Why does the Bible say that the power of life and death are in the tongue? There are very good reasons for that!
Power of the Tongue
Judged by Our Words
We had well water living in the country and it smelled a little like sulfur, but it was still good. Our friends who visited us didn’t like the taste. They could tell what was in our well. Similarly, Jesus said in Matthew 12:35-37, “The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” God is apparently keeping a record of our words and remembers everything we’ve said and will say and I promise you, they can come back to bite us someday.
“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body” (Prov 26:24).
Good Words
The Apostle Paul addressed what comes out of our mouth, telling the church and believers today to “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Eph 4:29). The tongue can tear down or it can build up, so “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Col 4:6). Salt enhances the flavor of things and is a preservative, and is even used in medicines. Solomon wrote that “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body” (Prov 26:24), and they really do a body good. Positive words not only make life more enjoyable for those around us, people live longer who have a positive outlook in life.
Words as Daggers
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Prov 15:2).
Have you ever been really hurt or embarrassed by someone’s words, and especially in front of others? Then you know that “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Prov 2:18). Words do hurt and words do matter, so to avoid speaking rash words, we should speak fewer words. In fact, “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble” (Prov 21:23). I’ve tried that and held my tongue at times and was glad I did because when I opened my mouth at other times, I inserted my foot. It is an axiom of life to understand that “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Prov 15:2).
Gossip and Bearing False Witness
I think there are fewer things more destructive to the church than gossip. Prayer requests can become gossip and gossip often comes dangerously close to slandering someone. It’s as if we can assassinate someone’s character, although they go on living. James says, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless” (James 1:26). Our words reveal what’s in our hearts and we must realize that there is the power of life and death in the tongue, therefore, “Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin” (Prov 13:3). The chances for saying the wrong thing decrease exponentially with the fewer words we say or there is a smaller margin for error!
Defiling Words
“a whisperer separates close friends” (Proverbs 16:28)
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14). That’s a great prayer. I think I should memorize that. Whatever I say, I should think, are my words acceptable to God? Could I say them in public or in church? I care that my words are acceptable to others and I imagine you do too. First, I pray my words are acceptable before God, because I will be held accountable for every one of them, as will we all be. It is important to remember that “what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person” (Matt 15:18). If we speak evil words, it just defiles our personhood and our witness for Christ, so let us all remember that “by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matt 12:37).
Christ’s Ambassadors
Since we are ambassadors of God (2 Cor 5:20), we must put all of “these away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth” (Col 3:8). The tongue is very small, but even though “the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire” (James 3:5)! In many cases, it takes only a few harsh or hateful words to stoke the fire until it’s out of control. One example is when a church member has been gone for a while and someone will say to them, “Well, where have you been!?” Would it not be better to say, “How have you been?” which sounds much less insinuating and more caring?
Conclusion
Our words can also mean life to others; eternal life through Jesus Christ when we share the gospel of God. By telling others that they have fallen short of God’s glory (Rom 3:23, 6:23), deserving, like all of us, His righteous wrath (Rom 2), they might run to the cross for mercy and forgiveness (John 3:16). God will grant them repentance (Acts 16:14; 2 Tim 2:25) so that the words of the gospel will bring them eternal life (Rom 10:9-13). On the other hand, by rejecting Christ, they bring eternal damnation upon themselves (John 3:18, 36), so choose today, before you pass away and judgment comes (Heb 9:27) or you see Jesus’ visible return when it will be too late (Rev 1:7, 20:12-15).
Here is some related reading for you: How Can I Control My Tongue? Answers From the Bible
Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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