Our speech reveals who we really are. It shows what is in our heart:
Matthew 12:33-35 – “Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure.”
For this reason, we will be judged based upon our words:
Matthew 12:36-37 – “I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
You can be as religious as you want, but if you don’t control your tongue it is worthless:
James 1:26 – “If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues, but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.”
Where there is much talking, there is sin:
Proverbs 10:19 – “When words are many transgression is not lacking; but the prudent are restrained in speech.”
Proverbs 13:3 – “Those who guard their mouth preserve their lives; those who open wide their lips come to ruin.”
James 3:2/8 – “Anyone who makes no mistakes is speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. . .. No one can tame the tongue – a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”
Those who speak one thing is secret and another in public will be exposed by God:
Luke 12:2-3 – “Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops.”
Psalm 101:5 – David said, “One who secretly slanders a neighbor I will destroy.”
Those who use words to tear down others will be judged:
Matthew 5:22 – “If you are angry with a brother, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool!’ you will be liable to the hell of fire.”
We should rather use our words to build up others:
Ephesians 4:29 “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.”
We must not misuse God’s name. Rather we pray that it be hallowed:
Exodus 20:7 – “You shall not make wrongful use of the name of Yahweh your God, for Yahweh will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.”
Matthew 6:9 – “Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, your name be hallowed.”
We are not to swear promises to others, but simply say yes or no when we make commitments:
Matthew 5:34-37 – “Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be, ‘Yes, yes’ or No, no;’ anything more than this comes from the evil one.”
James 5:12 – “Above all my beloved, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your ‘Yes’ be yes and your ‘No’ be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.”
We are not to boast or have arrogant speech:
James 4:13-16 – “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money.’ Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring . . .. Indeed you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.”
We are to have pure speech with thanksgiving:
Ephesians 5:3-4 – “But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead let there be thanksgiving.”
We are to speak the truth:
Ephesians 4:25 – “So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors.”
William Higgins
