20 Bible Verses about Speech, Power And Significance Of

My brethren, don't affect many of you to be doctors, considering, that those of us who are such, shall be tried with the greater severity. for we are all liable to frequent mistakes. he that does not give too great a loose to his tongue, is an accomplish'd person and fit to moderate the whole church. you see how manageable horses are made by the application of a bit, which makes them take what motion we please.read more.
a ship too of the greatest burthen, tho' the wind bears hard, by means of an inconsiderable helm, veers about as the hand of the pilot directs her. so the tongue is but a small part of the body, yet how grand are its pretensions. a spark of fire! what quantities of timber will it blow into a flame? the tongue is a brand that sets the world in a combustion: it is but one of the numerous organs of the body, yet it can blast whole assemblies: tipp'd with infernal sulphur it sets the whole train of life in a blaze. creatures of every kind, beasts, birds, reptiles, and sea-monsters, are frequently tamed by human industry. but who could ever tame the tongue? arm'd with deadly poison, the mischief scorns restraint. By that we give praises to God the father: and that pronounces curses even against men, who are form'd after the divine resemblance. from the same mouth shall blessing and cursing proceed? this ought not to be practis'd, my brethren; does a fountain throw up salt water and fresh, by the same conveyance? can a fig-tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine figs? no more can the sea yield water that is fresh.

let no obscene language defile your mouth, use only such as tends to edification, that it may be beneficial to the hearers.

Wherefore, my dear brethren, let every one be eager to hear, averse to contradiction, and deaf to passion.

but all do not obey the gospel. for Esaias saith, "Lord, who hath believed our report?"

and with many other discourses did he conjure and exhort them, to save themselves from that depraved generation. then they that embraced his doctrine, were baptized: and there were about three thousand converts made that very day.

Having therefore set him a day, they came in great numbers to his lodgings; where he explain'd and confirm'd the reality of the gospel-dispensation, from morning to night, enforcing what the writings of Moses and the prophets had affirm'd concerning Jesus. some believed what he had said, but others did not believe:

adore the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready to show with modesty and respect to every one that asks it, what ground there is for the expectations you have:

leaving an example for your exact imitation, he who never offended, and from whose lips no fallacy was ever utter'd, who, when he was reviled, did not revile again: when he was in his sufferings, he did not threat, but referr'd his cause to the righteous judge.

but Jesus made no reply. and the high priest said to him, I conjure thee by the living God, to tell us, are you the Christ the son of God?

but Jesus remain'd silent, and gave no answer. then the high priest asked him again, and said to him, art thou the Christ, the son of the most High?

but he made no answer to any thing he said, so that the governor was very much surpriz'd.

but Jesus still made no answer; so that Pilate was much amaz'd.

he plyed him therefore with many interrogatories,

Pilate upon hearing that, was still more apprehensive. and went again into the Pretorium, and said to Jesus, who was your father? but Jesus gave him no answer.

O degenerate race, how can ye, wicked as ye are, utter any thing that is good? for "'tis the overflowing of the heart that the mouth dischargeth." a good man out of the good treasure produces good things: and an evil man, out of the evil treasure, produces evil things. but I declare unto you, that men shall give an account at the day of judgment, of every scandalous expression they utter.read more.
for by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Then he called the multitude and said to them, hear and understand. that which entereth by the mouth is not what defiles a man: but what defiles the man is that which is discharged by the mouth. Thereupon his disciples drawing nigh, said, did you observe, how the Pharisees were scandalized at your discourse?read more.
but he answered, every plantation which my heavenly father hath not planted shall be rooted up. let them alone: they are blind leaders of the blind. now if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. then Peter said to him, tell us the meaning of that expression. and Jesus said, are ye also yet without understanding? do not ye yet conceive, that whatever enters at the mouth, passes to the belly, and is discharged downwards? but what proceeds out of the mouth, is deriv'd from the heart, and that defiles the man. out of the heart proceed evil designs, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimony, slanders. these are the things which defile a man: but to eat without washing one's hands, that does not defile a man.

Then Jesus having called all the people to him, said, attend every one of you, and understand. there is nothing from without, that entring into a man can defile him: but that which originally proceeds from the man, is what defiles him. he that hath ears to hear, let him hear.read more.
When he withdrew from the people into the house, his disciples ask'd him the meaning of that maxim. and he said, are you likewise so void of understanding? don't you perceive that what passes from without into a man cannot defile him? because that does not enter into his heart, but into the belly, whence it is discharg'd, the purest part of the food being left for nutrition. but, said he, that which proceeds from a man, is what defiles him: for from within, from the heart of man proceed wicked designs, adulteries, fornications, murders; thefts, avarice, malice, fraud, impudence, envy, scandal, pride, vanity. all these vices come from within, and are what defile the man.

a good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces what is good: and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart produces what is evil: for 'tis from the abundance of the heart, that the mouth speaketh.

If a person of an ungovernable tongue pretends to religion, he abuses himself: for his religion is meer illusion.

in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without defect.