Psalm
39:1-3 New International Version
I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue
from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.”
So I remained utterly silent, not even saying
anything good. but my anguish increased; my heart grew hot within me.
While I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke
with my tongue:
Ephesians
4:29 New International Version
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your
mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their
needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
James
3:1-12 New International Version
Taming
the Tongue
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow
believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We
all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is
perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make
them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example.
Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by
a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a
small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest
is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil
among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course
of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures
are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the
tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and
with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the
same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not
be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers
and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can
a salt spring produce fresh water.
Matthew
7:1-6 New International Version
Judging
Others
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in
the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you
use, it will be measured to you.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your
brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you
say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time
there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of
your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your
brother’s eye.
“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw
your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and
turn and tear you to pieces.
Ask,
Seek, Knock
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you
will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks
receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be
opened.
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will
give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you,
then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how
much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So
in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums
up the Law and the Prophets.
The
Narrow and Wide Gates
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the
gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through
it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a
few find it.
True
and False Prophets
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in
sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you
will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from
thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad
fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good
fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the
fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
True
and False Disciples
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will
enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father
who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not
prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name
perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away
from me, you evildoers!’
The
Wise and Foolish Builders
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine
and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that
house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But
everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is
like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams
rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great
crash.”
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the
crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority,
and not as their teachers of the law.
Romans
14:10-13 New International Version
You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister?
Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s
judgment seat.
It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee
will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
So then, each of us will give an account of
ourselves to God.
Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one
another.
