we truly believe. Our heart’s abundance flows out freely when we are caught off guard, tired, angry, or emotional. Under pressure, suppressed attitudes and hidden motives surge to the surface.
That is why all people, not just Christians, must be careful about regular Internet rants, social media venting, toxic humor, and speaking harshly in certain company. Such speech trains our heart muscles and verbal reflexes. The more we give voice to poisonous thoughts, the more that hidden abundance may taint our overall conduct.
Instead, we must fill our minds with things excellent and praiseworthy, consistently rehearsing God’s truth. Out of that abundance, our real beliefs will flow, and honest confession and repentance for sinful rants will be needed less. The joy and peace of Christ in the heart cannot stay hidden for long – they will reveal themselves in our speech.
So pay close attention to your words. Do they reveal abundance of truth, righteousness, hope, and grace? Or do they expose anxiousness, pride, lust, greed, anger, or bitterness within? Your heart’s contents will make their way to your mouth.
By God’s power and grace, anyone’s heart can overflow with the goodness of Jesus – transforming our speech as we continuously abide in Him. Through careful guarding, Scripture’s filling, and the Spirit’s empowering, our words can move from corruption to life.
7. Key Principles
In summary, here are some key principles from Luke 6:45 about speech and the heart:
- Our words reveal what is truly in our heart.
- We must guard our heart against impurity and wrong influences.
- Filling our heart with God’s Word transforms its abundance.
- The Holy Spirit can cleanse our heart and renew our speech.
- Our words have immense power to heal or destroy.
- Candid speech exposes what we really believe.
Going further, here are additional verses about speech to meditate on:
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” (Ephesians 4:29)
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:6)
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” (Psalm 141:3)
May our words overflow with the abounding truth, grace, and righteousness of Jesus Christ. As our inner life is transformed by God’s Spirit through His Word, may our speech clearly express the hope and love stored up within our hearts.
