The Power Of The Tongue

Luke 6:45. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Jesus teaches that everybody's speech produces fruit. Good fruit comes from those with good hearts, and evil is produced from those with evil in their hearts. This is a simple concept, but most people misuse verses similar to that and usually apply them to others, not themselves. Luke 6:45 is probably not quoted out of context as much as the parallel passage in Matthew 7:16. There we read, “you will know them by their fruits.”

How often have you heard it said that you can tell who the true Christians are by the fruit they produce?

Matthew 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

What edifying or destructive communications flow from our tongues and out of the mouth? Words come out of the mouth. Words can defile or words can be supportive. Which is done the most? Is gossip usually productive or detrimental? Does it really matter what we say to someone's face? Does it matter what we spew behind someone's back? Yes, it matters very much. Even if our gossip has a heavy vein of unflattering truth, why spread your chin-waggings like manure upon a field?

James, most likely the eldest step-brother of Christ, in his letter to the early Church, which was predominantly filled with Jewish Christians, wrote about bridling your tongue.

James 1:26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

What does that verse mean to you?

James 3:2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

What do those words mean to you?

James 3:3-4 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.

Important lessons can be weaned from these scriptures. Straightaway we should strive not to stumble in our emotional moments or fumble out ill-conceived phrases towards those crossing our paths. Why not become more Jesus-like and restrain our run-a-way demeanor. The more mature person, one who is growing in Christ, strives to bring their tongue under control. Our words determine the direction of our life and others. Our tongue is like the bit in the horse’s mouth and like the keel and rudder that stabilizes and controls a ship at sea.

On the captain's orders, the helmsman of a ship must shift the rudder. In the same way, because of God's clear messages, we must modify our words to live and act properly, to be a godly influence to those we love. Spoken or unspoken words shape the ways and days of our life. Our life mirrors the reflections of our words.

So what does this mean to us? We must guard our lips against saying wrong or toxic phrases. Certainly, we need the right words, edifying words, spiritual words to flow across our tongues all the time. But, much to the mortification of proper English, we all can say, “That ain't easy!” The Gospel agrees by stating, “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”