The True Source of Speech

THE TRUE SOURCE OF SPEECH

 

So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.  And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.  

And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?  

And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, (Exo 15:22-25)

 

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.  (Mat 12:34)

 

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.  (Mat 12:35)

 

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  (Mat 12:36)

 

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.  (Mat 12:37)

 

(Henry)   In these verses we have,

 

  The heart is the fountain, the words are the streams (Mat_12:34); Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, as the streams are the overflowings of the spring. A wicked heart is said to send forth wickedness, as a fountain casts forth her waters, Jer_6:7. A troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring, must needs send forth muddy and unpleasant streams. Evil words are the natural, genuine product of an evil heart. Nothing but the salt of grace, cast into the spring, will heal the waters, season the speech, and purify the corrupt communications. This they wanted, they were evil; and how can ye, being evil, speak good things? They were a generation of vipers; John Baptist had called them so (Mat_3:7), and they were still the same; for can the Ethiopian change his skin? The people looked upon the Pharisees as a generation of saints, but Christ calls them a generation of vipers, the seed of the serpent, that had an enmity to Christ and his gospel. Now what could be expected from a generation of vipers, but that which is poisonous and malignant? Can the viper be otherwise than venomous? Note, Bad things may be expected from bad people, as said the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked, 1Sa_24:13. The vile person will speak villany, Isa_32:6.  

 

< The heart is the treasury, the words are the things brought out of that treasury (Mat_12:35); and from hence men's characters may be drawn, and may be judged of.

[1.] It is the character of a good man, that he has a good treasure in his heart, and from thence brings forth good things, as there is occasion. Graces, comforts, experiences, good knowledge, good affections, good resolutions, these are a good treasure in the heart; the word of God hidden there, the law of God written there, divine truths dwelling and ruling thee, are a treasure there, valuable and suitable, kept safe and kept secret, as the stores of the good householder, but ready for use upon all occasions. A good man, thus furnished, will bring forth, as Joseph out of his stores; will be speaking and doing that which is good, for God's glory, and the edification of others. See Pro_10:11, Pro_10:13, Pro_10:14, Pro_10:20, Pro_10:21, Pro_10:31, Pro_10:32.

[2.] It is the character of an evil man, that he has an evil treasure in his heart, and out of it bringeth forth evil things. Lusts and corruptions dwelling and reigning in the heart are an evil treasure, out of which the sinner brings forth bad words and actions, to the dishonour of God, and the hurt of others. See Gen_6:5, Gen_6:12; Mat_15:18-20; Jam_1:15. But treasures of wickedness (Pro_10:2) will be treasures of wrath.

Those who seemed to be religious, but bridled not their tongue, will then be found to have put a cheat upon themselves with a vain religion, Jam_1:26.

  (Pro_18:21)   Death and life are in the power of the tongue.

 

The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.  (Pro 10:11)

 

The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.  (Pro 10:20)

 

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.  (Jam 1:26)

 

James 3:1-17 THE TONGUE

 

I. AN IMPURE SOURCE

 

A. Bitterness will produce death

 

B. Can the viper be otherwise than venomous?

 

C. An a evil treasure

 

1. Dross will surface under the fire

2. A little leaven

 

II. THE REMEDY FOR THE PROBLEM

 

A. The cross

 

God directed Moses to a tree which he cast into the waters, when, at once, they were made sweet. Some make this tree typical of the cross of Christ, which sweetens the bitter waters of affliction to all the faithful, and enables them to rejoice in tribulation.

 

1. Salvation is sweet

2. A Continued work

 

B. A clean heart

 

1. The Word

2. A work of God

 

C. Protect the storehouse

 

III. A PURIFIED SOURCE

 

A. A new heart

B. Speak words of life

C. Speak edifying words