Matthew 12:33–37

Verse 33. Either make the tree good, and so forth This is connected with what had been said of their attributing his works to Beelzebub. He condemns them for blaspheming him on all occasions, when at the same time they were not able to find fault with his life and doctrine. Christ therefore tells them, that the tree is known by its fruit; and that if they cannot blame his actions, and his doctrine, they ought to allow him to be good, to be like the good tree; and that if they continue to blame him, they ought consequently to condemn his doctrine, yet this they were not able to do. Witham.

Verse 34. As the Pharisees were ever boasting of, and glorying in their ancestry, Christ here shews, that they have not much reason to boast, since their ancestors were but vipers. Saint John Chrysostom

TR adds “of the heart”

Verse 36. That every idle word. [3] By idle words, S. Jerom, and so forth expound words that are neither profitable to the speaker nor the hearer: but Saint John Chrysostom says, false and abusive language. Witham.—If, of every idle word, how much more of blasphemy, as when you say in Beelzebub I cast out devils. Menochius.—This shews there must be a place of temporal punishment hereafter, where these slighter faults shall be punished. Challoner.—If of every idle word we must make account before God in judgment, and yet shall not for every such idle word be damned eternally, there must necessarily be some temporal punishment in the next life. B.