Preaching About the Tongue in Proverbs

The book of Proverbs can be difficult to preach since it seems like a collection of unrelated sayings. That’s where a resource like Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old and New Testament can be a great aid. Instead of a detailed exposition of the entire book, Wiersbe groups some of the proverbs under a similar topic. Let’s look at how he arranges proverbs related to speech or the tongue to learn how we could do something similar in our preaching or teaching.

Preaching the Good and Evil of the Tongue

There are many references to the tongue in Proverbs. We have suggested reading chapters 12 and 18 because they mention the tongue frequently, but you will want to follow the cross references and examine other verses as well. We so often take the wonderful gift of speech for granted and abuse an ability that ought to be guarded and used to the glory of God.

Before we consider some of the sins of the tongue, we ought to note the blessings of a godly tongue. (This demands a godly heart, because the tongue only speaks what the heart treasures.) When used for good, the tongue is like valuable silver (10:20); a beautiful and fruitful tree of life (15:4; see 12:14 and 18:20); a refreshing well of water (18:4; 10:11); and a healthy dose of medicine (12:18).

The tongue should be used for right purposes: bringing peace (15:1, 26); giving wise reproof to the erring (25:12; 28:23); delivering lost souls from death (11:9; 14:3–5, 25; 12:6); teaching people the things of the Lord (15:7; 16:21, 23; 20:15); and carrying the good news of the Gospel (25:25).

But Satan and the flesh want to control the tongue, and the results are sad. Perhaps more damage is done to lives, homes, and churches by the tongue than by any other means. It is sobering to realize that the tongue can be used to damage reputations and cause trouble, when it ought to be used to praise God, pray, and witness to others about Christ. The tongue is a “little member” of the body (James 3:5), but it is one member that must be yielded to God as a tool of righteousness (Rom. 6:12–13). Perhaps if we consider some of the sins of the tongue, it might encourage us to use our gift of speech more carefully.

The Evils of the Tongue

I. Lying (12:17–22)

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,

But those who deal truthfully are His delight.

Proverbs 12:22

God hates a lying tongue (6:16–17). Sometimes a lying tongue is only covering up sin in the heart (10:18), such as we see in Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) and Judas (John 12:1–8). In 12:18, Solomon suggests that lies are like cutting swords, but the truth is like a healing medicine. The truth is eternal, but lies will one day be revealed and the liars judged (v. 19). Verse 20 explains that it is deceit in the heart that makes a statement a lie. After all, the lips can utter true words, but if the intent of the heart is evil, the statement is false. Likewise, if we ignorantly speak an untrue statement, the statement may be a lie, but the speaker cannot be condemned as a liar.

The Bible tests and reveals the intents of the heart (Heb. 4:12), so the best way to be sure of telling the truth is to allow the Word and the Spirit to control the tongue. The truth will deliver souls (14:25), but lies only lead to bondage and shame. Proverbs 17:4 indicates that liars enjoy listening to liars. People who enjoy listening to gossip will turn around and gossip themselves. The heart controls the ear as well as the lips. But all liars will be punished (19:5, 9); and when they “eat their own words,” it will be like gravel (20:17). Hell is waiting for the one who “loves and practices a lie” (Rev. 22:15).

II. Talebearing (18:8)

The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles,

And they go down into the inmost body.

Proverbs 18:8

Moses warned about this sin in Lev. 19:16. A “talebearer” is one who runs from person to person telling matters that ought to be concealed, whether they are true or false. “Love covers all sins,” says 10:12. When we love others, we seek to help them privately, and we try to win them back to the right way (Matt. 18:15–18). Think how many people have been wounded by the talebearer. Words can be as deadly as weapons; in 25:18 Solomon compares deceitful words to three different weapons: a maul (battle-ax) that crushes at close range; a sword that cuts; and an arrow that pierces and can be shot from a distance. Stay away from the talebearer (20:19). He or she is a kindler of fires (26:20) and a destroyer of friendships (17:9).

III. Talking Too Much (12:13; 18:6–7)

A fool’s lips enter into contention,

And his mouth calls for blows.

A fool’s mouth is his destruction,

And his lips are the snare of his soul.

Proverbs 18:6–7

The idea behind these verses is that the fool talks too much and talks his way right into trouble. His mouth becomes a trap, and he himself is snared by it. Read 6:1–5 to see how this sin gets people into trouble. “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,” warns 10:19. A controlled tongue means a safe life (13:3); a loose tongue means poverty (14:23 – many people would rather talk than work) and foolishness (15:2). The person of few words is a person of knowledge (17:27–28). Unfortunately, there is sometimes a “multitude of words” even in God’s house, and Eccl. 5:1–7 has some good counsel about this.

IV. Talking Too Soon (18:13, 17)

The first one to plead his cause seems right,

Until his neighbor comes and examines him.

Proverbs 18:17

“Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak,” commands James 1:19. Too often we are slow to hear – we never really listen to the whole matter patiently – and swift to speak; and this gets us into trouble. It is wise to “restrain the lips” until you really have something to say (10:19). A godly person will study to answer, but a fool will open his mouth and pour out foolishness (15:28). Potiphar did not listen to Joseph’s side of the story and committed a great crime because of it. Jesus and the Apostles were not permitted to tell their whole story; the verdicts were passed by their enemies before the cases were honestly tried. God wants us to search out each matter carefully (25:2) and then give fair judgment.

Proverbs 18:17 warns us not to agree with the “first cause” that we hear but to seek to understand both sides of a matter. Even where dedicated Christians are involved, there are two sides to a story. This is not because people necessarily lie, but simply because no two people see and hear the same matter in the same way. All of us need to pray, “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips” (Ps. 141:3).

V. Flattering (26:28)

A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it,

And a flattering mouth works ruin.

Proverbs 26:28

Flattery, of course, is a form of lying, but it is so dangerous that it deserves separate attention. “A flattering mouth works ruin,” warns 26:28; and 29:5 compares flattery to a dangerous net spread before an innocent man’s feet. For an X ray of the flatterer’s mouth read Ps. 5:9. Flattery is insincere praise given by one who has selfish motives. “Flatter” and “flutter” belong to the same family of words, and you can just see the flatterer as he “flutters” around his victim, trying to impress him.

Satan used a form of flattery to tempt Eve: “You will be like God. ” The evil woman uses flattery to tempt the young man (5:3; 7:5, 21). “The rich has many friends” mainly because they want to flatter him and get something out of him (14:20; 19:4–6). We are warned not to meddle with people given to flattery (20:19). Sad to say, sometimes the righteous will flatter the wicked in order to get advantages (25:26); and this will pollute a home, a church, or a nation like a poisoned spring. Honest rebuke is better than flattery (28:23). “Faithful are the wounds of a friend,” says 27:6, “but the kisses of an enemy (like Judas) are deceitful.”

Of course, there is a place for honest praise in the Christian life; see 1 Thes. 5:12–13. Honest praise is like a furnace (Prov. 27:21); it brings to the top either the pure gold or the dross. Some Christians are so carnal they cannot take praise; it goes to their heads. Worse still, they cannot stand to see another person praised. When the Jews praised David for his victories, this praise made David humble, but it revealed the envy and pride in Saul’s heart (1 Sam 18).

VI. Quarreling (12:16, 18)

There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,

But the tongue of the wise promotes health.

Proverbs 12:18

There is a righteous anger (Eph. 4:26), but too often it becomes unrighteous anger and leads to arguing and displays of temper. An angry person keeps adding fuel to the fire only to make the matter worse (26:21), and angry words are the fuel. The best way to stop an argument is with soft words (15:1–2); this is the best way to “break the bones” (25:15). Being able to control one’s temper is the same as ruling an army or an empire (16:32).

More Expository Help with Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines

This post gave you a small taste of what you can expect from Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old and New Testament. Though it would be challenging to cover all that material in one sermon, you could definitely preach through the topic in a short series. You can learn more about this resource by following the link below to our store!

Check out these two blog posts to see more of what Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old and New Testament has to offer:

• Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines
• The Job Description for Ministers of the Word