DOCTRINE OF THE SINS OF THE TONGUE
February 11, 1988
  1. The mouth is a window which reveals who is in control of the "Real You" (Mt.15:11 "Not what enters into the mouth defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man"; cp. Mt.15:18,19).
  2. The uncontrolled tongue (Jam.3:5-8):
    1. Is like a spark which ignites an entire forest (sets in motion destructive forces, vs.5).
    2. Is capable of articulating the entire realm of STA-sponsored evil (vs.6).
    3. Defiles the whole body (Mt.15:11).
    4. Incites the whole course of human existence (vs.6).
    5. Receives its spark from demonic influences (vs.6).
    6. Is not amenable to control (vss.7,8).
    7. Is unstable and deadly (vs.8).
  3. Lying and deceit are closely related verbal sins (Ex.20:16, the ninth Commandment - "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor").
    1. God cannot lie (Heb.6:18).
    2. Lying and deceit are an abomination to God (Prov.12:22; Ps.5:6).
    3. Lies will not endure (Prov.12:19).
    4. Wealth gained by lies leads to the sin unto death (Prov.21:6).
    5. Deceit is a function of the unprincipled rich (Ps.52).
    6. Lying and deceit are sins associated with national reversionism (Ps.55:11; Jer.5:27; 8:5,10).
    7. Deceit is a function of conspiracy (Prov.12:20).
    8. Lying conceals hatred (Prov.10:18; 26:24).
    9. Antichrist will employ deceit (Dan.8:25).
    10. God denies deceivers a place before Him (Ps.101:7).
    11. Absence of deceit is a mark of maturity (Ps.32:2).
    12. Avoidance of deceit leads to a longer life (Ps.34:8-14; 55:23).
    13. We should pray for deliverance from deceitful people (Ps.144:8-11).
    14. We should not lie to each other (Col.3:9).
    15. Jesus avoided deceit (Isa.53:9; 1Pet.2:22).
    16. We are to avoid this sin (Prov.4:24).
  4. Flattery is closely associated with deceit and is a sin of the tongue.
    1. It is always associated with deceit (Ps.5:9; 12:2; Prov.26:28; Rom.16:18).
    2. It is a function of the evil woman (Prov.2:16; 7:5,21).
    3. It is a function of the deceivers of the last days (Jd.16).
    4. There is more blessing for rebuke than flattery (Prov.28:23).
    5. It is something that is foreign to the mature believer (Job.32:21,22).
    6. It is not a function of the faithful communicator (1Thess.2:5).
    7. God will cut off all flatterers (Ps.12:3).
  5. Gossip and slander are verbal sins (Rom.1:28-30).
    1. Such activity was forbidden under the Law (Lev.19:16).
    2. A fool spreads slander (Prov.10:18).
    3. Slander destroys category 3 love, friendship (Prov.16:28; 17:9).
    4. Slanderers will not be established (Ps.140:11).
    5. We are not to associate with such persons (Prov.20:19).
    6. Malicious gossips abound in the last days (2Tim.3:1-3).
    7. Deacon's wives are not to be such (1Tim.3:11).
    8. Older ladies are to avoid this (Ti.2:3).
    9. We are to isolate this sin (Eph.4:31; Col.3:8; 1Pet.2;1).
    10. Absence of this sin is a mark of spiritual maturity (Ps.15:3).
  6. Boasting is a sin of the tongue (1Sam.2:3; Jam.3:5).
    1. Men boast in evil (Ps.52:1), wealth (Ps.49:6), idols (Ps.97:7), and men (1Cor.3:21).
    2. It is a characteristic of the Rapture generation (2Tim.3:2).
    3. Men at the end are enjoined to cease boasting (Ps.75).
    4. We are not to boast in tomorrow (Prov.27:1; Jam.4:13-17).
    5. Rather, we should boast in our knowledge and understanding of God's plan (Jer.9:23,24; 1Cor.1:31; Ps.20:7; 34:2; 44:8).
  7. Cursing is a sin of the tongue.
    1. It is associated with bitterness (Rom.3:14).
    2. It is directed towards God (Ex.20:7).
    3. Since man is created in the image of God, we are not to curse man (Jam.3:9-12).
    4. Job would not curse God (Job.2:9,10).
  8. Complaining is a verbal sin demonstrating maladjustment to one's niche.
    1. The Exodus generation was constantly complaining due to reversionism (Ex.15:24; 16:2; Num.14:27; Deut.1:26,27; Ps.106:25).
    2. We are not to do as they did (1Cor.10:10).
    3. God hears our complaining (Ex.16:7-9,12).
    4. Jesus was the object of this sin (Lk.5:30; 15:2; 19:7; Jn.6:41,61; 7:32).
    5. We are to do all things without complaining (Phil.2:14; 1Pet.4:9).
    6. We are not to complain against one another (Jam.5:9).
  9. Foul language, dirty jokes or stories, and silly talk is another area that believers should avoid (Eph.5:3,4 "...and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks"; cp. 4:29).
  10. Blasphemy is a verbal sin that includes reviling God's name (akin to cursing) and contradicting God's word (false doctrine is blasphemy).
    1. The King of Assyria committed this sin by telling the Jews that God could not deliver them (Isa.37:1-7).
    2. Israel's misfortunes, due to divine discipline, have led to Gentile blasphemy (Isa.52:5; Rom.2:24).
    3. Paul was, as an unbeliever, the greatest sinner due to his blasphemy (1Tim.1:13).
    4. The Antichrist is a super blasphemer (Rev.13:5,6).
    5. The doctrines of false religion constitute blasphemy (Rev.17:1).
    6. All blasphemy is subject to forgiveness except rejection of Christ (Mt.12:31).
  11. Some other abuses of speech to guard against.
    1. Unfulfilled promises (Deut.23:23; Ps.15:4; Eccl.5:4,5).
    2. Rash and impudent speech (Prov.29:20; 15:28).
    3. Many words (Eccl.5:2,3,7; 10:14; Prov.10:19; 15:2).
  12. Control of the tongue is a mark of maturity (Ps.15; Jam.3:2).
  13. God protects the positive believer from the attack of the tongue (Job.5:21; Ps.31:20; 120).
  14. Divine discipline awaits those who do not control their speech (Prov.21:23; 11:11; 10:31).
  15. The tongue of the powerful and ruthless.
    1. The Word of God recognizes the existence of the ruthless and oppressive (Prov.30:11-14).
    2. Their mouth conceals violence (Prov.10:6).
    3. David prayed for protection from such men (Ps.57:4-6; 64; 140).
    4. They constantly plot against the righteous (Ps.37:12).
    5. Such men from among all nations will be opposed to Israel (Ps.59).
    6. God is opposed to them (Prov.8:13).
    7. The Word of God describes their end (Ps.73).
    8. The perverted tongue will be stopped (Prov.10:31).
  16. The prayer of the positive, God-fearing believer with respect to speech: Ps.141:3 "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips."
Reviewed: August 17, 1994
Reviewed: June 9, 1998
© Copyright 1998, Maranatha Church, Inc.