# 428 The Proverbs – ‘A manual for living’ (MSG). Proverbs 10:6-32 (# 1). The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Confronted by the scepticism and unbelief of the Pharisees, Jesus puts them in their place when he says to them:

³³ “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. ³⁴ You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. ³⁵ A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. ³⁶ But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. ³⁷ For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:33-37)

The subject of our speech is very common in both the Old and New Testament. The quote above (in Bold font) could also say, out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Basically, what we fill out lives/minds/hearts with, is what will eventually work its way out in our communications with others. Whether these be words of encouragement, refreshing, bringing life and health or words that discourage, hurt, and cause distress and pain.

Proverbs also speaks of this in a number of chapters including chapter 10 and verse 11 confirms Jesus’ words and summarizes them as follows:

 ¹¹ The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Nielson comments:

Concerning “The wicked person… his speech is like a deceptive cover. Violent thoughts and intents lurk behind the words… [he] hides evil behind his words; by contrast, the righteous person sends forth good through his words: we picture a fountain flowing forth without concealment, giving pure, life-giving water…

Picture [this] beautifully shaped, life-giving fountain… Then, by contrast, picture water bubbling uncontrolled; that’s what the wicked person ‘s words are like.” (# 55)

This is described in Proverbs as follows:

 ⁸ The wise in heart accept commands,
    but a chattering fool comes to ruin.

¹⁰ Whoever winks maliciously causes grief,
    and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

¹⁸ Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips
    and spreads slander is a fool.

¹⁹ Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
    but the prudent hold their tongues.

³¹ From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom,
    but a perverse tongue will be silenced.

³² The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,
    but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.

The author of Proverbs spoke truly concerning the power and impact of our words, but he would be shocked (and maybe totally overwhelmed) at just how much this issue has multiplied 1000’s of times over in the last century with the creation of all our multi-media possibilities and such things as “fake news” and social media saturation worldwide, just to name a couple of these. Not that all these things are negative, but certainly we need wisdom and discernment in the use of the media, and thank God, there are many media presentations which enhance the spread of the Good News of Jesus worldwide in multiple languages.

As we consider our use of words, Proverbs 12:18 and 18:21 are also very relevant as follows:

The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.   (12:18)

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

Keller adjusts and corrects an old saying as follows: “Sticks and stones can only break our bones, but words can be soul destroying.” (# 51)

Nielson asks:

“How do we apply these words on words practically?” Suggestions include restraining ourselves on social media, only sharing words which “bring refreshment or life to others” rather than words which may make us feel good but hurt others. Another suggestion being to even “go off social media for a while… [and not losing] control when… talking to that irritating friend or family member and say things I will regret.”

We certainly need God’s help and thankfully it is available because, “We are created as word-creatures in the image of our word-speaking God, who spoke and created the world; who mercifully speaks to us in his breathed-out word [the Bible]; who finally sent us the Word made flesh, his own Son [Jesus Christ].”

And so we need to “open our hearts to God’s word – which will transform our hearts, and as a result, our words.” (# 55)

Let me finish with a reminder of those words of Jesus we began with, with particular emphasis on the last two verses:

For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. ³⁵ A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. ³⁶ But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. ³⁷ For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:34-37)

Now that’s worth thinking about (before we speak)!