Post by Cindy on Oct 4, 2015 12:05:19 GMT -5
THE DANGEROUS TONGUE
Has your tongue ever gotten you in trouble? Perhaps you have said something that you wish you had not. Or perhaps you have been on the receiving end of a biting or thoughtless comments, and have felt wounded or slandered. If so, you probably can appreciate the great damage that can come from from an uncontrolled tongue (Prov. 10:18–21). Hatred, slander, and wickedness thrive because of words we speak.
Jesus’ brother James recognized this destructive pattern in the early church. He realized how easy it can be to blurt out comments without weighing the value of what is said, and he warned first-century Christians about lack of restraint when it comes to the tongue:
• He urged them to be quick to listen but slow to speak (James 1:19).
• He cautioned them not to think themselves religious if they could not control what they said (James 1:26).
• He told them not to claim to have faith unless their deeds matched their words (James 2:14–24).
• He wanted them to understand that the tongue boasts great things despite its tiny size (James 3:5).
• He warned them that the tongue is “a fire, a world of iniquity” (James 3:6), “an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8), and a fountain of grumbling (James 5:9).
• He pointed out that speech can be an unpredictable source of either blessing or cursing, like a spring that gives either fresh water or bitter, or a fig tree that bears olives, or a grapevine that bears figs (James 3:10–12).
• He noted that some were using speech as a means of maligning one another (James 4:11).
• He challenged believers about making promises and oaths that were inconsistent (James 5:12).
As we today reflect on the teaching of Proverbs and James concerning the tongue, it becomes evident that we need to pay attention both to what we say and to how we say it. We may need to make changes in our patterns of speech in order to avoid the outcomes of the foolish (Prov. 10:21).
“He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool. When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.” (Proverbs 10:18–21)
Word in life study Bible.
Proverbs often refers to people as “fools.” The basis for this has to do with how these people think and live. They behave foolishly rather than wisely, and their behavior shows disregard for Yahweh’s order. Proverbs identifies a person as a fool without reflecting contempt for that individual. The context of Jesus’ warning in Mt 5:22 about calling another person a fool makes it clear that He is warning us about viewing others with contempt. All people, even those who behave foolishly and badly, are people made in the image of God, and they have value and worth. The way we view others and treat them should reflect their innate worth.
The righteous and their words bring blessing and refreshment to themselves and others; they can be trusted. They are a fountain of life. The wicked and their words cover or conceal violence; they cannot be trusted. The violence intended by the wicked is often concealed by deceptive words and is not always apparent on the surface. The Apologetics Study Bible
True wisdom includes control of one’s words and care in one’s communication (Eccl. 5:1–7; James 1:19). The verse does not demand silence but rather encourages caution, teaching the continuous discipline of the tongue. Communication is to be economical, using a few well-chosen words (Proverbs 15:23, Proverbs 15:28; Proverbs 16:23, Proverbs 16:24; Proverbs 17:7; Proverbs 18:13; Proverbs 25:11, Proverbs 25:28; Proverbs 29:11). Praise is to be freely given because it refines and edifies (Proverbs 27:21), but talebearing is to be strictly avoided because it wounds and tears down (Proverbs 18:7-8). Personal pride blocks communication (Proverbs 16:18), but mutual transparency and openness enhance it (Proverbs 18:4). Nothing is as effective in building a relationship as is communication one with another (Proverbs24:3-4).
Hatred keeps revenge alive, but love forgives and forgets offenses (cf. 1 Cor. 13:4; James 5:20; 1 Pet. 4:8). The most beautiful and meaningful picture of the “covering” of love is in the atonement of our Savior, who Himself covered our sins by His death on the cross (cf. 1 Pet. 2:21–24). Believer’s Study Bible.
Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Wisdom, as defined in the Book of Proverbs, is living by divine standards, which implies accepting divine truth. But a fool rejects that. 1 Cor 2:14 says that “a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him.” To a fool, foolishness is wisdom and wisdom is foolishness. That a fool rejects God’s wisdom is evident by the way he speaks. Pro 15:2 says, “The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, but the mouth of fools spouts folly.” In other words, a fool is quick to air his opinions. The world is full of the opinions of fools—fools who have denied God in their living, who have become their own gods, and who mock the reality and consequences of sin. A fool not only is quick to air his opinions but also propagates his foolishness to others. Proverbs 16:22 says that the instruction of fools is folly. The fool contaminates the rest of society with the same foolishness that damns his own soul. He leaves it as a legacy to his children, his friends, and all those who fall under the influence of his folly. In contrast to fools, you as a believer are blessed to have the Spirit of wisdom indwelling you and illuminating your understanding of His Word. Your words to others are based on the wisdom of Scripture, not empty speculation. By bringing His Word to mind in every circumstance, you can speak words that are “like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Prov. 25:11) Strength for today.
Solomon teaches that self-control is very important, especially in the things we say. There are many things which are beyond our knowledge, and which are known only to God. We must be humble in the face of these deep mysteries of life. Now and again a proverb reminds us that God is working out his purposes—in us, around us and sometimes despite us. Some underlying principle is:
MAKING PEACE
We belong to one another and are responsible for the poor. Regardless of worldly wealth, it is the righteous who are truly rich. Conflict is harmful when it is unresolved. Hatred makes for discord, but love makes for peace (Proverbs 10:12). The Bible guide
Enlivening vs. deadly speech (Proverbs 10:11). “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.” God himself is called “the well of life” (Ps 36:9) and “the fountain of living water” (Jer 2:13). The man of God draws from this supply and sheds life and refreshment around. His words are a source of vitality to those who listen to his exhortation and advice. On the other hand, “the mouth of the wicked conceals violence” (Proverbs 10:6). The words of the wicked are harmful and hypocritical. They conceal their true intent which is violence toward the innocent.
Quarrelsomeness vs. amiability (Proverbs 10:12). “Hatred stirs up strifes,” i.e., by focusing on faults, making mountains out of molehills, and questioning motives. Hatred keeps alive the old feeling of revenge, and seeks opportunities of satisfying it. On the other hand, “love covers all transgressions.” Love puts shortcomings out of sight, enables one to overlook insults and wrongs (cf. 1 Pet 4:8). This proverb is probably intended as a comment on the last line of Proverbs 10:11,“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.” and possibly also on Proverbs 10:10.“He who winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin.” The reprehensible actions mentioned in those verses are here attributed to hatred and the desire to stir up strife. The wisdom literature and Psalms.
The wise person’s words are like silver (Prov. 10:20), a tree of life (Prov. 15:4), food (Prov. 10:21), refreshing water (Prov. 10:11; 18:4), and medicine (Prov. 12:18). They should be seasoned with salt (Col. 4:6) and must not become destructive (James 3:1–12). With the Word
The Lord is the source of this fountain (Ps 36:9), which then springs up in the wise man as wise speech (Proverbs 10:11), wise laws (Proverbs 13:14), the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 14:27), and understanding (Proverbs 16:22).True love seeks the highest good for another (cf. 1 Cor 13:4–7). The MacArthur study Bible
While the word kasah literally means “to cover” (Gen 7:19) or “to conceal” (Proverbs 10:11), it can also have the sense of “to forgive” (Psa 32:1; 85:2). Faithlife Study Bible
Hatred results in dissension (cf. 6:14) because people who despise each other can hardly work or live together in peace. Love contributes toward peace because it covers or forgives the faults of others (cf. 17:9). It does not dwell on those faults (cf. 1 Cor. 13:5; James 5:20; 1 Peter 4:8). “Covers” is kāsâh, the same word rendered “overwhelms” in Proverbs 10:6, & Proverbs 10:11. A wicked one’s words are covered over with violence, but a righteous person covers up wrongs by forgiving the wrongdoers.
When a person hates someone but tries not to show it he is often forced to lie. And hatred often leads to slandering the other who is despised. The second line in Proverbs 10:18, “He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.”, begins with "and" rather than “but,” to show that the two thoughts of hatred and slander are not opposites. Such lying and slandering, born out of hatred, characterize a fool. The Bible Knowledge Commentary
The wicked are constantly rehashing old feuds with the hope that strife will be rekindled. In contrast, the words of the wise are conciliatory (cf. Jas 5:20, 1 Pet 4:8). KJV Bible Commentary
Has your tongue ever gotten you in trouble? Perhaps you have said something that you wish you had not. Or perhaps you have been on the receiving end of a biting or thoughtless comments, and have felt wounded or slandered. If so, you probably can appreciate the great damage that can come from from an uncontrolled tongue (Prov. 10:18–21). Hatred, slander, and wickedness thrive because of words we speak.
Jesus’ brother James recognized this destructive pattern in the early church. He realized how easy it can be to blurt out comments without weighing the value of what is said, and he warned first-century Christians about lack of restraint when it comes to the tongue:
• He urged them to be quick to listen but slow to speak (James 1:19).
• He cautioned them not to think themselves religious if they could not control what they said (James 1:26).
• He told them not to claim to have faith unless their deeds matched their words (James 2:14–24).
• He wanted them to understand that the tongue boasts great things despite its tiny size (James 3:5).
• He warned them that the tongue is “a fire, a world of iniquity” (James 3:6), “an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8), and a fountain of grumbling (James 5:9).
• He pointed out that speech can be an unpredictable source of either blessing or cursing, like a spring that gives either fresh water or bitter, or a fig tree that bears olives, or a grapevine that bears figs (James 3:10–12).
• He noted that some were using speech as a means of maligning one another (James 4:11).
• He challenged believers about making promises and oaths that were inconsistent (James 5:12).
As we today reflect on the teaching of Proverbs and James concerning the tongue, it becomes evident that we need to pay attention both to what we say and to how we say it. We may need to make changes in our patterns of speech in order to avoid the outcomes of the foolish (Prov. 10:21).
“He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool. When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.” (Proverbs 10:18–21)
Word in life study Bible.
Proverbs often refers to people as “fools.” The basis for this has to do with how these people think and live. They behave foolishly rather than wisely, and their behavior shows disregard for Yahweh’s order. Proverbs identifies a person as a fool without reflecting contempt for that individual. The context of Jesus’ warning in Mt 5:22 about calling another person a fool makes it clear that He is warning us about viewing others with contempt. All people, even those who behave foolishly and badly, are people made in the image of God, and they have value and worth. The way we view others and treat them should reflect their innate worth.
The righteous and their words bring blessing and refreshment to themselves and others; they can be trusted. They are a fountain of life. The wicked and their words cover or conceal violence; they cannot be trusted. The violence intended by the wicked is often concealed by deceptive words and is not always apparent on the surface. The Apologetics Study Bible
True wisdom includes control of one’s words and care in one’s communication (Eccl. 5:1–7; James 1:19). The verse does not demand silence but rather encourages caution, teaching the continuous discipline of the tongue. Communication is to be economical, using a few well-chosen words (Proverbs 15:23, Proverbs 15:28; Proverbs 16:23, Proverbs 16:24; Proverbs 17:7; Proverbs 18:13; Proverbs 25:11, Proverbs 25:28; Proverbs 29:11). Praise is to be freely given because it refines and edifies (Proverbs 27:21), but talebearing is to be strictly avoided because it wounds and tears down (Proverbs 18:7-8). Personal pride blocks communication (Proverbs 16:18), but mutual transparency and openness enhance it (Proverbs 18:4). Nothing is as effective in building a relationship as is communication one with another (Proverbs24:3-4).
Hatred keeps revenge alive, but love forgives and forgets offenses (cf. 1 Cor. 13:4; James 5:20; 1 Pet. 4:8). The most beautiful and meaningful picture of the “covering” of love is in the atonement of our Savior, who Himself covered our sins by His death on the cross (cf. 1 Pet. 2:21–24). Believer’s Study Bible.
Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Wisdom, as defined in the Book of Proverbs, is living by divine standards, which implies accepting divine truth. But a fool rejects that. 1 Cor 2:14 says that “a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him.” To a fool, foolishness is wisdom and wisdom is foolishness. That a fool rejects God’s wisdom is evident by the way he speaks. Pro 15:2 says, “The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, but the mouth of fools spouts folly.” In other words, a fool is quick to air his opinions. The world is full of the opinions of fools—fools who have denied God in their living, who have become their own gods, and who mock the reality and consequences of sin. A fool not only is quick to air his opinions but also propagates his foolishness to others. Proverbs 16:22 says that the instruction of fools is folly. The fool contaminates the rest of society with the same foolishness that damns his own soul. He leaves it as a legacy to his children, his friends, and all those who fall under the influence of his folly. In contrast to fools, you as a believer are blessed to have the Spirit of wisdom indwelling you and illuminating your understanding of His Word. Your words to others are based on the wisdom of Scripture, not empty speculation. By bringing His Word to mind in every circumstance, you can speak words that are “like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Prov. 25:11) Strength for today.
Solomon teaches that self-control is very important, especially in the things we say. There are many things which are beyond our knowledge, and which are known only to God. We must be humble in the face of these deep mysteries of life. Now and again a proverb reminds us that God is working out his purposes—in us, around us and sometimes despite us. Some underlying principle is:
MAKING PEACE
We belong to one another and are responsible for the poor. Regardless of worldly wealth, it is the righteous who are truly rich. Conflict is harmful when it is unresolved. Hatred makes for discord, but love makes for peace (Proverbs 10:12). The Bible guide
Enlivening vs. deadly speech (Proverbs 10:11). “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.” God himself is called “the well of life” (Ps 36:9) and “the fountain of living water” (Jer 2:13). The man of God draws from this supply and sheds life and refreshment around. His words are a source of vitality to those who listen to his exhortation and advice. On the other hand, “the mouth of the wicked conceals violence” (Proverbs 10:6). The words of the wicked are harmful and hypocritical. They conceal their true intent which is violence toward the innocent.
Quarrelsomeness vs. amiability (Proverbs 10:12). “Hatred stirs up strifes,” i.e., by focusing on faults, making mountains out of molehills, and questioning motives. Hatred keeps alive the old feeling of revenge, and seeks opportunities of satisfying it. On the other hand, “love covers all transgressions.” Love puts shortcomings out of sight, enables one to overlook insults and wrongs (cf. 1 Pet 4:8). This proverb is probably intended as a comment on the last line of Proverbs 10:11,“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.” and possibly also on Proverbs 10:10.“He who winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin.” The reprehensible actions mentioned in those verses are here attributed to hatred and the desire to stir up strife. The wisdom literature and Psalms.
The wise person’s words are like silver (Prov. 10:20), a tree of life (Prov. 15:4), food (Prov. 10:21), refreshing water (Prov. 10:11; 18:4), and medicine (Prov. 12:18). They should be seasoned with salt (Col. 4:6) and must not become destructive (James 3:1–12). With the Word
The Lord is the source of this fountain (Ps 36:9), which then springs up in the wise man as wise speech (Proverbs 10:11), wise laws (Proverbs 13:14), the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 14:27), and understanding (Proverbs 16:22).True love seeks the highest good for another (cf. 1 Cor 13:4–7). The MacArthur study Bible
While the word kasah literally means “to cover” (Gen 7:19) or “to conceal” (Proverbs 10:11), it can also have the sense of “to forgive” (Psa 32:1; 85:2). Faithlife Study Bible
Hatred results in dissension (cf. 6:14) because people who despise each other can hardly work or live together in peace. Love contributes toward peace because it covers or forgives the faults of others (cf. 17:9). It does not dwell on those faults (cf. 1 Cor. 13:5; James 5:20; 1 Peter 4:8). “Covers” is kāsâh, the same word rendered “overwhelms” in Proverbs 10:6, & Proverbs 10:11. A wicked one’s words are covered over with violence, but a righteous person covers up wrongs by forgiving the wrongdoers.
When a person hates someone but tries not to show it he is often forced to lie. And hatred often leads to slandering the other who is despised. The second line in Proverbs 10:18, “He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.”, begins with "and" rather than “but,” to show that the two thoughts of hatred and slander are not opposites. Such lying and slandering, born out of hatred, characterize a fool. The Bible Knowledge Commentary
The wicked are constantly rehashing old feuds with the hope that strife will be rekindled. In contrast, the words of the wise are conciliatory (cf. Jas 5:20, 1 Pet 4:8). KJV Bible Commentary