Jesus said this about our uncontrollable tongue, “I tell you that men will have to give an account on the day of judgment for EVERY CARELESS WORD they have spoken. For by YOUR WORDS you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matt. 12:34-37) This is, I believe, a biblical command that every speaker (each one of us) of GOD’S WORD should constantly strive to observe: “Keep your heart with all diligence, for OUT OF IT (what we say) springs the issues of life.” (Prov. 4:23).
Jesus Himself taught us about being careful about what we say. He was confronted by the Pharisees once because His disciples didn’t follow the tradition of the Jewish elders by ceremonially washing their hands before they ate. Jesus responded by turning to the crowd that had gathered and saying, “Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH, this defiles the man” (Matt. 15:10-11).
Jesus cast out a demon and, “Those who saw it were astonished; and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?” But the Pharisees said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons” (Matt. 12:22-24). When they made this blasphemous accusation against Him, they were revealing the profoundly hardened condition of their hearts. “Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak GOOD THINGS? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will GIVE ACCOUNT of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words YOU WILL BE CONDEMNED” (Matt. 12:34-37).
The wonderful promise we have from God’s word is, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATION; old things have passed away; behold, ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW” (2 Corin. 5:17)
WHAT WE THINK, WHAT WE SAY, EVEN HOW WE WALK—ALL NEW!
-Bill Stockham