As disciples of Jesus, does what we say matter?
Absolutely.
Consider Jesus’ sobering words:
“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37).
Perhaps nothing more needs to be said!
But I want to briefly address the why behind our speaking with “care”.
Hundreds of years before Jesus uttered those words above, a prophet named Isaiah in Judah witnessed a magnificent vision of the LORD in his heavenly temple (see Isaiah 6:1-7).
Exalted. Other-worldly. Earth-shattering. Glory-filled. Holy.
These are but some words to describe the powerful event.
Upon Isaiah seeing and hearing what he did, he immediately cried out:
“Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5).
Notice that at the sight and sound of this glorious and holy vision, Isaiah recognized the uncleanliness of his lips—and not only his, but the lips of all whom he dwells in the midst of.
Why is this?
This vision revealed God’s holiness, which in turn revealed Isaiah’s unholiness. And Isaiah described his unholiness by the impurity of his words.
Therefore, our words matter because holiness matters. And holiness matters because God is holy, and we are called to be holy as he is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16)—for we were created to reflect God as his image-bearers (see Genesis 1:26-27), which means speaking as he would speak.
Consider this: Jesus is the “Holy and Righteous One” (Acts 3:14) from God. In fact, he is “the Word of God” (Revelation 19:13) who has “[become] flesh” (John 1:14). As God once spoke through the prophets, he’s now spoken by his Son (see Hebrews 1:1-2).
In one sense, therefore, we can say that God’s voice and words are Jesus, for Jesus is God’s very Word. God thus demonstrates his holiness through Jesus.
With all this in mind, the reason for why we ought to speak with care is because just as God speaks through Jesus—and we are to speak in reflection of him—then we ought to speak this way as well. It’s part of our call to holiness.
And if ever we think that holiness in this life doesn’t matter “because I’m saved by grace and not by works!” then let us carefully read Hebrews 12:14:
“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
Do you want to see the Lord as Isaiah saw him?
Then take care that you speak as God speaks—that is, that your lips produce words that come from someone who’s been “washed…sanctified…[and] justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).
Although this might bring conviction to some of us, good evidence that this “washing” and “sanctifying” work of Jesus has been done in our hearts is by listening to what we say, for it’s “out of the abundance of the heart [that] the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34).
Church, let’s take care how we speak.
Yes, as Isaiah was cleansed and forgiven of his sinful lips (Isaiah 6:6-7), we’ve also been cleansed and forgiven (see Titus 3:4-7). But our salvation is never to be understood apart from real-life transformation and ongoing holy living. In fact, after declaring the wonder of the gospel to Titus, Paul wrote, “The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things [of the gospel], so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works” (Titus 3:8).
Since Paul would’ve easily understood “careful speech” as included under “good works,” it might be helpful to reread that last part as, “so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good words.”
Our words matter!
Therefore, in union with Jesus—abiding in him for everything (see John 15:1-17)—speak as he speaks.