1. The Mouth Before God
The tongue blesses God and wounds men; testifies truly and bears false witness; reproves and slanders; vows and flatters. The faithful life cannot be governed while the mouth remains ungoverned.
2. Christ’s Command Against Oath-Craft
"Again, you have heard it was decreed to the ancients, that you shall not perjure yourselves, but give up your vow to the Lord. But I tell you in short, Do not vow at all: not by heaven, for that is the throne of God; nor by the earth, because that is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for that is the city of the great King. Neither vow by your head, because you are not able to make a single hair white or black. But let your language be 'Yes, yes'; 'No, no': for whatever exceeds these proceeds from evil.
— Matthew 5:33–37, FFT
But before all, my brethren, do not swear, neither by the heavens, nor by the earth, nor any other kind of oath: but let your yes be yes; and your no, no; so that you may not fall under a sentence.
— James 5:12, FFT
The disciple’s ordinary speech must become truthful. He must not create levels of speech in which oath speech is honest and common speech is loose.
3. Vows Before God
Lecture 5: On Reverence in the Worship of God. Guard your foot when you go to the House of GOD, and approach to listen, rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not understand that they do wrong. Be not in a hurry with your mouth and your heart. Hasten not to pour out speech before God,—for God is in Heaven and you upon the Earth,—therefore let your words be few, for the dream comes from many anxieties, and a fool's voice with many words. When you vow a gift to God, delay not to pay it,—for He is not pleased with evasions.—Do what you have promised.— It is better not to promise, than to be promising and not performing. Do not allow your mouth to cause yourself to offend;—and do not say to the Messenger that it was a mistake.—Why should God be angered by your voice, and injure the work of your hands?
— Ecclesiastes 5:1–6, FFT
Do not hurry with your mouth before God. Better not to promise than to promise and not perform. Reverence requires few words and fulfilled vows.
4. False Witness and Lawful Evidence
"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
— Exodus 20:16, FFT
A single witness shall not be received against a person for any offence, or for any sin. For every offence that may be committed, the evidence of two witnesses, or of three must establish it.
— Deuteronomy 19:15, FFT
"If your brother ever wrongs you, go and remonstrate with him while you are by yourselves. If he should listen to you, you will have won your brother over; but if he will not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that by the evidence of two or three witnesses the whole affair may be settled. Then, if he will not listen to them, report it to the assembly; and if he also refuses to listen to the assembly, let him be to you just as a heathen and a tax-farmer.
— Matthew 18:15–17, FFT
Receive no accusation against an elder, unless on the evidence of TWO OR THREE WITNESSES. In the presence of all reprove those who sin, so that the rest may also fear. I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, and of the chosen angels, that you may observe these rules free from prejudice, never acting from partiality.
— I Timothy 5:19–21, FFT
Accusation must not be by impulse, usefulness, suspicion, or rhetorical force. Scripture binds judgment to lawful witness.
5. Hear Before Answering
To give an answer before you hear, Is absurd,—and reproach to yourself.
— Proverbs 18:13, FFT
The Plaintiff is right in his cause, Till the Defendant comes on to examine,
— Proverbs 18:17, FFT
The first speaker is not the whole case. The faithful must not answer before hearing or judge before examination.
6. Reproof, Love, and Flattery
"You shall not go about slandering your neighbour. "You shall not lie in wait for the blood of your neighbour. I am the EVER-LIVING." "You shall not hate your brother in your heart. "You may reprove your neighbour, but not bear against him. "You shall not take revenge upon the child of your neighbour; but you shall love your neighbour as yourself. I am the EVER-LIVING.
— Leviticus 19:16–18, FFT
But I beg of you, brothers, to look after those who create disturbances and offences against the doctrine that you have learnt, and turn away from them. For they do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own greed; and by their flattery and fair speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspicious;
— Romans 16:17–18, FFT
These are inveterate fault-finders, proceeding in accordance with their own inordinate desires; their mouth is full of arrogance; they are flattering admirers for the sake of gain.
— Jude 1:16, FFT
Reproof is lawful; hatred is not. Flattery is not love, but manipulation in pleasant clothing.
7. The Tongue as Fire
Do not be all teachers, my brethren, because you know that we shall undergo a severe examination; for we all err in many ways. If any one can guard against slips in conversation, he is a perfect man, able also to restrain his whole body. When we put bits into the mouths of the horses, so as to render them obedient to us, we also control their whole body. Observe also the ships, although they are so large, and are tossed about by rough winds, are yet by means of a very small rudder turned in whatever direction the steersman may determine, So the tongue, although a small organ, is nevertheless a great boaster! See also how the tiniest spark may kindle the mightiest forest! And the tongue is a fire—a universe of wickedness! The tongue encamps in the midst of our organs, plundering the whole body, and firing the course of creation, and is set on fire by hell! For every species of wild beasts, as well as birds, with reptiles and fishes, has been tamed and can be tamed by the human genius; but no men have ever been able to tame the tongue! an undisciplined evil, full of deadly poison. With it we praise the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, created in the likeness of God, From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, it is not right for these things to be so. Does the fountain from the same cleft discharge both the sweet and the bitter? Can a fig-tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine, figs? Neither can salt produce sweet water.
— James 3:1–12, FFT
I tell you, however, that every vile idea that men give expression to, they shall render a reason for it in the Day of Judgment. For by your thoughts you will be acquitted, and by your thoughts you will be convicted."
— Matthew 12:36–37, FFT
Teachers especially must fear. The tongue can set a forest on fire, and every vile expression must be accounted for in the Day of Judgment.
Trial
Every doctrine, practice, counsel, ministry habit, and public word touching this matter must be tried by the Word.
- Does it let yes be yes and no be no?
- Does it avoid oath-craft and verbal manipulation?
- Does it refuse accusation without lawful evidence?
- Does it hear before answering?
- Does it reprove without hatred and reject flattery?
- Does it remember that teachers undergo severe examination?
Settlement
We will not call slander discernment, rage reproof, cowardice peace, evasion humility, or many words wisdom.
We will speak truth each to his neighbour, require proof where accusation is made, confess Christ under judgment, and fear the God Who judges words.