The Mouth, the Lips, the Tongue: February 2024
Table of Contents
The Mouth, the Lips, the Tongue
11 The mouth of a righteous one [is] a fountain of life;
But the mouth of the wicked covereth violence.
12 Hatred stirreth up strifes;
But love covereth all transgressions.
13 In the lips of one intelligent wisdom is found;
But a rod [is] for the back of him that is void of understanding [or, heart].
14 The wise lay up knowledge;
But the mouth of the fool [is] near destruction.
18 He that covereth hatred hath lying lips;
And he that uttereth slander [is] a fool [or, vile].
19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression;
But he that restraineth his lips doeth wisely.
20 The tongue of the righteous [is as] choice silver;
The heart of a wicked one [is] little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many;
But fools die for want of understanding” (Prov. 10:11-14,18-21 WK).
The Tongue, the Lips and the Mouth
The throat, the tongue, the lips, and the mouth are enumerated in Romans 3, in that black picture of man’s sin and guilt, for they have been instruments of evil that comes from within — from a wicked heart.
“Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness” (Rom. 3:13-14).
Yes, their throat is an open sepulcher; that is, it is the outlet for a place where moral death reigns. Their tongues have been used to deceive — maybe in deliberate lying, or perhaps just using partial truths to deceive. The poison of asps is under their lips to infect those who hear their speech, and their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Such is man in his condition of distance from and enmity toward God — a black picture indeed.
Confession With the Mouth
In the chapter 10 of the same epistle, we find that when the gospel is received in faith, those same lips are used in another way: “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [or, Jesus as Lord], and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:9-10).
After one receives in the heart the truth that the Lord Jesus died for him and rose again, then the mouth is opened in confession of that blessed Person as Lord. Yes, the same mouth that beforehand had been used to deceive, to curse and to poison is now opened to confess as its own Lord the One who was formerly despised. Blessed change!
This is illustrated in the one thief who got saved while hanging on a cross beside the Lord Jesus. At first he joined his fellow thief in reviling the Lord of glory, but when the light dawned in his soul, he spoke out against such conduct and mentioned the fear of God. He rebuked the other thief, witnessed to the Lord’s innocency, and then turned to Jesus and addressed Him as Lord. What a change, and in such a short time! His lips, his tongue and his mouth, which had been so recently used in the service of Satan, were now used to confess Jesus as Lord. It was so with Saul of Tarsus, the mad persecutor of all who honored the name of Jesus, for when he was brought face to face with the fact that it was the Lord Jesus he was persecuting, he used his lips to own Jesus as Lord. This same feature continued to mark the Apostle Paul, for when he neared the end of his journey, he spoke affectionately of “Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:8). Time had neither erased nor dimmed that which his tongue uttered on the Damascus road years before.
The Fruit of Our Lips
In Hebrews 13 we read, “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Heb. 13:15).
What a wonderful thing it is that these lips of ours — once used for that which was evil — can now bring forth fruit to God! And how can they produce fruit? In “giving thanks to His name”! First, the heart must feel that thankfulness; then the lips utter it to God, and He calls it “fruit.” Blessed fruit, but all the result of what His own grace has wrought for us and in us.
There are many verses that speak of how the mouth may be used, but here is another we wish to notice: “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 15:6). The mouth which was once used in disrespect of God can now be used to glorify Him, and that together with the saints of God.
Words for Edification
Then in Ephesians 4, where we get exhortations to walk according to the place wherein we now stand, we find these words:
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Eph. 4:29).
Not only are our lips to confess Jesus as our Lord, to bring forth fruit for God, and to glorify Him, but by His grace they can be used for that which is good so as to edify other Christians. Who but God could take such lips and make them instruments of blessing?
But there is also a sad and solemn reflection for us who are saved, in that these lips may even yet bring forth that which is not good or for edification, so we are exhorted to let no corrupt communication come out of our mouths. How easily one may slip into that evil! The heart is still incurably wicked, and we possess an evil nature that may show itself; nowhere is it more apt to be seen than in what comes out of our mouths. Perhaps something defiling has been heard by us, and we have not had the cover on the vessel (Num. 19:15), and it found an entrance into our minds; it was defiling, and the tendency is to repeat it to another. Sad, sad it is when we do this, for our mouth is then an instrument for defiling others, and not for edifying them.
The Use of the Tongue
The epistle of James speaks a great deal about the tongue and what it does. James does not go deeper, to the source in the heart, but lets us know the terrible things that come out of the mouth. It says (read James 3) it “is a little member, and boasteth great things.” Yes, the tongue is only a little member, but it can do untold damage. How it can boast! And boastfulness is hateful to God; it is pride. The tongue is one thing that no man has tamed, although he has tamed creatures of the land, sea and air; it is an unruly evil. But the inspired penman goes on to say that out of the same mouth ought not to come forth good things and bad ones; a fountain does not send forth sweet water and bitter, or salt water and fresh. These words should exercise us greatly about what comes out of our mouths.
In Colossians 3 we are told to put away “filthy communication” out of our mouths and not to lie one to another (vss. 8-9). How easily we retell something and do not tell it exactly as it was told to us. We are very apt to color things, to put a different light on them, and is not this in its essence lying? How careful we ought to be to tell things correctly and to judge every infraction of exact truthfulness!
Envy and Strife
When Paul wrote his second letter to the Corinthians, he said that he feared that when he came to them he would find “debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults” (2 Cor. 12:20). How sad that such a condition could exist among the saints of God! What debates or contentions have been in the church on earth! What confusion and evil work have been wrought by envying! And what shall we say of wraths and strifes, or animosities and dissensions? Do they not come from within, from an evil heart, from that which is left unjudged by ourselves? But the backbitings, or as another translation puts it, “detractions,” have brought sorrow to many hearts. How easily we go behind others’ backs and say things to detract from our brethren. Is not this a prevalent evil? Is it not still at work among the children of God? And oh, those whisperings, or gossiping! Who can estimate the trouble and grief in the assemblies of God’s people brought on by whispering? Whispering, or gossiping, is never about good; it is always something shady. But some saints hide behind the fact that what they whisper is the truth, but is it “lovely ... of good report,” or is it praiseworthy? How much evil speaking and whispering would be avoided if we refused to say something behind our brother’s back that we would not say to his face. And shall one point a finger at another? Is there one who is not in some measure guilty of this? But let us be on our guard, for the Word of God warns of these evils and their sad results.
Very much of the gossiping would be avoided if we showed the spirit of love; love will never harm the object of its affection. If love were more active, we would be more in the spirit of prayer, seeking the good and blessing of our brother instead of speaking about him to others. Did the Lord speak to others about Peter’s faults, or even his failure? Rather, He said to Peter, “I have prayed for thee.” How much more are we ready to speak to others of the faults of our brother than to bear him up before the throne of grace!
From these whisperings come roots of bitterness, and soon many are defiled. May the Lord exercise us all to be on our guard against the inroads of this pernicious evil, but rather show love that “covers a multitude of sins.” May God see love in exercise on behalf of our brethren!
Wholesome Words of Wisdom
There are some wholesome words of wisdom in the book of Proverbs on this subject, which we will quote: “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin.” And is not this true? Where there is much talk, there is sin in it. “But he that refraineth his lips is wise” (Prov. 10:19).
“A whisperer separateth chief friends” (Prov. 16:28). An evil work indeed! But how many friends have been separated by the work of some whisperer — someone who may have told the truth, but colored it, or put a wrong light on it, and the injured one had no redress, for he was unaware of what was done.
“Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from troubles” (Prov. 21:23). Wholesome words! Needed words!
Gossip
And let us remember that when someone starts some slander or evil report, “where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth” (Prov. 26:20). Have we not had it in our power to let some evil report end with us, rather than to repeat it and continue to spread it? Have we always been careful not to add wood to the fire?
One brother made it a habit to ask anyone who brought him a piece of gossip, “Can I tell it to the party you are speaking about? If not, don’t tell me.”
And does not a bad report travel faster than a good one? Yes, even a lie will run faster than the truth. Years ago, one said, “A lie will go around the world before the truth can get its boots on.” And then, when an evil report is started and later found to have been incorrect or untrue, do the same ones that spread it make an equal effort to circulate the truth and correct the wrong? In many instances, no.
Set a Watch
In closing there are two verses in the Psalms that we might well use as a prayer each day. Not that we approve of forms of prayer, but these verses express most suitably what should be the real desire of our hearts:
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psa. 19:14). How careful we should be that the words of our mouths may be acceptable in His sight! Our brother may not hear what is said about him, but there is One who hears and knows all, and we should seek that all that is in the heart and what comes out of the mouth may meet with His approval.
And the last verse we will quote is, “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips” (Psa. 141:3). If this were the desire of our hearts and the language of our lips, when we meet with other Christians, how different would be our subject of conversation. May the Lord grant us grace to desire this keeping of our mouth and lips. And may the tongue, lips and mouth, formerly used in our sin and folly, be used to glorify God and minister grace to others.
P. Wilson
The Mouth, the Lips and the Tongue
There are three special characteristics of the tongue as “an instrument of unrighteousness unto sin.”
First, it is the great instrument of deceit and flattery. Only of Christ can it be said, “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22). But in reference to others, this is the solemn verdict: “There is no faithfulness in their mouth, their inward part is very wickedness, their throat is an open sepulcher, they flatter with their tongue” (Psa. 5:9). Such flattery and deceit has been one mark of false prophets and false teachers. Those prophets prophesied “lies,” “deceits,” “smooth things” and the people loved to have it so.
Flattery
Men may flatter God, even as Israel of old. “When He slew them, then they sought Him, and they returned and enquired early after God. ... Nevertheless, they did flatter Him with their mouth ... for their heart was not right with Him” (Psa. 78:34,36-37). Man may flatter his fellow man, but the wisdom of God gives a solemn warning: “Meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips” (Prov. 20:19).
Hatred
Second, the tongue is that instrument by which the hatred of the heart towards God—and the heart’s defiance of God—is frequently manifested. It is indeed “a little member,” but it is “a world of iniquity”; “it setteth on fire the whole course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell” (James 3:5-6). The thought of the natural man is: “With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?” (Psa. 12:4). So it says of the Beast in the book of Revelation: “There was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies ... and he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven” (Rev. 13:5-6).
The tongue, through education, may be used to conceal the thoughts of the heart, but often, in an offhand expression, it is an index of what is passing in the heart. It is surely true that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matt. 12:34). Though conventional decency may restrain man in the presence of his fellow, yet when godliness elicits ridicule or provokes the contemptuous expression, these idle words are a true index of the real state of the heart before God.
Boastful Arrogance
Third, the tongue is the chief instrument whereby men express the proud thoughts of their heart, however impotent they may be to carry them into effect. “The tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things” (James 5:5). It is the characteristic result of false teaching brought into the church (2 Peter 2:18) that men would “speak great swelling words of vanity.” So again, when “the grace of God” is turned into the license of human will, “they speak evil of dignities” and “speak evil of those things they know not” (Jude 8,10). We could multiply examples of how man asserts, at every step, his independence of God, till at last he openly defies God and the Lamb. Man may do great things, but God’s Word says, “Fear not. ... The Lord will do great things” (Joel 2:21). God joins issue with man in terrible judgment upon the ground of the boastful arrogance of his tongue, as well as the daring willfulness of his deeds.
Swift to Hear, Slow to Speak
It is not the “tongue to speak” that men need, but the “ear to hear,” and never will the tongue be used aright for the glory of God until there be the ear to hear. “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak” (James 1:19). Men have inverted the divine order and coveted readiness of speech, although the ear be deaf to hear. All would be talkers; few have patience to hear. The sorest judicial act ever inflicted by God on Israel was leaving them with “ears dull of hearing.” It alarmed the Apostle as to the Hebrew converts, lest there should be a turning back unto perdition, because they were “dull of hearing.” The eye might be blinded, the ear deafened, and the heart made fat, but the mouth was left untouched to tell out their real condition. And when it pleased God to open the eyes of one to see His glory, the confession was, “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips” (Isa. 6:5).
If the tongue is to be retrieved to the glory of God, we must begin with the ear. This is the divine order. Jesus Himself thus speaks: “The Lord God hath given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth Mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord God hath opened Mine ear and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back” (Isa. 50:4-5). Men still desire the tongue of the learned; they confess that they have inability to express themselves and wish they could speak as others of Christ and His salvation, but they are ignorant that the thing lacking is the obedient ear.
The Ear to Hear
When Moses received commission from the Lord to deliver Israel out of Egypt, he saw all the difficulties in the way of the people receiving him and of Pharaoh listening to him. Among other difficulties, he pleads, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since Thou hast spoken unto Thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue” (Ex. 4:10). Moses was ignorant that the thing needed was the ready ear. And the Lord said unto him, “Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say” (Ex. 4:11-12). If Moses had the tongue of the learned, it must be by having his ear wakened to hear as the learned, else the doctrine is the doctrine of Moses, and not the doctrine of God.
But the divine order is seen most clearly in the Perfect One Himself. “As I hear I judge, and My judgment is just, because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me” (John 5:30). Again, when the Jews marveled, saying, “How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me.” And then He adds that true learning and ability to speak it can only be acquired in the same school. “If any man will do His will [has the ready ear] he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself” (John 7:15-17). The opened ear is the way to the tongue of the learned.
H. H. Snell (adapted)
The Tongue
Speak to me now of Christ, who lowly suffered,
Enduring spitting, scourging, grief and shame —
Who, when accused and cursed, He answered nothing —
He is my Savior — let me hear His name!
Speak to me now of Christ, who heavy laden
Bore the dread cross up Calvary’s cruel hill;
The Lord of life! He died in bitter anguish —
For my vile sins His own life-blood did spill.
Speak to me now of Christ, who spoke to Mary,
That resurrection morn, of death’s defeat,
Revealing to her heart that secret, “Father!
I now ascend, and, in Me, you are meet.”
Speak to me now of Christ, who soon is coming
To take us home, where sight can never dim,
Where all His own, with tongues and hearts uniting,
In one eternal song, shall speak of Him!
And when I speak, let me speak well of Jesus,
The altogether lovely One, my Friend —
My every thought of Him brings peace and comfort;
He loves me and will love me to the end.
E. Light
The Sweetness of the Lips
21 The wise in heart is called intelligent,
And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22 Wisdom [is] a fountain of life for him that hath it;
But the instruction of fools [is] folly.
23 The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth,
And addeth learning to his lips. (Prov. 16:21-23 WK).
The wise in heart is called intelligent, and so he is, and this inspires confidence. It differs much from what men call sagacity, which is feared rather than trusted. And the sweetness of lips which accompanies that wisdom increases learning all around. Wisdom is truly a fountain of life to him that has it, as he does not begrudge giving waters for those that do not have it. The instruction of fools can be nothing but folly and is fully exposed, because of the vain assumption they have to teach. How different when the heart of the wise instructs his mouth, as it does, and adds learning to his lips! For there is not only profit but growth. Such are indeed “pleasant words,” and they are as a honeycomb, sweet inwardly and strengthening outwardly.
W. Kelly
Deceit and Lying
This is one of the special sins connected with the tongue, that unruly member which no man can tame. Over and over again it is emphatically forbidden and condemned by the God of truth (Col. 3:9; 1 Peter 3:10; Prov. 24:28; Prov. 12:22).
No Deceit in Christ
When Peter speaks of the life of the Lord Jesus as an example for us to copy, he emphatically points out that no deceit was found in His mouth. Those who are deceitful are therefore evidently most unlike Christ. As we write for those who are professedly children of God, in looking at a few examples of this fearful sin in Scripture, we will only take those where a child of God, or at least a professor, is concerned.
Lying Through Fear
We find in Genesis 18:15 Sarah telling a direct lie through fear. How often is this the case, resulting from having done or said something we are ashamed of. It may be a right thing, and we are thus ashamed of Christ; or, it may be a wrong thing, and we are ashamed of being found out. In either case, a lie slips from our lips before we are aware. The radical cure for this is not to do what we are ashamed of; or, if the thing is right, not to be ashamed of what we do. If, however, we have slipped into a sin, let us not add to it by another, but just as the lie is about to leave our lips, let the thought, God hears me, instantly arrest it. A lie of this sort to screen oneself is perhaps the most contemptible kind, despised alike by Christians and men of the world. Having thus looked at it, let us resolutely avoid it, even in the smallest things, and never lend our tongues to such mean deceit.
Lying for Our Own Advantage
The next instance is in Genesis 27:19, when Jacob tells a direct lie for his own advantage — another despicable variety of this multi-headed sin. Notice too, Jacob was a child of God, and the result is that through the next 30 years of his life he suffered from the consequences of his sin, by which too he gained nothing, for God would have given him all in due time. Have any of us fallen victim to this sin? Making haste to be rich, improve our position, or in some way run in advance of God, have we ever, through selfish motives, told a lie? If so, I am sure we have suffered since, and there can be no real restoration until that lie is confessed not only to God but to man. Too often one lie leads to another, as in Jacob’s case, and once embarked on this fatal course, who can tell what the end will be? Let us never allow ourselves to tell a lie for our own advantage. Think for one moment what a horrible denial such a sin is of all that Jesus ever was or did!
Lying to Cover a Sin
Passing over several, we come to David, who was guilty both of lying (1 Sam. 21:2) and deceit (2 Sam. 11) of the most fearful character, by which he sought to cover up an awful sin, thereby making it twice as bad. Oh, how often some previous sin is the cause of a long course of deceit and lying. Beloved friends, let us, above all things, seek to be straight with God, with our fellow men, with ourselves—and should we fall into a sin, never seek to cover it up by another, still worse than the first. A course of deceit positively blights the soul, destroying all simplicity, all joy, all communion. The result of these sins in David’s case was a course of sufferings almost unparalleled in their severity, from the hands of his own children. Let us not, therefore, think to escape the all-searching eye of God.
Lying From Habit
We find in 1 Kings 13:18 a prophet of God lying in a most wanton manner, without any apparent reason. We find such characters now, even among God’s people — some who apparently have no regard for the truth and find it easier to tell a lie than to avoid it. The only remedy when the disease has so developed is to go straight to God and cry to Him for strength and daily watchfulness to overcome it. One such case I remember. I noticed that a person was almost always silent, and one day I asked the cause. He said that he had been so addicted to lying that he was determined now not to speak at all if he could not speak the direct truth; therefore, he seldom opened his lips, and he always considered well before he spoke. Deep-rooted sins require some such radical measures.
Two Solemn Cases of Lying
In the New Testament two solemn cases, one of lying and the other of deceit, in Peter and Ananias, stand out above others. Peter, forewarned by the Lord, yet strong in his own strength, told three lies to save himself, actually going the length of denying the Savior while He was standing dumb before His accusers. Such sins are not unknown even now. Many of us are ashamed of showing our colors, and when suddenly asked an unexpected question, through fear or shame, are betrayed into a lie, to the triumph of Satan and the grief of our Lord. Let us watch earnestly against this, and if entrapped, let us follow Peter in his path of restoration. It is remarkable to see that the very one who fell himself is so perfectly restored as not only to be able to charge home the very same sin to the Jews (Acts 3:14), but was also chosen by God to be the executor of His justice on the flagrant deceit of Ananias. This too was a wanton sin — a course of deceit being practiced merely to give others a false impression of his generosity and to appear other than he was. This is another common variety of the sin of lying. Anxious to stand well in the eyes of our fellow men, rather than in those of God, we do not hesitate sometimes to descend to deceitful practices to appear other than we are, and so get praise from men that we do not deserve. Surely, such a course needs only to be named to be condemned by every upright heart. All these instances have been selected from the lives of professing children of God, and they will well repay careful consideration, giving, as they do, striking illustrations of common causes of deceit and lying among Christians. Lies may be told without using the lips; we may act so as to deceive and seek to excuse ourselves because we have not said what is untrue. This is a worthless excuse and will not stand before God for a moment. All such refuges of lies will He sweep away.
The only way to be happy before Him and to be in any degree like Christ is to turn our backs firmly and resolutely on deceit in every shape and form by word or deed, and determine, in God’s strength, that we will earnestly seek to say and do nothing that is not absolutely true, thus saving ourselves from reaping the bitter fruits of shame and sorrow that will someday follow. May God help each one of us that is tempted by this sin to overcome it in His strength and to learn to abhor and hate it because it is so hateful to Christ and so dishonoring to His name.
“The lip of truth shall be established forever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment” (Prov. 12:19).
A.T. Schofield (adapted)
Gracious Words
In a number of the articles in this issue of The Christian, there has been a strong focus on the wrong use of the tongue and serious warnings as to the long-term effects of saying sinful things. These warnings are needed, for as the Lord Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matt. 12:34). Our natural hearts are evil, and if we, as Christians, allow our old sinful nature to act, our mouths will reflect our evil hearts.
Hard Knocks
Many years ago, a young man went out to China to work with Hudson Taylor in spreading the gospel. As was his custom, Hudson Taylor took the young man out to lunch in order to tell him what he might expect in his life in China. During the meal, Hudson Taylor suddenly brought his closed fist down hard on the table, causing water to spill out of both their glasses. When the young man looked at him in surprise, Hudson explained to him that in China, he would undoubtedly have to take a lot of “hard knocks.” Then he went on to say that when he received a hard knock, what was inside would come out, just as water had spilled out of the glasses of water when Hudson had struck the table.
This is a good lesson for all of us, for it is when we receive a hard knock in this world that our true state of soul is exposed. An old brother used to remind us that “circumstances do not produce our state of soul; they manifest it.”
Overcome Evil With Good
However, the word of God is balanced, and if we need warnings against using our mouths in the wrong way, so also we need encouragement to use them in the right way. Scripture reminds us, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). As well as guarding our lips, we ought also to speak words that are good and right. This is of greater importance than ever today, when men and women will say almost anything publicly without shame.
Our Lord Jesus Christ never sinned in any way, and this was particularly noticeable in what He said. Time and again the Jewish leaders tried to entangle Him in His talk, hoping to be able to accuse Him of something. Yet He never succumbed to any of these attempts. Let us look at a few things that He said.
Gracious Words
When our Lord began His earthly ministry, we find Him in the synagogue at Nazareth, where He had been brought up. After reading a portion of the book of Isaiah, He spoke to the people, and it is recorded that they “wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of His mouth” (Luke 4:22). Our Lord began by bringing grace before the people, for they were used to hearing the unyielding words of a law that none of them could keep. But here was One who came to them in grace, introducing Himself as the One who would bring healing and deliverance to them, if they would have Him. Sadly, they were offended, thinking that He was only the son of Joseph, and not the Son of God. Their familiarity with Him blinded their hearts as to who He was.
The Power of Words
It is well-known that when we communicate with others, it is not only the words we say, but also the tone of our voice and our body language too that are part of the message. Needless to say, the tone of our voice and our body language carry more weight than what we say. We can rest assured that when our Lord spoke with gracious words, all that He said was in harmony with the tone of His voice and His body language. Later on in His ministry, the Jewish leaders sent officers to arrest Him. When they came back without Him, the officers said to their leaders, “Never man spake like this man” (John 7:46). This illustrates another point about godly words — there is a moral power in them that is greater than physical power. The officers had the natural power to arrest the Lord, but His words had such an effect on them that they could not do so. We see this same effect later on in Luke 4, when He spoke in the synagogue in Capernaum. Once again, we read that “they were astonished at His doctrine: for His word was with power” (vs. 32). There is a power in words spoken by the Spirit of God, and they have an effect even on ungodly people. I remember many years ago bringing a college friend of mine to a gospel meeting at a Bible conference, and while he did not get saved at that time, he was most impressed with the gospel message. The gospel in this case was given by a brother who had no special education, but there was power in what he said. (The young man in question did get saved many years later.)
We read in John 1:17 that “grace and truth came by Jesus Christ,” and while we cannot have one without the other, yet it is significant that grace is mentioned first. God is a God of grace, and what we preach today is “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). Just as the words of the Lord Jesus reflected that grace, so should you and I in our speech. A gracious word has often broken down a hard heart when a solemn warning seems to have no effect. Paul could exhort the Colossians in the same way, and told them, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt” (Col. 4:6). Grace should always be there, but the salt is necessary too.
Strong Words of Warning
Our blessed Lord spoke with grace, as we have seen, but there were times when He had to speak strong words of warning. He had to tell those in Nazareth (Luke 4:24-27) that there was no blessing for those who rejected Him just because He had grown up among them. He had to warn the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy in Matthew 23:1-36, calling them fools and a “generation of vipers.”
Yet, in spite of His strong words to them, He concluded His speech by lamenting over the city of Jerusalem and expressing the wish that He might gather their children together, “even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings” (vs. 37). In spite of their unbelief and rejection of Him, His thoughts were for them and the judgment that they would bring upon themselves. His love to them never changed.
A Time to Speak
As well as the example we have with our Lord’s gracious words, there are many other references to speaking and how and when we use our lips. Ecclesiastes 3:7 tells us that there is a time to speak and a time to be silent. Often not speaking has a greater impact than many words. In comforting someone in trial, how good it is to sit quietly in companionship and understanding. Many words are not needed here.
First Corinthians 14:3 admonishes us to “speak unto men to edification, exhortation and comfort.” These three things need learning, wisdom and compassion. We are reminded of the verse, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin” (Prov. 10:19). Prayerful consideration should come before much speaking!
And to climax all this instruction, we have that beautiful verse in Proverbs 25:11: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures [settings] of silver.” We have all experienced that “fitly spoken word” and can appreciate its value—the right word, spoken at the right time and in the right way. May we daily ask the Lord for His guidance for our every word!
W. J. Prost
A Word on Unadvised Speaking
Scripture tells us that “they [the children of Israel] angered Him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips” (Psa. 106:32-33).
It is very important for us to perceive that God deals with us on the ground of His own relationship towards us. This is as true in discipline as in anything else, for we receive correction from our Father because He is our Father. God cannot pass over the sins of His saints as over those of the world. Sin in a saint of God is much more serious than in an unbeliever, since the glory of God suffers so much more at our hands.
Further, it is comforting to see that God does not hesitate to record in His Word the failures of His saints. He is showing us in them that His faithfulness never fails. While God visits the sins of His people, yet their blessing shall not fail, for God does not fail in His promises because of our failure.
Moses
When we come to Moses, we find that “he spake unadvisedly with his lips.” Moses himself records it several times, to show that even an unadvised word is not passed over unnoticed.
I believe that we sin much in this very respect, in speaking unadvisedly with our lips. As the Apostle James says, “In many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body” (James 3:2). It is here that Satan gets such an advantage over us. The amount of sorrow thus brought upon souls cannot be estimated, for much of the mischief that arises among saints is from speaking unadvisedly with the lips.
In contrast, the Lord Jesus stood where Moses failed. When He was here, all the sitting down in the seat of the scornful of those who sought to entangle Him in His talk, all the contradiction of sinners against Himself, all their arguments never drew forth an unadvised word. Rather, His wisdom shone conspicuously forth in silencing them.
Murmuring
It is not unusual for those who have known redemption through the blood of the Lamb to murmur like Israel, because of not having “the vines and figs and pomegranates” as quickly as they wish. When the congregation had no water, what can Moses and Aaron do? They have no resources in themselves; they can only cast it before the Lord. “Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces” (Num. 20:6). As a result, we read that “the glory of the Lord appeared unto them.” How blessed this was for Moses and Aaron! Whatever the circumstances may be, the moment we get before the Lord, the glory of the Lord appears. “The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink” (Num. 20:7-8). Moses ought to have rested simply in the Lord, for the rod he was to take was Aaron’s rod — the rod of priestly grace.
The Waters of Meribah
God will honor His servants, but the moment we step out of the servant’s place, He humbles us. Moses takes the rod, and he says, “Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?” He does not sanctify the Lord in the eyes of the congregation, for he says “we,” not “the Lord.” No sooner do we assume to be anything than we get out of the servant’s place. Then “Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice.” He has been told to speak to the rock, but he smites it twice, as though divine power has need of being seconded by human energy. But still “the water came out.” God’s faithfulness is not touched by the failure of His servant. Moses fails, but God does not deny Moses to be His servant, neither does He deny the power of the rod. God may be using an individual’s ministry for blessing to the souls of others, when He is about to discipline that very person, so used of Him. He abides faithful; He will not (blessed be His name!) deny His own truth, though mixed up with much weakness, and even of self, in those who preach it.
“The Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed Me not, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. This is the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and He was sanctified in them” (Num. 20:12-13).
Beloved, let us remember that it was a little thing, an unadvised word, that occasioned to Moses the loss of Canaan. And let us remember, moreover, that the governance of the tongue is more pressed upon us in the New Testament than almost anything else. “By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matt. 12:37). Seeking to exalt ourselves is rebellion against God, for it is taking God’s glory and giving it to ourselves. Wherever we go, let us endeavor to carry with us a sense of God’s presence, His holiness, and His love; it will preserve us from a thousand snares.
Christian Friend, Vol. 1 (adapted)
Speaking of Christ to Others.
“I sometimes feel,” writes one, “that I ought to speak to men far above my station in life, and I worry myself very much because of my inability to do so. I am perplexed to know whether God means me to do so or not, and then I get into such a state that I am no use to anybody.”
Mere effort to speak is worth but little; indeed, we do not think that God would care for you to speak of His beloved Son under such circumstances. It is out of “the abundance of the heart” that the mouth speaks, and remember that, as to speaking of Christ, the heart has no abundance of its own. It is only when the fullness of the love of God in Christ is flowing into it that there is any power for an outflow. To use a figure, when water pressure is great, it will find vent through the smallest aperture, and when the love of Christ is enjoyed by the soul, no “pump” of legal effort will be needed to produce an overflow.
You will generally be safe, dear friend, in speaking when you can’t help it, and should you at any time feel a reluctance, don’t go on “trying” nor yet keep fretting yourself because you can’t get a word out. Consider your ways and your heart’s secret workings, and you will no doubt find what is sapping your enjoyment of the love of Christ, for be sure of this that the whole secret is here. Salvation costs us nothing, but to walk through this world in the fullness of heavenly joy involves the surrender of many an idol! Enjoy His love, and all that His love cannot enjoy ― that is, all that you could not ask Him to share with you ― will be rightly estimated and treated accordingly.
G. Cutting
Lip Service Unavailing
The mere profession of the Christian faith will not save: “Not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 7:21). Lip service will not avail. There must be subjection to the authority of Christ’s words — absolute bowing to Him as the alone Savior and hope of God’s people. To build on Him is to build on the Rock that can never be moved. Whosoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed.
The Springing Well, Vol. 5
My Theme
The Book of Proverbs has many references to “the mouth,” “the lips” and “the tongue.” The following verses are taken from the Wm. Kelly translation along with his comments.. These verses list both the positive uses of each, and the negative.
“The mouth of the righteous” is a fountain of life, but “the fool’s mouth” is near destruction. Wisdom is found in “the lips” of the intelligent, and they feed many, but “lying lips” cover hatred. “The tongue” of the righteous is as choice silver, but not so, the heart of the wicked. Evermore teach us Lord, how “the mouth” “the lips” and “the tongue” stand out as a predominant means for expressing good will!
11 The mouth of a righteous one [is]; a fountain of life;
But the mouth of the wicked covereth violence.
12 Hatred stirreth up strifes;
But love covereth all transgressions.
13 In the lips of one intelligent wisdom is found;
But a rod [is] for the back of him that is void of understanding (or, heart).
14 The wise lay up knowledge;
But the mouth of the fool [is] near destruction.
18 He that covereth hatred hath lying lips;
And he that uttereth slander [is] a fool (or, vile).
19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression;
But he that restraineth his lips doeth wisely.
20 The tongue of the righteous [is as] choice silver;
The heart of a wicked one [is] little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many;
But fools die for want of understanding” (Prov. 10:11-14,18-21 WK).
The mouth has a widely different intent and character in man than in the beast, where it expresses animal need, innocuous or baneful to others. Man’s mouth has a nobler purpose and is unique, being the means of expressing his inner nature as one in relationship, not only in the realm of nature which he is set to rule, but in subjection to God whom he represents, or sadly, misrepresents. Here the mouth of a righteous man is said to be a fountain of life (vs. 11), for this is the divine mind. The person is not merely seen as of God providentially as Hagar saw by the fountain of water in the wilderness. It is a question of seeing Him who is invisible. The person becomes thereby an active source of blessing to others, and of blessing toward that nature which has in it now the taint of death through the sin of man since Adam. This blessing is given before the second Man restores all things as He surely will in due time. Meanwhile the righteous man’s mouth by grace is a fountain of life. He is a witness of God in Christ; and as he believes, therefore so he speaks. With the wicked it is wholly otherwise. His mouth not only utters the violence of self-will and ungodliness, but does what is even worse in covering the violence he feels, which if disclosed might lead to wholesome caution or restraint and solemn warning.
The Lips
Notice again in verse 13, we are told that “in the lips of one intelligent, wisdom is found; but a rod is for the back of him that is void of heart” (or, of understanding). How true is this, and evident experimentally! It is not only that every intelligent man has wisdom, but in his lips it is found. How self is betrayed in seeking it otherwise! Who would look for wisdom elsewhere unless he (perhaps unconsciously) wanted his own way? On the other hand, he that lacks heart in the moral sense deserves the rod for his own chastening. If his eye were single, he could not lack light.
Next in verse 18, we hear the yet more solemn warning against hypocritical ill will, its character and natural issue, and God’s judgment of it, whatever men may say. “He that covereth hatred hath lying lips; and he that uttereth slander is a fool.” The Lord searcheth the reins and hearts, which we cannot do; therefore we need to profit by His word. Malevolent lies, when laid bare, thus prove hatred that was covered up, and the sending forth of slander exposes the fool. The divine oracle does not stoop to the deceiving politeness of society, but speaks out that which all saints may hear whether for comfort or for admonition.
Further, in verse 19 we are cautioned against overmuch speaking, as our Lord denounced vain repetitions in prayer like the Gentiles, and long prayers in public like the Jews. It is well at all times to watch and refrain, save in peremptory duty. “In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; but he that restraineth his lips doeth wisely.” Let us not fail then to ask the Lord to set a watch before our mouth, and keep the door of our lips, as in Psalm 141:3. Our evil nature is too ready to watch our neighbor’s mouth to the shame of faith and love.
The Tongue
The tongue of the righteous, as we are told in verse 20, is as choice silver. This is strikingly appropriate and suggestive. We might have thought other metals might have suited the application. Many a tongue that is not righteous cuts like the brightest and sharpest steel. But as silver in sanctuary associations pointed to grace, and gold to righteousness divine, so in usage among men silver is specially adapted for probing wounds without corrosion or festering. So is the tongue of the just, always with grace, seasoned with salt. Hence the apostolic call on “the spiritual” to restore one overtaken in any trespass; the unspiritual is apt to be severe, while the carnal would be careless and resent true judgment.
Verse 21 pursues and defines the positive blessing. “The lips of a righteous man feed many.” On the other side the one hears, “but fools die for want of understanding.” The bread which Jesus made and gave through His disciples fed the multitude, with more at the end than at the beginning; and this is what the righteous soul finds in the Lord for many in their many wants and in a thousand ways. They are called to testify of Him, and their “lips” will “feed many.” Just as certainly do fools who believe not in Him though they may hear with their ears, “die for want of understanding.” His flesh, which the Son of man gave us to eat, and His blood to drink, is the most precious grace on His part, and the most needed truth on ours; but upon hearing this many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him. How true and sad to say, that “fools die for want of understanding!” It is the perverse heart, insensible alike to its own sinfulness, and to the goodness of God, the one who in Christ went down to all depths to save the lost at all cost.
The Tongue of the Wise is Health
18 There is that babbleth like the piercings of a sword;
But the tongue of the wise [is] health.
19 The lip of truth shall be established forever;
But a lying tongue [is] but for a moment.
20 Deceit [is] in the heart of those that devise evil;
But to the counselors of peace [is] joy.
21 No evil shall happen to the righteous;
But the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
22 Lying lips [are] an abomination to Jehovah;
But those that deal truly are his delight” (Prov. 12:18-22 WK).
Babbling or rash speaking is compared most aptly to the piercings of a sword; it inflicts wounds and pain; it flows from levity if not malice, and it has no aim of good. The tongue of the wise carries conviction to every upright heart. It may smite if duty call for it righteously, but it is a kindness; such wounds heal, as they prove and remove what only harms. The tongue of the wise is health.
The lip of truth may be withstood and disliked by such as have reason to dread it, but it shall stand forever. There is no need therefore to spend time in defending it or exposing those that are its adversaries. If one waits quietly, the more will its reality and importance appear; whereas a lying tongue is but for a moment save among such as love it; and where will the end be?
The Fruit of the Mouth
20 A man’s belly is satisfied with the fruit of his mouth;
With the increase of his lips is he satisfied.
21 Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue;
And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (Prov. 18:20-21 WK).
“The belly” seems to be employed here in its twofold application for the innermost affections whether good or evil. The mouth indicates the heart, as the Lord tells us both of the good man and of the wicked. Out of its abundance the mouth speaks. Here it is the other side: a man’s inwards are satisfied with the fruit of his mouth, with the increase of his lips. How weighty then our every word, if we bring in God! But if this satisfies man, the child of God can be satisfied with nothing less than God’s word and grace. Hence too are death and life said to be in the power of the tongue, and so the issues regards both good and evil. All scripture declares it; all experience confirms and illustrates it.
23 Whoso guardeth his mouth and his tongue
Guardeth his soul from troubles. (Prov. 21:23 WK).
However, valuable a faculty as good speech is, it is wise to spare the tongue as well as the mouth. The time, the tone, the way, and the end have all to be considered, lest a fair intention might not only fail but provoke. As the mouth has to beware of taking in what is beyond right and good, so the tongue of letting out what is not edifying. To keep one’s mouth and tongue as in God’s presence is to keep the soul from troubles without end.
Proverbs Wm. Kelly (adapted)