The Tongue: A Double-Edged Sword

I like to think of the tongue as a double-edged sword. The Bible greatly and splendidly helps me to think this way. As we know, the tongue has both positive and negative effects. It would be interesting to have a closer look at this double-edged sword which is the tongue.

Keeping one’s tongue in control means loving life and experiencing good days. In his First Letter, St Peter writes: For, Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech (1 Pt 3:10). When the tongue is used correctly it can be a strong vehicle for grace. The Letter to the Colossians reminds us: Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone (Col 4:6). The tongue can be utilized to build up others or destroy them altogether. Ephesians affirms: 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 (Eph 4:29).

The Book of Proverbs is, by itself, an entire school on the importance and benefit of using one’s tongue wisely while, at the same time, it details catastrophic effects on the bad use of tongues. In its tenth chapter it says that the more one talks idly the more one sins whereas the righteous simply hold their tongue back. It says: Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues (Prov 10:19). The Book of Proverbs likens the right use of the tongue with the tree of life whereas ill usage of the tongue is described as crushing the spirit. In its fifteenth chapter it says:The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit (Prov 15:4). Within the same chapter, the righteous discerns on what s/he will be saying whereas the wicked simply pouring out evil from his/her mouth. It says: The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil (Prov 15:28).

Proverbs says that a troubled person has a litigious tongue. Fools simply show off by speaking unwisely. An evil tongue is the result of wickedness. Let not forget that words are likened to deep waters. The tongue can also be unjust and when used indiscreetly, it can get one into serious trouble and become a snare to one’s life, thus becoming its very downfall. Gossip does evil everywhere it touches. All this wisdom is contained in the first eight verses of chapter 18: An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach. The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream. It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice. The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts (Prov 18:1-8).

Proverbs would also say that evil talk brings about division while good talk heals the pain of an offense done. It says: Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends (Prov 17:9). The same book hails those who wisely guard their tongues. Such people would protect themselves from tragedy. Proverbs says: Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity (Prov 21:23). This great book filled with practical wisdom also counsels that since gossip is like wood which keeps a fire burning an argument is brought to an abrupt end if one refrains from nourishing it through gossip. Thus, it says: Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down (Prov 26:20). Since lady Wisdom speaks with wisdom her tongue simply teaches wisely and faithfully. Proverbs affirms: She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue (Prov 31:26).

The impressive wisdom of the Book of Proverbs regarding the tongue keeps telling us that the tongue is a source of life or death depending on the quality or misery of the words it utters. Thus, its very words are the truth of both life or death. In Proverbs 18 we learn: From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit (Prov 18:20-21). The Book of Proverbs repeats and highlights the importance of controlling one’s tongue. It says: The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues (Prov 17:27-28).

Foul speech brings violence while responsible speech brings peace. Proverbs 12 says: The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them. The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous stands firm (Prov 12:6-7). Moreover, those who do evil are the prisoners of their irresponsible words while innocents are saved from any trouble thanks to their wise use of words. Within the same chapter we find: Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble. From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward (Prov 12:13-14). Irresponsible speech causes harmless damage contrary to the wise’ speech which affects healing. Concomitant with this fact we also find the principle that good lasts forever while evil’s duration is simply temporary. The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment (Prov 12:18-19). Finally, the Book of Proverbs solemnly reminds that peace is the first fruit of a tongue that is used for the good and violence is the immediate fruit of an unbridled tongue. It says: A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly (Prov 15:1-2).

Being written and addressed to a Jewish Christian audience who, like himself, have believed in Jesus as the Messiah, the Letter of James assumes all this background which the Book of Proverbs have given us and adds the following catechesis on the right use of words: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless (Jas 1:19-26).

If, as Jesus tells us in the Gospel, What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them (Matt 15:11), let us be discerning as to how we speak knowing that our words will affect others. Perhaps by praising the Lord, as Psalm 119 (119:171-173) suggests, can bless our mouths to utter blessed words.