Matthew Chapter 12

"36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

Perhaps it is a blessing to be mute, then one will have no chance of being condemned because of idle words. There are many places in the Bible that teaches us to grace our speech and to speak what is edifying. There are also places in the Bible that tells us to get rid of bad language, "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips" (Colossians 3:8).

In this day and age, our surroundings are filled with dirty language; from our school, to the society, to the media, and everything in between. Perhaps without knowing, we fall into following the trend of our surroundings in our speech thinking it's normal or even cool. I know in Hollywood movies, cussing or dirty language is used like it's nothing. Sometimes people who speak a foreign language starts to pick those words up because they are used repeatedly. Somehow, it seems that bad words are always easier to learn than good ones, even in a foreign language (just an example, for those of you who know Straut, he speaks little to no Germany, however, he knows how to cuss in German thinking it's cool) However, God tells us otherwise.

Our speech can affect our life, both physical and spiritual; life and death. How important it is to guard our tongue because it affects our Salvation. If we are not careful, our religoin may be considered worthless in the eyes of God, now that's serious! It would surprise you how many verses in the Bible refers to our tongue and our speech. Here are some for your perusal, there are three which I think can be remembered as our guide in life, for both the physical and the spiritual:

Proverbs 18:21The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

James 1:26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

1 Peter 3:10For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.

Proverbs 8:13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

Proverbs 12:6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.

Proverbs 22:11 He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.

2 Corinthains 6:4,7 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in truthful speech and in the power of God

2 Corinthians 8:7 But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us —see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

1 Timothy 4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

Titus 2:7,8 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

1 Peter 3:10For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.

Job 15:5Your sin prompts your mouth; you adopt the tongue of the crafty.

Job 20:12"Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue

Psalm 12:3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue

Psalm 15:2,3 He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue,

Psalm 34:13keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.

Psalm 35:28My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long.

Psalm 37:30The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.

Psalm 39:1 I said, "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence."

Psalm 109:2 for wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues.

Psalm 119:172 May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous.

Psalm 120:2 Save me, O LORD, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.

Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Proverbs 10:20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

Proverbs 10:31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.

Proverbs 11:12 A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.

Proverbs 12:18 Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 12:19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

Proverbs 15:2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

Proverbs 15:4 The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 17:20 A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.

Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.

Proverbs 21:23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.

Proverbs 25:15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

Proverbs 28:23 He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue.

Jeremiah 9:3"They make ready their tongue like a bow, to shoot lies; it is not by truth that they triumph in the land. They go from one sin to another; they do not acknowledge me," declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 9:5Friend deceives friend, and no one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with sinning.

Jeremiah 9:8Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks with deceit. With his mouth each speaks cordially to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him.

James 3:5,6 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.