A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
LUKE 6:45KJVWhat does Luke 6:45 mean?
Luke 6:45 teaches that what a person says and does comes from what fills their heart—good things come from a good heart, and harmful things come from a heart filled with harmful thoughts or motives. Jesus is saying that a person’s words and actions reveal what is truly inside them.
Jesus is speaking to a crowd, including his disciples, as part of a larger teaching about how to live and treat others. He uses the image of a “treasure” in the heart to show that our inner character shapes what comes out of us. This verse is part of Jesus’ teaching on judging others and living with integrity, emphasizing that true goodness or evil is rooted deep within a person.
The Greek behind Luke 6:45
- "καλός" (kalos, G18) — This word is translated as “good” and often carries the sense of something being genuinely noble or beneficial, not just outwardly pleasant. Jesus is pointing to a deep, inner goodness, not just surface-level behavior.
- "θησαυρός" (thēsauros, G2344) — The word for “treasure” means a storehouse or a collection of valuable things. Here, it highlights that our hearts are like storerooms, holding either good or bad things that eventually come out in our words and actions.
- "περισσεύμα" (perisseuma, G4051) — Translated as “abundance,” this word refers to an overflow or surplus. Jesus is teaching that whatever fills the heart in abundance will naturally spill over into speech.
- "καρδία" (kardia, G2588) — The Greek word for “heart” refers not just to feelings, but to the center of a person’s thoughts, desires, and will. This shows that Jesus is talking about the whole inner life, not just emotions.
Why Luke 6:45 matters
- Luke 6:45 clears up the idea that actions and words are accidental or separate from who we are inside; Jesus says they flow directly from the heart’s “treasure.”
- This verse emphasizes personal responsibility for what we say and do, since it all comes from what we allow to fill our hearts.
- In the wider passage, Jesus is teaching about hypocrisy and judging others, so this verse helps explain why genuine change must start from within, not just with outward behavior.