Main Text: Proverbs 10:18-21
I. The principle of words: God speaks; speech is a gift of God, to be used for His glory.
A. Ex. 20:16, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
B. Lev. 19:16, Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour; I am the Lord.
C. James 1:26, If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
II. The power of words.
A. Pro. 18:21, Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
B. Pro. 26:22, The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
C. Pro. 16:24, Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
III. The blessing of words.
A. Pro. 4:20-22, My son, attend to my words; . . . For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
B. Pro. 25:11, A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
C. Pro. 10:11, The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
D. Pro. 10:20, The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
E. Pro. 10:21, The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
F. Pro. 15:1, A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
G. Pro. 15:4, A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
H. Pro. 20:15, There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
I. Pro. 12:25, Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
IV. The potential danger of words.
A. Pro. 26:28, A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
B. Pro. 11:9, An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
C. Pro. 11:13, A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
D. Pro. 12:18, There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
E. Pro. 12:22, Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.
F. Pro. 16:27, An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
G. Pro. 16:28, A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
H. Pro. 17:4, A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
I. Pro. 18:7-8, A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
J. Pro. 10:18-21, He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
K. Pro. 18:13, He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
L. Pro. 15:2, The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
M. Pro. 13:3, He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
N. Pro. 29:20, Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
V. The permanence of words.
A. Pro. 12:19, The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
B. Pro. 15:23, A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
IV. A prayer for our words.
A. Ps. 141:3, Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
B. Pro. 21:23, Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
Q. 144. What are the duties required in the ninth commandment?
A. The duties required in the ninth commandment are, the preserving and promoting of truth between man and man, and the good name of our neighbor, as well as our own; appearing and standing for the truth; and from the heart, sincerely, freely, clearly, and fully, speaking the truth, and only the truth, in matters of judgment and justice . . . a ready receiving of a good report . . . love and care of our own good name, and defending it when need requireth . . .
Q. 145. What are the sins forbidden in the ninth commandment?
A. The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neighbors, as well as our own, especially in public judicature; giving false evidence, suborning false witnesses, wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause, . . . calling evil good, and good evil . . . raising false rumors, receiving and countenancing evil reports, and stopping our ears against just defense . . . Westminster Larger Catechism
"In the inner man, the heart is the main thing to be kept; in the outer man, the tongue." Charles Bridges
"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, a tongue that delivers out salutary instructions, wholesome advice and counsel; a healing tongue which pacifies contending parties, and heals the divisions between them. To have the benefit of such a man's company and conversation is like being in paradise." John Gill
"The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life, a fountain of living water, continually running and flowing with water, wholesome, reviving, and refreshing." John Gill
"The soft answer need not be a weak one, nor should it imply any compromise of truth, nor any yielding of righteousness. It may be firm in substance, though soft in language and spirit." John Gill
"Wise words proceed only from practiced lips. We do not acquire the sacred art of wise and helpful speech in a day or even in the year; it is the happy and exquisite product of patient effort, it is a growth, it is a holy and beneficent habit, it is a grace to be cultivated; we may begin poorly enough, but by earnest endeavour we shall succeed and will continue in well doing." Matthew Henry