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1 year ago
The Revealing Power of Words: Judgment and Transformation
The Power of Words: Revealing Our Hearts
Have you ever stopped to consider the impact of the words you speak? Jesus, in a tense discussion with the Pharisees, shed light on the significance of our words. He said, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34). In other words, the words we speak are a reflection of what is truly in our hearts. And on the day of judgment, every single word we have spoken will be brought forth as witnesses. Our words will either justify us or condemn us (Matthew 12:36–37).
What exactly did Jesus mean by speaking out of the abundance of the heart? To understand this, let's look at the context in which he made this statement. Jesus had just performed a miraculous healing, setting a man free from demonic oppression. The crowd was amazed and began to wonder if Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, the Son of David. However, the Pharisees, threatened by Jesus' growing popularity, accused him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons (Matthew 12:24).
Jesus responded to their accusation by exposing their hypocrisy and warning them about the grave danger of blaspheming the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31–32). He then made the profound statement about the power of our words.
Jesus turned the Pharisees' words back on them, revealing the evil that was fueling their accusations. Their carefully crafted words were intended to sow seeds of suspicion and dismantle Jesus' reputation. They failed to recognize the good fruit Jesus was bearing by setting the oppressed man free, while their own words revealed the evil fruit they were bearing through their dishonesty (Matthew 12:33).
The Pharisees were blinded by their own evil pursuits, unaware of the spiritual danger they were in. They couldn't discern the demonic influence that led them to call the Holy Spirit's power demonic. Their words exposed the abundance of evil in their hearts.
However, Jesus' warning about words extends beyond the deliberate and careful words of the Pharisees. He also includes every single careless word we speak. The Greek word used for "careless" is "argon," which can refer to flippant, idle, off-the-cuff words. These are the words we utter when our guard is down, words we speak in anger, impatience, or without much thought.
Jesus wants us to understand that even our careless words reveal the abundance of our hearts. Our words, whether deliberate or careless, will be called to witness for or against us on the day of judgment. They are so closely connected to our hearts that they become reliable indicators of what we truly value.
To illustrate the revealing power of careless words, let's consider a recent real-life example. Jon Gruden, a highly successful coach in the National Football League, saw his career unravel when numerous emails he had written between 2010 and 2018 were exposed. These private messages contained homophobic, misogynistic, and sexist insults, along with inappropriate pictures. Gruden's words, which he assumed would remain private, were suddenly made public. The public judgment was swift and harsh, leading to his resignation.
This example demonstrates Jesus' words in action: "Whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops" (Luke 12:3). Just as anything said in a court of law can be used against a person, our words will be used for or against us when we stand before Jesus' judgment seat.
Considering all the careless words we have spoken, the wisest course of action is to reconcile with our accusers before we reach the court (Matthew 5:25). We must also recognize the need for forgiveness and seek it from the Lord, who is both just and the justifier of those who have faith in Jesus (Romans 3:26).
Repentance is crucial in this process. It involves actively pursuing transformation through the power of the Holy Spirit. When it comes to our words, especially our careless ones, repentance looks like putting a bridle on our tongues (and fingers).
The apostle James provides helpful analogies to illustrate the power of the tongue and the need for control. He compares the tongue to a horse's bridle, a ship's rudder, and a flame (James 3:1–6). Just as a small bridle controls a powerful horse and a small rudder steers a massive ship, so too can we control the power of our words. However, an uncontrolled flame can cause great destruction. Our words, when uncontrolled, can burn relationships, families, churches, and careers to the ground (James 3:9–10).
To bridle our words, we need to find strategies that work for us individually. One effective approach is the 24-hour rule. Before responding to someone who stirs up anger or frustration, wait at least a day. Most situations do not require an immediate response, and after 24 hours, emotions tend to subside, allowing for a more measured and loving reply. This rule applies to both spoken and written words, as our fingers have become a significant part of our communication in the digital age. Implementing this practice can lead to more constructive outcomes and a better understanding of others' perspectives.
Ultimately, the way we handle our words reveals something essential about our hearts. Those who strive to bridle their tongues and fingers demonstrate their love for Jesus and their desire to love their neighbors as themselves. On the other hand, those who do not bridle their words will find them used against them on the day of judgment.
In conclusion, the power of our words cannot be underestimated. They reveal the abundance of our hearts and will be called to witness for or against us on the day of judgment. Even careless words have significance and can bring great harm. Therefore, it is essential to put a bridle on our tongues and fingers, controlling our words for good. Through repentance and seeking forgiveness, we can transform our speech and reflect the love of Christ in all our interactions.
References:
- Matthew 12:34–37
- 2 Corinthians 5:10
- Matthew 12:24
- Matthew 12:31–32
- Matthew 12:33
- Matthew 12:36–37
- Luke 12:3
- Matthew 5:25
- Psalm 130:3–4
- Romans 3:26
- Proverbs 15:4
- Ephesians 4:29
- James 3:1–6
- James 3:9–10
- Matthew 22:39
Have you ever stopped to consider the impact of the words you speak? Jesus, in a tense discussion with the Pharisees, shed light on the significance of our words. He said, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34). In other words, the words we speak are a reflection of what is truly in our hearts. And on the day of judgment, every single word we have spoken will be brought forth as witnesses. Our words will either justify us or condemn us (Matthew 12:36–37).
What exactly did Jesus mean by speaking out of the abundance of the heart? To understand this, let's look at the context in which he made this statement. Jesus had just performed a miraculous healing, setting a man free from demonic oppression. The crowd was amazed and began to wonder if Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, the Son of David. However, the Pharisees, threatened by Jesus' growing popularity, accused him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons (Matthew 12:24).
Jesus responded to their accusation by exposing their hypocrisy and warning them about the grave danger of blaspheming the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31–32). He then made the profound statement about the power of our words.
Jesus turned the Pharisees' words back on them, revealing the evil that was fueling their accusations. Their carefully crafted words were intended to sow seeds of suspicion and dismantle Jesus' reputation. They failed to recognize the good fruit Jesus was bearing by setting the oppressed man free, while their own words revealed the evil fruit they were bearing through their dishonesty (Matthew 12:33).
The Pharisees were blinded by their own evil pursuits, unaware of the spiritual danger they were in. They couldn't discern the demonic influence that led them to call the Holy Spirit's power demonic. Their words exposed the abundance of evil in their hearts.
However, Jesus' warning about words extends beyond the deliberate and careful words of the Pharisees. He also includes every single careless word we speak. The Greek word used for "careless" is "argon," which can refer to flippant, idle, off-the-cuff words. These are the words we utter when our guard is down, words we speak in anger, impatience, or without much thought.
Jesus wants us to understand that even our careless words reveal the abundance of our hearts. Our words, whether deliberate or careless, will be called to witness for or against us on the day of judgment. They are so closely connected to our hearts that they become reliable indicators of what we truly value.
To illustrate the revealing power of careless words, let's consider a recent real-life example. Jon Gruden, a highly successful coach in the National Football League, saw his career unravel when numerous emails he had written between 2010 and 2018 were exposed. These private messages contained homophobic, misogynistic, and sexist insults, along with inappropriate pictures. Gruden's words, which he assumed would remain private, were suddenly made public. The public judgment was swift and harsh, leading to his resignation.
This example demonstrates Jesus' words in action: "Whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops" (Luke 12:3). Just as anything said in a court of law can be used against a person, our words will be used for or against us when we stand before Jesus' judgment seat.
Considering all the careless words we have spoken, the wisest course of action is to reconcile with our accusers before we reach the court (Matthew 5:25). We must also recognize the need for forgiveness and seek it from the Lord, who is both just and the justifier of those who have faith in Jesus (Romans 3:26).
Repentance is crucial in this process. It involves actively pursuing transformation through the power of the Holy Spirit. When it comes to our words, especially our careless ones, repentance looks like putting a bridle on our tongues (and fingers).
The apostle James provides helpful analogies to illustrate the power of the tongue and the need for control. He compares the tongue to a horse's bridle, a ship's rudder, and a flame (James 3:1–6). Just as a small bridle controls a powerful horse and a small rudder steers a massive ship, so too can we control the power of our words. However, an uncontrolled flame can cause great destruction. Our words, when uncontrolled, can burn relationships, families, churches, and careers to the ground (James 3:9–10).
To bridle our words, we need to find strategies that work for us individually. One effective approach is the 24-hour rule. Before responding to someone who stirs up anger or frustration, wait at least a day. Most situations do not require an immediate response, and after 24 hours, emotions tend to subside, allowing for a more measured and loving reply. This rule applies to both spoken and written words, as our fingers have become a significant part of our communication in the digital age. Implementing this practice can lead to more constructive outcomes and a better understanding of others' perspectives.
Ultimately, the way we handle our words reveals something essential about our hearts. Those who strive to bridle their tongues and fingers demonstrate their love for Jesus and their desire to love their neighbors as themselves. On the other hand, those who do not bridle their words will find them used against them on the day of judgment.
In conclusion, the power of our words cannot be underestimated. They reveal the abundance of our hearts and will be called to witness for or against us on the day of judgment. Even careless words have significance and can bring great harm. Therefore, it is essential to put a bridle on our tongues and fingers, controlling our words for good. Through repentance and seeking forgiveness, we can transform our speech and reflect the love of Christ in all our interactions.
References:
- Matthew 12:34–37
- 2 Corinthians 5:10
- Matthew 12:24
- Matthew 12:31–32
- Matthew 12:33
- Matthew 12:36–37
- Luke 12:3
- Matthew 5:25
- Psalm 130:3–4
- Romans 3:26
- Proverbs 15:4
- Ephesians 4:29
- James 3:1–6
- James 3:9–10
- Matthew 22:39
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