THE POWER OF THE TONGUE

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PROVERBS 18:1-24
Lesson #30
THE POWER OF THE TONGUE

• Memory Verse: Pro 18:21
• Proverbs in this lesson are listed out of sequence for the purpose of maintaining common themes.
• We have learned previously in Proverbs that all man’s speech and actions reflect what is present in the inner man of the heart. Therefore, we will begin with the inner man.
• The Inner Man:
  • ^“A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.” (2)
    • Key words: fool (no God for me); understanding (discernment of good from evil); heart (soul/inner man).
    • God knows man’s heart better than man knows his own heart.
    • Psychology says that man needs to get away to discover himself. However, this process through psychology panders to the flesh nature of man.
      • The basis of psychology says that man is basically good while God tells us in His word that man is basically evil. (Ecl 9:3 Mat 15:19)
      • In psychology there is no discernment of good from evil from God’s perspective. Therefore, psychology never deals with man’s sin.
    • The believer in Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit living in his inner man, learns to discern good from evil. By that the Holy Spirit guides him to follow the Spirit nature instead of pandering to the flesh nature.
  • ^“Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.” (12)
    • Key words: heart (soul/inner man).
    • The foundation of a haughty spirit is pride.
    • We have discussed how pride was the first sin in the universe accomplished by the angel Lucifer. This sin and its consequences are repeated throughout the Bible.
      • King Saul is a good example.
      • Read 1Sam 13:7-14
    • Jesus said that the person with humility will be exalted. Why?
      • A haughty spirit of pride serves the flesh nature of man while a humble spirit serves others.
      • Read Mat 23:12
  • ^“The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?” (14)
    • God created man in His image. What does that mean?
      • Parallel likenesses:
        • Both God and man have a personal will.
        • Both God and man are spiritual beings.

God created man a spiritual being so as to be able to have fellowship with man. (Joh 4:24)

Animals do not have a spiritual consciousness.

• • • • • Both God and man have moral consciousness.

Man is able to make judgments of right and wrong. We have seen in Proverbs that this discernment is important to man from God’s perspective.

Animals do not have this capability.

• • • • • Both God and man have intellect and reason.
        • Both God and man have emotion.
        • Both God and man have dominion. God gave man dominion over creation from the very beginning.
        • Both God and man are capable of unconditional love.
        • Both God and man have the power of intelligent speech. (Jam 1:26 Jam 3:2-13 Pro 18:21)
        • Both God and man have three parts. (1The 5:23)

God is 3 persons in one, which we call the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Man is a 3 part being of body, soul, and spirit.

• • • • Because man’s three parts are uniquely joined together, what affects one part also affects the other parts.
      • Therefore, when the Holy Spirit is inside of man’s spirit, the believer in Christ has a resource of strength to endure problems, weaknesses, and illness in life.
      • A wounded spirit is a poor image of who you are with God and leaves the person without hope and without encouragement.
      • A person that has the will to live is the opposite of a person with a broken spirit.
  • ^“The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.” (15)
    • Key words: heart (soul/inner man); prudent (caution); knowledge (power to know truth); wise (believer in Christ).
    • The person that approaches life with caution will seek to know the eternal truth about life and God.
    • God gives the believer the capacity to understand God truth because the believer has the Holy Spirit of Truth inside of him. (Joh 14:17)
• The Power of the Tongue:
  • ^“The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.” (4)
    • Key words: wisdom (skillful living).
    • This beautiful, picturesque proverb tells us that man’s words reveal a lot about man:
      • …what he believes in his inner man. His heart is the well.
      • …what his moral standards are on which he bases his actions.
    • The believer that is living his life skillfully expresses that skillful living everywhere he goes and in everything he does. It comes from within him and flows out to those around him.
    • Read Joh 7:37-39
  • ^“A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.” (6)
  • ^“A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.” (7)
    • Key words: fool (no God for me); contention (strife); strokes (fighting).
    • The person without God in his life pleases his flesh nature.
    • Selfishness always results in strife, arguments, and fights especially when two people are non-believers.
    • How are the words of your lips a snare to your soul?
      • Your eternal salvation depends on your words.
      • Read Rom 10:9-10
      • If your words deny or refuse Christ in your life, your eternally lost condition is established by your words.
  • ^“The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” (8)
    • Key words: talebearer (gossip).
    • Words that attack a person’s self-image to make him feel worthless break a person’s spirit.
    • If these cutting words are in the form of gossip, they damage a person’s reputation with others.
    • When the proverb says that these words go down into the innermost parts of the belly, it means that the person who hears them believes them to the depth of his being. He swallows the lies hook, line, and sinker. The Hebrew words mean = to swallow greedily.
    • This proverb is repeated in Pro 26:22
  • ^“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” (13)
    • Key words: folly (wrong walk).
    • The person that answers a question before he hears the whole question makes wrong decisions and walks the wrong way.
    • This not only refers to conversation but the whole decision-making process where a person makes a decision without having sufficient details. He will look foolish in the end.
  • ^“A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.” (20)
    • This proverb is a warning to be careful what you say because your words will produce either good or bad in your own life.
    • The believer that speaks good and positive things will be satisfied with the fruit his words produce.
      • This is part of the sowing and reaping principle that we have discussed in regards to our actions.
      • Here we see the sowing and reaping principle in our conversation. (Mar 11:23)
  • ^“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” (21)
    • This proverb sums up the major theme in this chapter of Proverbs.
    • What does it mean that death and life are in the power of the tongue?
      • Death and life are extremes.
        • The tongue has the power to kill another person’s reputation.
        • The tongue has the power to break another person’s spirit.
        • The tongue has the power to light the spark of encouragement in another person.
        • The tongue has the power to be the tool of Satan to destroy.
        • The tongue has the power to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with another person to give him eternal life.
        • The tongue affirms salvation when he confesses Jesus Christ. (Rom 10:9-10)
      • Like the previous proverb, the sowing and reaping principle is clear.
        • The person that speaks negatively about everything, complaining about everything, eats bitter fruit and enjoys his negative attitude.
        • The person that speaks positively about everything sees God’s possibilities at work because he is grateful for the good that God has done in his life.
• Personal Relationships:
  • “It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.” (5)
    • Key words: wicked (lawless evil); righteous (pure life); judgment (discernment).
    • Do not judge a matter by what an evil, lawless person says because he has ulterior motives.
    • Especially do not believe what an evil person says about another believer. Why?
      • God has accepted the believer into His kingdom and has forgiven him.
      • Therefore, it is God’s responsibility to bring correction to another believer. It is not the responsibility of a non-believer to judge a believer.
      • Believers in Jesus Christ need to trust the Holy Spirit to correct other believers. He does a better job than humans can do.
  • “He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.” (17)
    • Key words: just (righterous/believer).
      • In settling an argument between two people, the first side of the story you hear appears correct until you hear the other person’s story.
      • Therefore, you can make a better determination when you have heard both sides of the argument and have had an opportunity to cross examine the two witnesses.
  • ^“A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.” (19)
    • Key words: contentions (strife).
    • Sometimes it is more difficult to win a brother in the flesh or a brother in the Lord when you have offended him. Why?
      • He is less likely to trust you with his feelings in the future because he does not want to be hurt or offended again.
      • In this case, you have to earn his trust again by expressing constant love, humility, and contrition.
      • For the believer in Christ, unconditional love is commanded in 1Cor 13.
        • Therefore, we are to extend forgiveness and trust to those that offend us.
        • Everyone deserves a second chance or as many chances as he requests our forgiveness.
        • Read Mat 18:21-22
  • “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.” (22)
    • Of course, she is a “good thing” if she is a good wife and has a personal relationship with the Lord.
    • Proverbs 31 will tell us what makes up a good wife.
    • The last half of this verse reminds us that as believers in Christ we are to seek God’s guidance before choosing a mate.
      • Those believers that choose to marry a non-believer make a big mistake why?
      • Read 2Cor 6:14
        • Marriage is difficult enough joining two different personalities without complicating the matter of joining spiritual light and spiritual darkness that are incompatible.
        • Marriage between believers have the help of the Holy Spirit to mediate differences and give guidance.
  • ^“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (24)
    • The friend that “sticketh closer than a brother” is the relationship between two believers in Christ.
    • For the person that complains he has no friends must first learn how to be a friend before God will give him a close friend.
    • Notice the basic motivational difference:
      • If you want everyone to be your friend but you are not friendly to them, the motivation is selfishness.
      • This proverb tells us the proper motivation of love is to give friendship to others first.
    • Jesus Christ is the ultimate “friend”.
    • Read Joh 15:14
• General Proverbs:
  • “Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.” (1)
    • Key words: intermeddleth (busybody); wisdom (skillful living).
    • We have learned in Proverbs that to get God’s wisdom for skillful living you must first desire it.
      • The non-believer that separates himself from the things of God but desires wisdom will dabble here and there in all kinds of philosophies, beliefs, and false religions. (Jude 1:19)
      • As we learned in Proverbs, he will not gain God’s wisdom, but is content with the wisdom of the world which is no wisdom at all.
    • In contrast the believer must separate himself from the world and unto God to receive the things of God and true wisdom.
  • ^“ When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.” (3)
    • Key words: wicked (lawless evil); ignominy (shame); reproach (censure).
    • The evil non-believer living in lawlessness will hate believers because they are good. Why?
      • The righteousness of believers in Christ make the evil person feel guilty.
      • Because he does not want to repent of his evil, he will have contempt for the things and the people of God.
      • This hatred for good is a characteristic of the last days before the second coming of Christ. (2Tim 3:3)
    • However, at the final judgment of the great white throne the non-believer will feel ashamed and have to endure the censure of God that tried to persuade him to repentance.
  • “He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.” (9)
    • Key words: slothful (lazy).
    • Both the lazy person and the person that wastes his blessings are like brothers.
      • Why?
      • Both the lazy person and the waster end up with nothing.
  • ^“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” (10)
    • Key words: righteous (believer in Jesus Christ).
    • While this proverb is not a promise here in Proverbs but a probability, it is a promise in the Psalms. (Psa 61:3)
    • The promise is for believers that received Jesus Christ in their hearts and have put on the righteousness of Christ because they have repented of their sins. Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior.
  • ^“The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.” (11)
    • The rich man trusts in his wealth for protection against the problems of this world instead of trusting in God.
    • Because the rich usually trust in their wealth to meet all their needs, Jesus said it is difficult for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God. (Mat 19:23-24)
      • Humility is necessary to enter the Kingdom of God. Why?
      • A person must surrender to the Lordship of Christ. In other words, Christ must replace man’s own ego on the throne of his heart.
  • ^“A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.” (16)
    • The word “gift” here is not the Hebrew word for “bribe”. Therefore this is a true freewill gift.
    • A gift can soften another person’s heart so that another person makes room for him in his life, even with those who are in leadership positions of authority.
  • ^“The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.” (18)
    • We have discussed the casting of lots in Proverbs previously. (Proverbs Lesson #27)
    • The Bible says that the casting of lots puts the matter in God’s hands to decide. (Pro 16:33)
    • In this Proverb, the casting of lots can stop an argument and keep a stronger person from taking advantage of a weaker person.
  • ^“The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.” (23)
    • Key words: intreaties (entreaty) = (beg)
    • The poor man is humble and has nothing to recommend him so he resorts to making his requests by begging the favor of one in authority over him to get what he wants.
    • The rich man does not care what other people think. He does not have to beg for what he wants. He can speak harshly and not have to impress anyone. If necessary, he will buy what he wants.

Homework
Proverbs 19:1-15

• Application of Pro 18:1-24
  • What must a person have to get wisdom (successful living): (1)
    • The desire to get it.
  • Instead of discerning good from evil (understanding), the fool seeks to discover himself. (2) What does that mean and why is it a bad idea?
    • It is a bad idea because this is what Psychology tells us and it feeds the soul of man, not the spirit.
  • How do words of gossip affect the person that hears the gossip? (8)
    • They are swallowed greedily and color one’s attitude toward the person spoken about by gossip.
  • Why do you think the lazy person is just as bad as someone who wastes his resources? (9)
    • Both end up with nothing.
  • Death and life are in the power of what? (21) What does that mean?
    • The tongue. You can bless a person with words of encouragement and life or you can destroy a person with words of discouragement.
    • When we confess Jesus Christ as our Lord, we express life.
• Preparation for Pro 19:1-15
  • Read Pro 19:1-15
    • Why do you think a person that hasteh with his feet sins? (2)
    • Explain what you think verse 11 means?
    • Use your humorous nature to find the proverb that relates to a leaking faucet!
    • Find a proverb in this passage that tells YOU something to obey!
• Memory verse: Your choice…choose one verse from this passage and memorize it.