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23 Bible Verses about Lying - KJV - DailyVerses.net

James warns us about the danger. What we say can ignite a fire. I have seen it. It isn’t pretty. The cynical remark. The snarky response. The evil intent. Yikes. What a mess we can create.

Our speech has an enormous influence for good or ill and is a sure guide to our character. The power of what we say is indisputable. Consider the billions spent on therapy because of what others said about us when we were young. Jesus can fix that.

What we say to others matters. What Jesus says to us matters most!

What is the impact of speech? It has the power of life and death. That sounds extreme but it is true.

    • Words can kill.
    • Words can give life.
    • Will we choose words the bear fruit of life?

Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.  Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?  Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh. | James 3:1–12 (NASB)

We should keep in mind that the word tongue is often a reference to the spoken word. This is a special kind of figure of speech called metonymy, in which one word stands in for another, closely related word. A common example of metonymy is seen in this sentence: “The White House issued a statement.” Of course, the White House, as a building, cannot issue statements; however, in this instance, White House refers to the President, who lives there. In the same way, when Proverbs 15:4 states, “A deceitful tongue crushes the spirit,” tongue is a metonymy. Obviously, a literal, fleshly tongue cannot crush the human spirit, but the words the tongue produces can.

  • Ephesians 4:29  — 29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
  • Proverbs 10:11  — 11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
  • Proverbs 10:20–21  — 20 The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver, The heart of the wicked is worth little. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of understanding.
  • Proverbs 10:31–32  — 31 The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom, But the perverted tongue will be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted.
  • Proverbs 16:21  — 21 The wise in heart will be called understanding, And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
  • Proverbs 16:23–24  — 23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth And adds persuasiveness to his lips. 24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
  • Proverbs 25:12  — 12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise reprover to a listening ear.
  • Isaiah 50:4  — 4 The Master God has given Me the tongue of disciples, That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.