Let’s get straight into this. We know all about the sticks, the stones and the words that will probably still hurt you, but what about the hundreds of sayings and quotes about the power, or maybe lack thereof, our words hold.
“…But the human tongue is a beast that few can master. It strains constantly to break out of its cage, and if it is not tamed, it will run wild and cause you grief.” -Unknown
“Words are free. It’s how you use them that may cost you.” -KushandWizdom
“Watch what you say next, boy!” – James St. Patrick (Probably)
“But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment” – Matthew 12:36
Let’s expand on that last one.
Matthew 12:34. Actually, Matthew 12:34-37.
“34 You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. 35 The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. 36 But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
We often hear of these verses individually, but not often in one gathering. There is just a lot going on. So, let’s unpack it.
“John and Jesus agree in thinking the Pharisees a viper-brood. Both conceive them as morally hopeless. The Baptist wonders that they should come to a baptism of repentance. Jesus thinks them far on the way to final impenitence [complete lack of remorse, or desire for repentance]. But the point He makes here is that, being what they are, they cannot but speak evil. The poison of their nature must come out in their words” (Expositor’s Greek Testament)
But what is this description based off?
Jesus’ description of them as being evil is His assessment of their basic character, which is the root of the problem of their evil words. Being (Greek word ontes) is present tense in defining these men as continually evil and when paired with the active voice, this would suggest their evil ways were wilful, volitional decisions. They did not just do evil but they embodied evil in their very essence, nature, core and character. Do note also that the word evil is “poneros” which can refer to sickness and even worthlessness, but it is also used ethically in the sense of being opposed to God.
Proverbs 15:28 says, “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.” The point here is that the righteous man has a righteous heart and wisely thinks before answering. On the other hand, the wicked man does not only speak evil, but “pours out” evil. We need to recognise that the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.
Jesus goes on to apply this truth to the Pharisees. This is Jesus’ main point. Evil words proceed from an evil heart. The evil words of the Pharisees were simply a representation of the true nature of their evil hearts.
Jesus further expands on this truth in Matthew 15:18-20 in which He states “the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.” So the evil heart is not just the source of evil words, but of murderous acts, which finally came to fruition when the Pharisees were able to murder Jesus on the Cross.
There is still some more to unpack.
Well. For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. (Proverbs 23:7)
Matthew 12:37 tells us “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
And I will not lie, it actually has me worried. Well maybe not worried, but more concerned. I am someone who gets away with saying a lot. A lot of the words I say are not measured, and I am very dramatic at times, often saying things I do not mean. Not in an aggressive way, but more in a cheeky, suggestive way. But I am going to have to give a reason for these words one day. I am going to have to answer for them. Words hold power. Even the ones we casually throw away.
“Because our words give such a true evaluation of our hearts, it is our words that we answer for. This ought to help us control our tongues. There is no faster way to destroy our lives or the lives of others, than with words.” (Glen Spencer)
Integrity. Do your words truly reflect how you feel in the moment? Can you justify them?
My Sunday Skl 