The Communicating Heart

In Matthew 12, we find Jesus is in Galilee following a tour in the region around Capernaum. He has just had another scuffle with the Pharisees about his disciples picking corn on the Sabbath and then also healing a man on the Sabbath. With their egos in tow, the Pharisees went away and had a little pow-wow about how they might ruin Jesus. Their hate is so strong that to them “ruin” meant to kill Him, as verse 14 would suggest:
Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. (Matthew 12:14)
Knowing what was going on, Jesus sought to put some distance between Himself and these vicious men, but the people continued to follow Him.
But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; (Matthew 12:15)
This crowd of people resulted in a possessed man being brought before Jesus. This man was in a terrible state. He was tormented by a demon while also being blind, deaf, and unable to speak.
Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. (Matthew 12:22)
Despite the authority and power of His speech, and the miracles He performed, the Pharisees could not, nor would not accept who Jesus was. Therefore, every conversation with Jesus led to an argument.
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. (Matthew 12:24)
As the Wonderful Counsellor, Jesus would go on and address the symptoms while slowly digging down to the root issue, the issue of the heart.
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (Matthew 12:34)
Last week we dealt with the area of our conversations, and if we are to have communication, we must have effective conversations. An effective conversation results when we practice active listening, respond with understanding, and have a Spirit-led and submitted temperament. But these disciplines will only be truly possible when you have a heart that is ready and willing to communicate.

We can preach against social media, technology, and entertainment; and the effect they have on our relationships and communication. But the reality is that often these are only symptoms or expressions of a deeper issue, the attitude of the heart. Jesus connects our bad conversations and poor communication skills directly to the attitude of our hearts.
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. (Matthew 12:35)
It was the condition of the Pharisees hearts that led to every argument and scuffle they had with Jesus. It was the attitude of their hearts that kept them from actively listening, responding with understanding, and avoiding wrath.

Jesus calls us out and says, “Your speech betrays you.” That phrase, “I didn’t mean to say that”, which we often use following a rude or harsh comment when we realise the harm it has caused is simply an excuse. Why? Because what comes out of your mouth comes from the heart.
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. (Proverbs 23:7)
Therefore, Jesus is justified in saying,
That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. (Matthew 12:36–37)
If we are to avoid and repair the break downs in communication, allowing the information to flow for strong and healthy relationships, we must have a good heart, a communicating heart.