What We Say Is a Matter of the Heart

One of the most important statements Jesus makes in the Bible is one of the most important verses every Christian must understand before they can ever change.

Any sin to be tackled, any wrongdoing that needs to be put away, and any unrighteous deed that seems to be gaining ground must be understood considering these words by Jesus – “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Word problems are heart problems. Words don’t “just happen” to come from our lips. We always choose what to say.

Sometimes we fail to take ownership of what we say and use excuses like – “I didn’t mean what I said.” But Jesus says, “Out of the abundance of your heart, your mouth will speak.” In other words, you meant exactly what you said, because what you said comes from your heart.” We could, and probably should say instead, “I’m sorry that I said what I mean.”

Proverbs 15:28 also says, “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.” When we don’t guard our hearts, we say things we should not say.

In Romans 3, Paul describes depravity. Notice how often he refers to the tongue. “¹⁰ None is righteous, no, not one; ¹¹ no one understands; no one seeks for God. ¹² All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. ¹³ Their THROAT is an open grave; they use their TONGUES to deceive. The VENOM of asps is under their LIPS. ¹⁴ Their MOUTH is full of CURSES and BITTERNESS. ¹⁵ Their feet are swift to shed blood; ¹⁶ in their paths are ruin and misery, ¹⁷ and the way of peace they have not known. ¹⁸ There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom 3:10-18).

The greatest demonstration of our depravity comes from what we say. And the opposite is also true: the greatest example of our sanctification come from what we say.

It is Sinclair Ferguson that wrote, “The tongue is the hinge on which the door into our soul swings open in order to reveal our spirit. In effect, our words are like so many media people rushing to file their reports on the condition of our soul.”

What is going on inside of you has a direct correlation on what goes on outside of you.