What other scriptures warn against the dangers of cursing and negative speech? A Sobering Picture from Psalm 109:17 “He loved cursing—may it come upon him; he took no delight in blessing—may it be far from him.” David shows that words invite consequences. When a person delights in curses, those very curses return. The rest of Scripture consistently echoes this warning. Old Testament Echoes: Wisdom and Law • Exodus 20:7 — “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave unpunished anyone who takes His name in vain.” • Leviticus 19:12 — “You must not swear falsely by My name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.” • Proverbs 10:19 — “When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” • Proverbs 12:18 — “Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” • Proverbs 13:3 — “He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but the one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” • Proverbs 18:21 — “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” • Ecclesiastes 10:20 — Even private curses can travel: “Do not curse the king even in your thoughts… for a bird of the air may carry your words.” Together these verses form a steady drumbeat: careless, biting, or profane speech always boomerangs. The Words of Jesus: From the Heart to the Lips • Matthew 12:36-37 — “I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” • Matthew 15:11, 18-19 — “It is not what enters the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out of his mouth… the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart.” • Luke 6:45 — “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Jesus links speech to heart-condition and eternal accountability, deepening the warning already sounded in the Psalms and Proverbs. Letters to the Churches: Guarding the Tongue • Romans 3:13-14 — “Their throats are open graves… their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” Paul lists cursing as evidence of universal sin. • Ephesians 4:29 — “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up.” • Ephesians 5:4 — “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking… but rather thanksgiving.” • Colossians 3:8 — “Put aside… slander, and filthy language from your mouth.” • James 1:26 — “If anyone... does not bridle his tongue, his religion is worthless.” • James 3:5-10 — “The tongue is a fire… From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!” • 1 Peter 3:10 — “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.” The apostles press the lesson home: redeemed people must replace destructive words with words that edify and bless. Living the Lesson Today • Recognize that speech carries spiritual weight; every word either plants blessing or summons harm (Proverbs 18:21). • Invite the Lord to cleanse the heart, knowing pure speech flows from a renewed inner life (Luke 6:45). • Practice restraint and intentional encouragement, letting Ephesians 4:29 set the standard for daily conversations. |
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