By Your Words Matthew 12 37 Matthew 12

“By Your Words” Matthew 12: 37

Matthew 12: 34 -37 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. "By Your Words" 2

Matthew 12: 34 -37 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. "By Your Words" 3

Psalms 141: 3 n Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips” Must watch our mouth! n Must control our lips! n "By Your Words" 4

Proverbs 21: 23 n “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles” Must consider the consequences of what we say! n If we don’t, trouble will come! n n “It seems that some people think by the inch and talk by the yard. ” "By Your Words" 5

Introduction n Christ warns us about a heart problem! n n Our speech! He mentions two types of hearts: Evil! n Good! n And what is stored in each! n n In our text – two types of speech! Words that justify! n Words that condemn! n "By Your Words" 6

Words That Justify! n Justifiable speech comes from a pure heart! Luke 6: 45 n Philippians 4: 8 n n Must think on pure things in order to speak them! Proverbs 15: 4 n Ephesians 4: 29 n "By Your Words" 7

Words That Justify! n Speaking words that edify! n Namely, speaking the truth in love! n n Edify = Build up, encourage: n n Ephesians 4: 11 -15 1 Thessalonians 5: 11 Do all things unto edification! 1 Corinthians 14: 26 n 2 Corinthians 13: 10 n Paul’s purpose was to edify-not destroy! n "By Your Words" 8

Words That Justify! n Speaking words that impart grace! n Colossians 3: 16 n Songs must be sung with grace in our hearts: n n Must praise God! Must teach and admonish our brethren! By using the heart and the tongue! n Not mechanical instruments of music! Colossians 4: 6 n Speech must be “seasoned with salt” n n n Well flavored – not intentionally offensive! Proverbs 15: 1, 23 “Seasoned” communication will ease a situation – not inflame it! "By Your Words" 9

Words That Justify! n Words that are “fitly spoken. ” Proverbs 25: 11 n Such speech is invaluable: n n Compared with precious metals: n n “Apples of gold in pictures of silver” God’s word is more precious that gold & silver! n Palms 19: 7 -10; 119: 72, 127; Proverbs 8: 10 -11, 18 -19; 16: 16 n Carefully n worded speech is precious! Of greater value than gold and silver! "By Your Words" 10

Words That Justify! n Giving an wise answer! n This demands forethought! n n n Many put their mouth in gear before their mind is engaged! 1 Peter 3: 15 -18 Proverbs 15: 28 “A tongue three inches long can ruin a man six feet tall. ” “It is much better to dig for the facts than to jump to conclusions. ” “Some get their exercise by jumping to conclusions. ” "By Your Words" 11

Words That Justify! n Words of thankfulness! Instead of corrupt communication! n Colossians 2: 6 -7 n Colossians 3: 15 -17 n Colossians 4: 2 n "By Your Words" 12

Words That Justify! n Confessing Christ in Gospel Obedience! Matthew 10: 32 -33 n Romans 10: 8 -10 n Acts 8: 26 -40 n "By Your Words" 13

Words That Justify! n n n n Speech that comes from a pure heart! Words that edify! Words that impart grace! Words that are “fitly spoken. ” Giving an wise answer! Words of thankfulness! Confessing Christ in Gospel Obedience "By Your Words" 14

Words That Will Condemn "By Your Words" 15

Matthew 12: 34 -37 n O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. "By Your Words" 16

Words That Will Condemn! n Using God’s name in vain! n Exodus 20: 7 n A part of the Old Law but a principle that still applies: n Matthew 6: 9 - “…Hollowed be thy name…” n n Must hold highly God’s name and the name of Christ! n n Hollowed = “to make holy, i. e. (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate: --hallow, be holy, sanctify. ” n Strong’s Dictionary Philippians 2: 9 -11 “Jesus Christ is Lord, not a swear word. ” n Some only refer to Jesus when swearing! "By Your Words" 17

Words That Will Condemn! n Murmuring and Complaining! n Described as evil! Philippians 2: 14 -15 n 1 Corinthians 10: 10 n n Shows lack of contentment & gratitude! Hebrews 13: 5 n Philippians 4: 11 -12 n 1 Timothy 6: 6 -8 n "By Your Words" 18

Words That Will Condemn! n Profanity! n Does not fit with those raised with Christ! Colossians 3: 8 n Ephesians 5: 3 -4 n n Includes: n Foolish talking: n n Saying dumb things! Course jesting: n n n Inappropriate humor Jokes that make light of sin Debasing godliness "By Your Words" 19

Words That Will Condemn! n Verbosity! n Just talking too much! n n n Must make every word count! Matthew 6: 7 Proverbs 10: 19; 13: 3 Ecclesiastes 5: 3 James 1: 26 Practice restraint in the number of words we use! n n “It is more important to weigh words than to count them. ” “I have never been hurt by anything I didn’t say” n n Calvin “Silent Cal” Coolidge “The best way to keep people from jumping down your throat is to keep your mouth shut. ” "By Your Words" 20

Words That Will Condemn! n Hasty Speech! n Communication that lacks forethought is often wicked! n n “…let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. ” - James 1: 19 Many are often swift to speak and slow to hear! n n Ecclesiastes 5: 1 -2 Desire to understand rather than be understood! Many don’t have anything to say; they just have to say something! n Proverbs 17: 27; 29: 20 n "By Your Words" 21

Words That Will Condemn! n Flattery! n Is successive or insincere praise! 2 Peter 2: 18 n Jude 16 n n Also flirting can qualify n Shallow comments often uttered with flirting is wrong: n n Psalms 12: 1 -4 Romans 16: 18 "By Your Words" 22

Words That Will Condemn! n Rash Swearing! n Condemned specifically by scripture! Matthew 5: 33 -37 n James 5: 12 n n Be true to your word! n Don’t make a promise with no intention of fulfilling it! "By Your Words" 23

Words That Will Condemn! n Euphemisms! n n An inoffensive expression substituted for one that is offensive! Example: Sanitation engineer vs. garbage man! Some words or expressions must not be uttered by Christians! Examples: n n n n “Darn” = Damn “Ga-Dern” = God D*** “Gosh” = God “Gee” = Jesus “Golly” = God “Heck” = Hell “OMG” = Oh My God n n Look up these “words” in a good dictionary and see what you find! Such “words” or expression have no communicative value! Many use these expressions loosely, not knowing the meaning: n Must mean what we say and speak purposefully! n James 5: 12; Ephesians 4: 29; Leviticus 19: 12 "By Your Words" 24

Words That Will Condemn! n Lies! Proverbs 12: 22 n Ephesians 4: 25; Colossians 3: 9 -10 n Revelation 21: 8 n Includes teaching false doctrine! n n 1 Timothy 4: 1 -7 "By Your Words" 25

Words That Will Condemn! n Gossip! n Romans 1: 28 -29; 2 Corinthians 12: 20 n n n “Whisperings” n “by implication, a slander” – Strong n If it is worth saying, why whisper it? Proverbs 16: 28 God hates gossip! Proverbs 11: 13; 18: 8; 20: 19 n Proverbs 6: 16 -19 n "By Your Words" 26

Words That Will Condemn! n n n n n Using God’s name in vain! Murmuring and Complaining! Profanity! Verbosity! Hasty Speech! Flattery! Rash Swearing! Euphemisms! Lies! Gossip! "By Your Words" 27

Conclusion n n “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psalms 19: 14) “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man” (Matthew 15: 18 -20) "By Your Words" 28