Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
The tongue is a very small member that makes great boasts, and like a tiny spark it can set a vast amount ablaze with effects far beyond its size. Left to itself it is unruly and untamable, a fire and a world of wrong that stains the whole life and spreads corruption while itself inflamed with evil. Careless, unjust and passionate words kindle anger, hatred, strife and division like a small fire growing into a conflagration that is hard to quench. When cleansed and guided by the Holy Spirit the same small instrument becomes a great power for good to comfort, persuade, convey love and sow truth. It must therefore be bridled and kept under constant control, for words reveal the heart and decide destiny in judgment, and governing them brings peace, purity and victory over evil.
Small Member, Great Fire
The tongue is a little member that boasts great things, and like a little fire kindling a great blaze it produces effects far beyond its size. A little speech can kindle extensive harm, just as a small fire sets a great matter ablaze. Its freedom to act can set trouble in motion, so that its power is a personal danger calling for wisdom, restraint, and guarding.
The chapter is an eye-opener for self-examination, to be read carefully and prayerfully. This applies especially to its teaching on wisdom and conduct in verses 13-16, and to those in positions of responsibility who can misuse influence. The principles for governing words and actions are sacred expressions of God's mind, also spoken from the pillar of cloud. They require words and actions to be governed by God's directions so as not to misrepresent His character, and to be practiced in religious life and in dealings with others with love, justice, liberality, tenderness, compassion, and courtesy.
The tongue is a small unruly member, a fire, a world of iniquity among the members that defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature while itself set on fire of hell. It is an evil no man can tame, unruly, untamed and untamable, and full of deadly poison. Talking against brethren and sisters, influencing others who do not know them, and reporting incorrect things about them is the working of this untamed tongue, puts a spot on Christian character, and must be reformed and overcome in order to be presented without spot or wrinkle and to win eternal life. Feeling wronged over close dealing in business and then feeling and talking about it, arousing dissatisfaction where none existed, expecting too much from brethren, showing retaliation and offense, cherishing bitter feelings foreign to Christ's spirit, and indulging anger, resentment, and every unkind temper by speaking against those who displease and reciting the errors, failings, and sins of neighbors gratifies hurtful desires and commits a greater sin than the selfishness that provoked it. Even a small source can set off widespread harm and spread destruction, and the tongue must not both bless God and curse people made in God's likeness. Speech should instead reflect wisdom that is pure, gentle, merciful, and peaceable.
Words reveal what is treasured in the heart, shape the speaker's thoughts and actions, and matter in judgment, where people are justified or condemned by what they say and every thought, word, and action is brought into judgment. Careless or perverse words are like seeds bearing good or evil fruit, and speech can cause mischief if not kept under control. When Christ abides within, good words are brought forth, while a heart without Christ indulges in cheap talk and exaggerated claims. Governing the tongue is closely tied to personal religion, because hasty words and decisions can lead people to defend a wrong course out of pride, wound others, dishonor God, and bring ruinous consequences. Repeated unkind speech and false reports grow to cause great injustice and discord, while suspicion and unrighteous judgment harm the speakers' own spiritual experience.
Destruction Wrought by Words
Careless and unjust words inflame another person's anger and kindle envy, hatred and strife, like a small fire spreading into a conflagration that is difficult to quench. Critical and exaggerated speech sows doubt and mistrust and divides neighbors, friends, fellow believers and churches, serving evil purposes. Uncontrolled speech becomes a source of sin that inflames anger, resentment and other unkind tempers.
Talking against brethren and sisters, influencing others who do not know them, and reporting incorrect things about them gratifies sinful and hurtful desires, is contrary to the spirit of Christ, defiles character, and puts a spot on Christian character that must be reformed and overcome to be presented without spot or wrinkle and win eternal life. Reciting the errors, failings and sins of neighbors belongs to this same untamed use of the tongue.
Suspicious, talkative and whispered speech turns innocent words into perceived wrongdoing, while unwise and excessive talk magnifies small mistakes, sets many false reports in motion, separates close friends, drives joy from the church, and produces ill feeling, distrust, sadness and pain. False, unjust and untrue speech pierces heart and brain and bruises souls who love God and try to do His will, wounding and confusing minds almost to unbalance, making its users tools for Satan's devising. A tongue used to murmur, speak evil and report falsely is not a gift that benefits others, and the unruly tongue must be disciplined and sanctified beginning in the heart where affection and suspicion take root, passing over minor differences without comment and speaking words that unite and heal.
A faultfinding, critical and accusing spirit sows seeds of bitterness, doubt, mistrust and suspicious thoughts in hearts and minds. Such speech becomes a stumbling block to a weak brother, turning his feet out of the way of life to eternal loss, with the lost in despair reproaching those who misled them when the hidden plague spot and rock of offense that wrecked them is revealed. To tear one another down by finding fault is to do Satan's work while neglecting one's own precious soul, and those who allow such unchristlike work to go on unrebuked are accountable for injury to their brethren; meekness, submission to God and love for others should instead govern speech, and those who visit from house to house must diffuse faith, piety and hope rather than unsettle little faith. Questioning and finding fault with everything and every man's teaching and accusing the brethren proves the speaker's own imperfection and calls for severe self-criticism instead of criticizing others.
Setting thoughts and tongue on fire over trifling matters where people associate plants bitter, fibrous roots in hearts, creating suspicion, strengthening distrust, poisoning faith, defiling many souls, and strengthening evil speaking, watching for evil and unjust suspicion. This bears the fruit of the natural selfish heart rather than drawing sap and nourishment from the True Vine and feeding upon the Word which cleanses from unjust suspicions, revealing lack of charity. It hinders the work God desires to be accomplished, places His servants in the worst light, advances the enemy's work of alienating brother from brother, and brings guilt in judgment measured by present character, proving the speaker unfit for sacred responsibility without daily conversion, crucifixion with Christ and a changed atmosphere about the soul. Free critical talk, sly questioning that draws out alienation, treasuring disagreeable things, exaggerating evil, scattering doubt and mistrust, and viewing everything in a false light kindles a fire that spreads until whole neighborhoods and churches are leavened, so evil thinking and evil speaking, envy and jealousy must be refused in favor of looking to own defects, being loyal as steel in defending brethren, and seeking harmony to the measure of Christ's oneness with the Father.
Nursing resentment and bitterness against those who have done wrong and venting feelings in reproaches and censure cultivates the tongue into a consuming fire that gives only momentary relief to a burdened heart while making matters worse and leaving a lasting scar upon the soul. Harsh words cause wounds hard to heal, hurt one's own soul and the souls of others, and place a burden on others far outweighing any advantage gained by winning an argument, so personal opinions and small differences should be yielded unless vital, divisive matters never introduced, and private differences kept to oneself and told only to God.
Feeling wronged over close dealing in business and then feeling and talking about it arouses dissatisfaction where none existed, and expecting too much from brethren while showing retaliation and offense, cherishing bitter feelings foreign to the spirit of Christ, and indulging anger, resentment and every unkind temper commits a greater sin than the selfishness that provoked it. The tongue's power also sets nation against nation causing war and bloodshed and kindles fires hard to quench. A small matter brought up in the wrong place can have serious consequences, as past experience should have taught, for one passionate word can give Satan an advantage, wound the speaker and turn others from the light, and careless suggestions can unsettle others and set harmful thoughts and actions in motion.
Power for Good and Blessing
Though small, the tongue has great power for good as well as evil, and must be carefully guarded because it can do great evil as well as great good. It can kindle conflict between nations and cause bloodshed, or it can bring joy and lead people to repentance. Its words frame effects far beyond its size, whether to harm or to bless.
When sanctified by the Holy Spirit, speech is a power for good that offers prayer and praise to God, convinces and persuades, conveys the Redeemer's love, comforts bruised and wounded souls, sows truth in many hearts, and brings joy and gladness. It is a sacred trust to honor the plan of redemption, to lead people to Christ, to comfort the discouraged, and to offer kindness and sympathy. Conversation is to center on Jesus' love and the hope of heaven, and to be honest and sound so that it benefits and teaches those who hear. Harsh, dishonest, exaggerated, or otherwise idle words harm others, and every idle word must be answered for.
Timely and judicious use of speech strongly influences others for good. Words spoken as God directs and at His command may bring sorrow that leads to repentance. The same power misused kindles destructive fires that are difficult to quench and provokes conflict and bloodshed, while rightly used it brings joy and comfort. Harmful speech damages both its hearers and its speakers.
When the heart is pure and filled with Christian tenderness, sympathy and politeness, and when Christ abides within, words do great good and reveal the goodness treasured in the heart. Jealousy, suspicion, selfishness and evil-surmising expressed in speech reveal corruption, while words of praise and gratitude glorify God. Careless or perverse words are like seeds bearing good or evil fruit and can cause mischief, so the tongue must be kept under control, avoiding cheap talk and exaggerated claims. Pure words about God's goodness, mercy and love encourage others in the Christian life and can help convict unbelievers, whereas misusing speech weakens the church and dishonors Christ. Words matter in judgment, for by them people are justified or condemned.
Words and actions leave impressions on others that cannot be recalled or stopped. Reckless conduct starts a course of evil that continues beyond control. Good example likewise strengthens others' good purposes and spreads beneficial influence to many people.
Governing the Unruly Tongue
The tongue is a small unruly member that must be entirely controlled, bridled with grace and the bit of self-control to keep it from running at random, and governed by Scripture in daily life. Educating oneself in carefulness of words and acts is not hypocrisy but duty, and its truth must be carefully considered, laid to heart, used to form character and carried out into daily life, because the principles of the ten precepts cannot be kept without heeding what it teaches about the tongue. Reform must begin with becoming chaste in conversation, putting away low-order conversation and cheap talk, and speaking only what is good for edifying hearers.
Bridling it means restraining careless, excessive, exaggerated, hasty and angry speech. Its discipline requires disciplining the mind, and Christ's help enables people to bridle the tongue and avoid sinful, hasty, or angry words.
Taming requires an entire transformation of character, by yoking up with Christ, praying for the Holy Spirit, girding up the loins of the mind, humbling self and not exalting self, putting on the Lord Jesus Christ, and making no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts. An unrestrained, talkative tongue becomes a world of iniquity that changes the course of nature for oneself and for others, stirs up strife, raises opposition and combativeness and makes war instead of peace, and even enjoys the resulting conflagration, which has no part in the truth. The bridled tongue marks God's true servant and soldier of Christ, ready to go wherever Providence leads and using all lent treasure of talents, learning, position, wealth, and influence to strengthen the flock as a messenger of mercy, while the unbridled criticizing tongue does Satan's work.
Even ardent proclamation of truth becomes unwise and a lack of wisdom when the tongue uses it to raise opposition, arouse combativeness and make war instead of working in peace and true humbleness of mind. Words must therefore become select and well chosen, circumspect, sober and carefully chosen, and with Christ formed within as the hope of glory bring forth fruit unto righteousness. Reckless talking, sporting and joking, hilarity and glee, levity, careless random speech, low-order conversation, cheap talk, laughing and jesting are censured. In their place are required Christian cheerfulness, sobriety, solemn influence, good works, burden for souls, and faithful representation of Christ in the solemn last days.
Before speaking in anger the mouth should be closed and prayer offered for help to resist evil. Believers should keep silent when tempted to answer unjustly, for hasty speech can give the enemy victory, and restraint in speech helps overcome temptation. Personal opinions and small differences should be yielded unless a question of vital importance is involved, divisive matters should never be introduced into conversation, private differences should be kept to oneself and told only to God, and minor differences should be passed over without comment with words that unite and heal. Much sin comes through the tongue, so speech requires constant care; speaking without reflection or purpose, or saying nothing that cheers, encourages or uplifts, is better avoided, even good conversation can weary others when excessive, and thoughtful silence can honor God more than speaking.
Words and the spirit prompting them must be watched and guarded as by faithful sentinels, defective character overcome, and those for whom Christ died treated with care. Careless, critical, faultfinding and accusing words prompted by a wrong spirit sow seeds of bitterness and suspicious thoughts and become a stumbling block turning a weak brother out of the way of life to eternal loss, while meekness, submission to God and love for others should govern speech, for speaking perversely or finding fault with brethren damages their Christian confidence and shows distrust of God. Every word is recorded, and words not washed away by Christ's blood must be faced again. People will answer to God for every idle word, for harsh, dishonest, exaggerated or otherwise idle words harm others, so speech is a sacred trust to honor the plan of redemption, lead people to Christ, comfort the discouraged, offer kindness and sympathy, and benefit and teach hearers with honest, sound conversation focused on Jesus' love and the hope of heaven.
Guarding this unruly member and controlling what is said and subduing a hasty temper is a great victory. Without control of words and temper a person is a slave to Satan and led captive by him, and all jangling and unpleasant, impatient, fretful words are a costly offering to Satan, more costly than any offering made to God, because they destroy the peace and happiness of whole families, destroy health, and at last cause the forfeiting of an eternal life of happiness. The restraint God's word puts on speech is for human good, increasing happiness, bringing peace of mind, refining taste, sanctifying judgment, and in the end everlasting life. Under this holy restraint grace and humility increase, right speech becomes easy, the natural passionate temper is held in subjection, an indwelling Saviour strengthens every hour, careless suggestions no longer unsettle others and set harmful thoughts and actions in motion, and ministering angels linger in the dwelling and carry joyful tidings of advance in the divine life heavenward.
Speech at Home and Church
Uncontrolled, impatient, fretful words and a hasty temper destroy the peace and happiness of whole families, destroy health, and at last forfeit an eternal life of happiness. Without control of words and temper a person is enslaved to Satan and led captive by him, and all jangling and unpleasant words are a costly offering to Satan, more costly than any offering made to God. The restraint God's word puts on speech and temper is for human good, bringing peace, increasing happiness of families and all around, refining taste, sanctifying judgment, bringing peace of mind and in the end everlasting life and growth in grace and humility. In that control great victories are gained, grace and humility increase, right speech becomes easy, the natural passionate temper is held in subjection by an indwelling Saviour who strengthens every hour, and ministering angels linger in the dwelling and carry joyful tidings of advance in the divine life heavenward. Cross words spoken at home or among church members show an unchristlike spirit, dishonor God, and reveal how a person would speak in heaven, while children learn speech from parental example, so when tempted to speak harshly prayer for grace to resist and change is required. Hasty, harsh words that wound a brother or sister, cherish supposed wrongs, and leave disunion, bitterness and obstruction to corrode have everlasting consequences and must never be vindicated but must be confessed with pride conquered and soul humbled. Its right use is to be reconciled at once, remove all rubbish of disunion, heal every wound so none remains, clear the King's highway, and speak only words under the Holy Spirit that build up and soften and subdue rather than tear down, aggravate, dictate and discourage fellow workers.
A tongue that questions and finds fault with everything and every man's teaching and accuses the brethren and speaks evil of them proves the speaker's own imperfection of character and must be rebuked by careful reading that turns criticism severely upon self instead of others. Free critical talk, sly questioning that draws out alienation, treasuring disagreeable things, exaggerating evil, scattering doubt and mistrust, and viewing everything in a false light kindles a fire that spreads until whole neighborhoods and churches are leavened, so evil thinking and evil speaking, envy and jealousy must be refused in favor of looking to own defects, being loyal and true as steel in defending brethren, and seeking harmony to the measure of Christ's oneness with the Father. Thinking that persecuting brethren with strong prejudice and jealousies is doing God's work and God's will is sad self-deception, and thoughts must be guarded and feelings controlled so that speech can win heaven's approval. Neglect of personal spiritual work is often seen in a coarse spirit and unrefined words that reveal self taking the place of God, dishonor the Spirit of God, and can keep certain people from being reached by the direct words of sermons and prayers. When the heart is not filled with God's Spirit, excitable careless words cause mischief and confuse listeners, dishonor God, and make the speaker unreliable in repeating what was said.
Words that betray confidence and break unity between believers start a destructive conflict that is difficult to stop, sow evil, and do Satan's work. In the church the power of speech, a great talent to bless and a great curse to cause dissension and strife, must represent the character of Christ by building one another up in the most holy faith and helping one another day by day to grow to the full stature of men and women in Christ, and in this work the door is closed to the enemy. To use the tongue to tear one another down by finding fault with this one and that one neglects one's own precious soul, and those who allow such unchristlike work to go on unrebuked are themselves accountable before God for injury to their brethren. False, unjust and untrue speech from a little unruly member left without control and freely used in unwise, vain talking, especially from persons who profess to know the truth, pierces heart and brain and causes sadness and pain and bruising to souls who love God and try to do His will and service for Him, wounding and confusing minds almost to unbalance. Those who so use the tongue become tools for Satan's devising to hurt souls, and the Lord has a controversy with them. Every church must be carefully disciplined in use of the tongue along with the imagination, for envy, evil thinking, evil speaking, fault-finding, watching for evil, evil-surmising, striving for supremacy, and pulling others down to build self up sow seeds that produce a harvest of evils. Workers sent as missionaries who use their tongues this way close the field instead of opening it, and God will not work with them unless they humble their hearts before God and confess these sins.
In the church that small-member great power to harm is seen when a disaffected member visits and talks, counterworking the minister by murmuring, faultfinding, speaking evil, and sowing seeds of doubt, infidelity, irritation, evil-surmising and disaffection, leaving disagreeable and untruthful impressions that break unity, defile the church and dishonor God's name. Such evil influence cannot have the sanction of the church or God's approval, so faithful personal labor must be given, and if after the steps required by Christ the person will not hear and change, separation from fellowship must follow, with sympathizers who choose the wrong side suspended also. Those unwilling to come out on the Lord's side and harmonize must keep the tongue as with a bridle or find some other place to worship, that order and unity may be preserved and the church set in order. Those who visit from house to house must not use words that encourage weakness and unsettle the little faith many members have, but must diffuse faith, piety and hope, for evil speaking and evil devising produce their harvest in weakness, alienation and strife. People engaged in God's work must guard speech, remain close to Jesus, and pray for strength to bridle the tongue, for one passionate word can give Satan an advantage, wound the speaker and turn others from the light, while restraint and keeping silent when tempted to answer unjustly helps overcome temptation and keeps the enemy from victory.
The tongue is a very small member that makes great boasts, and like a tiny spark it can set a vast amount ablaze with effects far beyond its size. Left to itself it is unruly and untamable, a fire and a world of wrong that stains the whole life and spreads corruption while itself inflamed with evil. Careless, unjust and passionate words kindle anger, hatred, strife and division like a small fire growing into a conflagration that is hard to quench. When cleansed and guided by the Holy Spirit the same small instrument becomes a great power for good to comfort, persuade, convey love and sow truth. It must therefore be bridled and kept under constant control, for words reveal the heart and decide destiny in judgment, and governing them brings peace, purity and victory over evil.
Small Member, Great Fire
The tongue is a little member that boasts great things, and like a little fire kindling a great blaze it produces effects far beyond its size. A little speech can kindle extensive harm, just as a small fire sets a great matter ablaze. Its freedom to act can set trouble in motion, so that its power is a personal danger calling for wisdom, restraint, and guarding.
The chapter is an eye-opener for self-examination, to be read carefully and prayerfully. This applies especially to its teaching on wisdom and conduct in verses 13-16, and to those in positions of responsibility who can misuse influence. The principles for governing words and actions are sacred expressions of God's mind, also spoken from the pillar of cloud. They require words and actions to be governed by God's directions so as not to misrepresent His character, and to be practiced in religious life and in dealings with others with love, justice, liberality, tenderness, compassion, and courtesy.
The tongue is a small unruly member, a fire, a world of iniquity among the members that defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature while itself set on fire of hell. It is an evil no man can tame, unruly, untamed and untamable, and full of deadly poison. Talking against brethren and sisters, influencing others who do not know them, and reporting incorrect things about them is the working of this untamed tongue, puts a spot on Christian character, and must be reformed and overcome in order to be presented without spot or wrinkle and to win eternal life. Feeling wronged over close dealing in business and then feeling and talking about it, arousing dissatisfaction where none existed, expecting too much from brethren, showing retaliation and offense, cherishing bitter feelings foreign to Christ's spirit, and indulging anger, resentment, and every unkind temper by speaking against those who displease and reciting the errors, failings, and sins of neighbors gratifies hurtful desires and commits a greater sin than the selfishness that provoked it. Even a small source can set off widespread harm and spread destruction, and the tongue must not both bless God and curse people made in God's likeness. Speech should instead reflect wisdom that is pure, gentle, merciful, and peaceable.
Words reveal what is treasured in the heart, shape the speaker's thoughts and actions, and matter in judgment, where people are justified or condemned by what they say and every thought, word, and action is brought into judgment. Careless or perverse words are like seeds bearing good or evil fruit, and speech can cause mischief if not kept under control. When Christ abides within, good words are brought forth, while a heart without Christ indulges in cheap talk and exaggerated claims. Governing the tongue is closely tied to personal religion, because hasty words and decisions can lead people to defend a wrong course out of pride, wound others, dishonor God, and bring ruinous consequences. Repeated unkind speech and false reports grow to cause great injustice and discord, while suspicion and unrighteous judgment harm the speakers' own spiritual experience.
Destruction Wrought by Words
Careless and unjust words inflame another person's anger and kindle envy, hatred and strife, like a small fire spreading into a conflagration that is difficult to quench. Critical and exaggerated speech sows doubt and mistrust and divides neighbors, friends, fellow believers and churches, serving evil purposes. Uncontrolled speech becomes a source of sin that inflames anger, resentment and other unkind tempers.
Talking against brethren and sisters, influencing others who do not know them, and reporting incorrect things about them gratifies sinful and hurtful desires, is contrary to the spirit of Christ, defiles character, and puts a spot on Christian character that must be reformed and overcome to be presented without spot or wrinkle and win eternal life. Reciting the errors, failings and sins of neighbors belongs to this same untamed use of the tongue.
Suspicious, talkative and whispered speech turns innocent words into perceived wrongdoing, while unwise and excessive talk magnifies small mistakes, sets many false reports in motion, separates close friends, drives joy from the church, and produces ill feeling, distrust, sadness and pain. False, unjust and untrue speech pierces heart and brain and bruises souls who love God and try to do His will, wounding and confusing minds almost to unbalance, making its users tools for Satan's devising. A tongue used to murmur, speak evil and report falsely is not a gift that benefits others, and the unruly tongue must be disciplined and sanctified beginning in the heart where affection and suspicion take root, passing over minor differences without comment and speaking words that unite and heal.
A faultfinding, critical and accusing spirit sows seeds of bitterness, doubt, mistrust and suspicious thoughts in hearts and minds. Such speech becomes a stumbling block to a weak brother, turning his feet out of the way of life to eternal loss, with the lost in despair reproaching those who misled them when the hidden plague spot and rock of offense that wrecked them is revealed. To tear one another down by finding fault is to do Satan's work while neglecting one's own precious soul, and those who allow such unchristlike work to go on unrebuked are accountable for injury to their brethren; meekness, submission to God and love for others should instead govern speech, and those who visit from house to house must diffuse faith, piety and hope rather than unsettle little faith. Questioning and finding fault with everything and every man's teaching and accusing the brethren proves the speaker's own imperfection and calls for severe self-criticism instead of criticizing others.
Setting thoughts and tongue on fire over trifling matters where people associate plants bitter, fibrous roots in hearts, creating suspicion, strengthening distrust, poisoning faith, defiling many souls, and strengthening evil speaking, watching for evil and unjust suspicion. This bears the fruit of the natural selfish heart rather than drawing sap and nourishment from the True Vine and feeding upon the Word which cleanses from unjust suspicions, revealing lack of charity. It hinders the work God desires to be accomplished, places His servants in the worst light, advances the enemy's work of alienating brother from brother, and brings guilt in judgment measured by present character, proving the speaker unfit for sacred responsibility without daily conversion, crucifixion with Christ and a changed atmosphere about the soul. Free critical talk, sly questioning that draws out alienation, treasuring disagreeable things, exaggerating evil, scattering doubt and mistrust, and viewing everything in a false light kindles a fire that spreads until whole neighborhoods and churches are leavened, so evil thinking and evil speaking, envy and jealousy must be refused in favor of looking to own defects, being loyal as steel in defending brethren, and seeking harmony to the measure of Christ's oneness with the Father.
Nursing resentment and bitterness against those who have done wrong and venting feelings in reproaches and censure cultivates the tongue into a consuming fire that gives only momentary relief to a burdened heart while making matters worse and leaving a lasting scar upon the soul. Harsh words cause wounds hard to heal, hurt one's own soul and the souls of others, and place a burden on others far outweighing any advantage gained by winning an argument, so personal opinions and small differences should be yielded unless vital, divisive matters never introduced, and private differences kept to oneself and told only to God.
Feeling wronged over close dealing in business and then feeling and talking about it arouses dissatisfaction where none existed, and expecting too much from brethren while showing retaliation and offense, cherishing bitter feelings foreign to the spirit of Christ, and indulging anger, resentment and every unkind temper commits a greater sin than the selfishness that provoked it. The tongue's power also sets nation against nation causing war and bloodshed and kindles fires hard to quench. A small matter brought up in the wrong place can have serious consequences, as past experience should have taught, for one passionate word can give Satan an advantage, wound the speaker and turn others from the light, and careless suggestions can unsettle others and set harmful thoughts and actions in motion.
Power for Good and Blessing
Though small, the tongue has great power for good as well as evil, and must be carefully guarded because it can do great evil as well as great good. It can kindle conflict between nations and cause bloodshed, or it can bring joy and lead people to repentance. Its words frame effects far beyond its size, whether to harm or to bless.
When sanctified by the Holy Spirit, speech is a power for good that offers prayer and praise to God, convinces and persuades, conveys the Redeemer's love, comforts bruised and wounded souls, sows truth in many hearts, and brings joy and gladness. It is a sacred trust to honor the plan of redemption, to lead people to Christ, to comfort the discouraged, and to offer kindness and sympathy. Conversation is to center on Jesus' love and the hope of heaven, and to be honest and sound so that it benefits and teaches those who hear. Harsh, dishonest, exaggerated, or otherwise idle words harm others, and every idle word must be answered for.
Timely and judicious use of speech strongly influences others for good. Words spoken as God directs and at His command may bring sorrow that leads to repentance. The same power misused kindles destructive fires that are difficult to quench and provokes conflict and bloodshed, while rightly used it brings joy and comfort. Harmful speech damages both its hearers and its speakers.
When the heart is pure and filled with Christian tenderness, sympathy and politeness, and when Christ abides within, words do great good and reveal the goodness treasured in the heart. Jealousy, suspicion, selfishness and evil-surmising expressed in speech reveal corruption, while words of praise and gratitude glorify God. Careless or perverse words are like seeds bearing good or evil fruit and can cause mischief, so the tongue must be kept under control, avoiding cheap talk and exaggerated claims. Pure words about God's goodness, mercy and love encourage others in the Christian life and can help convict unbelievers, whereas misusing speech weakens the church and dishonors Christ. Words matter in judgment, for by them people are justified or condemned.
Words and actions leave impressions on others that cannot be recalled or stopped. Reckless conduct starts a course of evil that continues beyond control. Good example likewise strengthens others' good purposes and spreads beneficial influence to many people.
Governing the Unruly Tongue
The tongue is a small unruly member that must be entirely controlled, bridled with grace and the bit of self-control to keep it from running at random, and governed by Scripture in daily life. Educating oneself in carefulness of words and acts is not hypocrisy but duty, and its truth must be carefully considered, laid to heart, used to form character and carried out into daily life, because the principles of the ten precepts cannot be kept without heeding what it teaches about the tongue. Reform must begin with becoming chaste in conversation, putting away low-order conversation and cheap talk, and speaking only what is good for edifying hearers.
Bridling it means restraining careless, excessive, exaggerated, hasty and angry speech. Its discipline requires disciplining the mind, and Christ's help enables people to bridle the tongue and avoid sinful, hasty, or angry words.
Taming requires an entire transformation of character, by yoking up with Christ, praying for the Holy Spirit, girding up the loins of the mind, humbling self and not exalting self, putting on the Lord Jesus Christ, and making no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts. An unrestrained, talkative tongue becomes a world of iniquity that changes the course of nature for oneself and for others, stirs up strife, raises opposition and combativeness and makes war instead of peace, and even enjoys the resulting conflagration, which has no part in the truth. The bridled tongue marks God's true servant and soldier of Christ, ready to go wherever Providence leads and using all lent treasure of talents, learning, position, wealth, and influence to strengthen the flock as a messenger of mercy, while the unbridled criticizing tongue does Satan's work.
Even ardent proclamation of truth becomes unwise and a lack of wisdom when the tongue uses it to raise opposition, arouse combativeness and make war instead of working in peace and true humbleness of mind. Words must therefore become select and well chosen, circumspect, sober and carefully chosen, and with Christ formed within as the hope of glory bring forth fruit unto righteousness. Reckless talking, sporting and joking, hilarity and glee, levity, careless random speech, low-order conversation, cheap talk, laughing and jesting are censured. In their place are required Christian cheerfulness, sobriety, solemn influence, good works, burden for souls, and faithful representation of Christ in the solemn last days.
Before speaking in anger the mouth should be closed and prayer offered for help to resist evil. Believers should keep silent when tempted to answer unjustly, for hasty speech can give the enemy victory, and restraint in speech helps overcome temptation. Personal opinions and small differences should be yielded unless a question of vital importance is involved, divisive matters should never be introduced into conversation, private differences should be kept to oneself and told only to God, and minor differences should be passed over without comment with words that unite and heal. Much sin comes through the tongue, so speech requires constant care; speaking without reflection or purpose, or saying nothing that cheers, encourages or uplifts, is better avoided, even good conversation can weary others when excessive, and thoughtful silence can honor God more than speaking.
Words and the spirit prompting them must be watched and guarded as by faithful sentinels, defective character overcome, and those for whom Christ died treated with care. Careless, critical, faultfinding and accusing words prompted by a wrong spirit sow seeds of bitterness and suspicious thoughts and become a stumbling block turning a weak brother out of the way of life to eternal loss, while meekness, submission to God and love for others should govern speech, for speaking perversely or finding fault with brethren damages their Christian confidence and shows distrust of God. Every word is recorded, and words not washed away by Christ's blood must be faced again. People will answer to God for every idle word, for harsh, dishonest, exaggerated or otherwise idle words harm others, so speech is a sacred trust to honor the plan of redemption, lead people to Christ, comfort the discouraged, offer kindness and sympathy, and benefit and teach hearers with honest, sound conversation focused on Jesus' love and the hope of heaven.
Guarding this unruly member and controlling what is said and subduing a hasty temper is a great victory. Without control of words and temper a person is a slave to Satan and led captive by him, and all jangling and unpleasant, impatient, fretful words are a costly offering to Satan, more costly than any offering made to God, because they destroy the peace and happiness of whole families, destroy health, and at last cause the forfeiting of an eternal life of happiness. The restraint God's word puts on speech is for human good, increasing happiness, bringing peace of mind, refining taste, sanctifying judgment, and in the end everlasting life. Under this holy restraint grace and humility increase, right speech becomes easy, the natural passionate temper is held in subjection, an indwelling Saviour strengthens every hour, careless suggestions no longer unsettle others and set harmful thoughts and actions in motion, and ministering angels linger in the dwelling and carry joyful tidings of advance in the divine life heavenward.
Speech at Home and Church
Uncontrolled, impatient, fretful words and a hasty temper destroy the peace and happiness of whole families, destroy health, and at last forfeit an eternal life of happiness. Without control of words and temper a person is enslaved to Satan and led captive by him, and all jangling and unpleasant words are a costly offering to Satan, more costly than any offering made to God. The restraint God's word puts on speech and temper is for human good, bringing peace, increasing happiness of families and all around, refining taste, sanctifying judgment, bringing peace of mind and in the end everlasting life and growth in grace and humility. In that control great victories are gained, grace and humility increase, right speech becomes easy, the natural passionate temper is held in subjection by an indwelling Saviour who strengthens every hour, and ministering angels linger in the dwelling and carry joyful tidings of advance in the divine life heavenward. Cross words spoken at home or among church members show an unchristlike spirit, dishonor God, and reveal how a person would speak in heaven, while children learn speech from parental example, so when tempted to speak harshly prayer for grace to resist and change is required. Hasty, harsh words that wound a brother or sister, cherish supposed wrongs, and leave disunion, bitterness and obstruction to corrode have everlasting consequences and must never be vindicated but must be confessed with pride conquered and soul humbled. Its right use is to be reconciled at once, remove all rubbish of disunion, heal every wound so none remains, clear the King's highway, and speak only words under the Holy Spirit that build up and soften and subdue rather than tear down, aggravate, dictate and discourage fellow workers.
A tongue that questions and finds fault with everything and every man's teaching and accuses the brethren and speaks evil of them proves the speaker's own imperfection of character and must be rebuked by careful reading that turns criticism severely upon self instead of others. Free critical talk, sly questioning that draws out alienation, treasuring disagreeable things, exaggerating evil, scattering doubt and mistrust, and viewing everything in a false light kindles a fire that spreads until whole neighborhoods and churches are leavened, so evil thinking and evil speaking, envy and jealousy must be refused in favor of looking to own defects, being loyal and true as steel in defending brethren, and seeking harmony to the measure of Christ's oneness with the Father. Thinking that persecuting brethren with strong prejudice and jealousies is doing God's work and God's will is sad self-deception, and thoughts must be guarded and feelings controlled so that speech can win heaven's approval. Neglect of personal spiritual work is often seen in a coarse spirit and unrefined words that reveal self taking the place of God, dishonor the Spirit of God, and can keep certain people from being reached by the direct words of sermons and prayers. When the heart is not filled with God's Spirit, excitable careless words cause mischief and confuse listeners, dishonor God, and make the speaker unreliable in repeating what was said.
Words that betray confidence and break unity between believers start a destructive conflict that is difficult to stop, sow evil, and do Satan's work. In the church the power of speech, a great talent to bless and a great curse to cause dissension and strife, must represent the character of Christ by building one another up in the most holy faith and helping one another day by day to grow to the full stature of men and women in Christ, and in this work the door is closed to the enemy. To use the tongue to tear one another down by finding fault with this one and that one neglects one's own precious soul, and those who allow such unchristlike work to go on unrebuked are themselves accountable before God for injury to their brethren. False, unjust and untrue speech from a little unruly member left without control and freely used in unwise, vain talking, especially from persons who profess to know the truth, pierces heart and brain and causes sadness and pain and bruising to souls who love God and try to do His will and service for Him, wounding and confusing minds almost to unbalance. Those who so use the tongue become tools for Satan's devising to hurt souls, and the Lord has a controversy with them. Every church must be carefully disciplined in use of the tongue along with the imagination, for envy, evil thinking, evil speaking, fault-finding, watching for evil, evil-surmising, striving for supremacy, and pulling others down to build self up sow seeds that produce a harvest of evils. Workers sent as missionaries who use their tongues this way close the field instead of opening it, and God will not work with them unless they humble their hearts before God and confess these sins.
In the church that small-member great power to harm is seen when a disaffected member visits and talks, counterworking the minister by murmuring, faultfinding, speaking evil, and sowing seeds of doubt, infidelity, irritation, evil-surmising and disaffection, leaving disagreeable and untruthful impressions that break unity, defile the church and dishonor God's name. Such evil influence cannot have the sanction of the church or God's approval, so faithful personal labor must be given, and if after the steps required by Christ the person will not hear and change, separation from fellowship must follow, with sympathizers who choose the wrong side suspended also. Those unwilling to come out on the Lord's side and harmonize must keep the tongue as with a bridle or find some other place to worship, that order and unity may be preserved and the church set in order. Those who visit from house to house must not use words that encourage weakness and unsettle the little faith many members have, but must diffuse faith, piety and hope, for evil speaking and evil devising produce their harvest in weakness, alienation and strife. People engaged in God's work must guard speech, remain close to Jesus, and pray for strength to bridle the tongue, for one passionate word can give Satan an advantage, wound the speaker and turn others from the light, while restraint and keeping silent when tempted to answer unjustly helps overcome temptation and keeps the enemy from victory.