Death and life are in the power of the tongue… Proverbs 18:21
The tongue is a weapon that can wound another person deeply. If you carry a weapon that can wound, you have to carry it with great care. Remember that your tongue is such a weapon.
We sometimes talk about “cutting remarks” and here in Proverbs we read that “rash words are like sword thrusts” (Prov. 12:18). Words that burst out can bring deep wounds. Maybe you have been on the receiving end of powerful words like these: You’ll never amount to anything!
Death is in the power of the tongue. Our Lord tells us that the sixth commandment, “You shall not murder,” includes death by words. “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ [or “raca,” a term of contempt that means “You’re useless!”] will be liable to the hell of fire” (Matt. 5:21-22).
Abusive speech is an offense for which a person is accountable to God. It is a violation of the sixth commandment that would put a person in danger of the fire of hell. This would have gotten the attention of the crowd. If angry words that insult or diminish another person are a violation of the sixth commandment, then we are all guilty.
Are there words you shouldn’t have said recently? If so, now is the time to make it right and ask forgiveness of both God and the person you spoke ill towards.
