The Words of Your Heart - part II

Lead In:

Last week we moved into Jesus' words in Matthew 5:33-37 to see Him, yet again, explaining the true meaning of the law. Bearing with the weaknesses of His students, Jesus Christ, the true teacher, explained that the way we speak is of utmost importance.

Remember, the Pharisees had developed an oath taking system that allowed them to work-around God’s moral law in an attempt to convince other people that they were, in fact, reliable. They would invoke something else to prove their words were true, and because they didn't swear by God, they thought themselves innocent. However, Jesus dissolved their entire system under His sovereignty by proving that every promise really is in the name of God, because anything you can possibly attach to your words to prove their sincerity…already belongs to Him.

We closed out last week by understanding that, not only will our actions be on display at the final judgement, but our words as well. Every sentence that has escaped the borders of our mind, either audibly, written, or typed into our phones, every word will be held under the perfect standard of His righteousness. We must be “truth-tellers” in every area of our life. Not hiding behind our words or phrase them in such a way that we are trying to absolve ourselves of the moral responsibility that accompanies speech. You, and you alone, are responsible for every word that comes out of your mouth. And when those words are ones of truth, you are acting in accordance with the character and nature of a God who can’t lie.

One who always follows through with what He says. In forgiveness; in hatred of evil; in patience towards the weak and the sanctification of sinners; God always follows through with what He says He is going to do. 

And today we are going to continue to explore why our words matter.

Read → Matthew 5:33-37 and Opening Prayer

Don’t forget where these verses are located

Going through Scripture in this way, where we take a pericope (a section) and look at the various areas of life it is concerned with, while it is good to do so, it presents a danger as well.

Later on this morning, when we begin to talk about talking, and the moral responsibility that always accompanies speaking, the danger comes in when we forget that this pericope of Matthew 5:33-37 exists inside of the Sermon on the Mount. 

Sentence by sentence of this Sermon, the Word of God is teaching how and why His children can be described by The Beatitudes.

Peacemakers (Matt. 5:9) are those who understand where murder starts, and are concerned with the source of the sin, not simply the ramifications of it.

Those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness (Matt. 5:6), are so famished because of how often they forgive the unrighteous deeds that are enacted against them.

And those who are pure in heart (Matt. 5:8), act out that purity by taking dramatic action against the temptation to lust.

We can continue like this through the entire Sermon on the Mount, seeing the behaviors and lifestyles of those whom Jesus described in the Beatitudes. But taking the entire sermon as a whole; we act and live and behave the way that we do, because our hearts have been replaced by God. 

You, fellow Christian, on purpose, make a choice to act in ways that show to the world who lives in your heart. Your work, your hobbies, your relationships, the way you spend your money; the sum total of your physical actions; are now carried out with His glory as their ultimate goal.

Brothers and sisters, if the glory of God isn't the foundational motivation empowering all of your actions…then you have some very serious questions you need to ask yourself.

How can a heart that God gave someone, one wholly innocent of the deepest and darkest sins, motivate you towards anything but the glory of God?

How can a heart that God died for…not take every action in direct proportion to the love of the God it is now enslaved to? Rom. 6:17-19 says it this way →  “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. [18] And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. [19] I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.” (emphasis - mine)

When God gives you a new heart, you are going to act in a certain way.

It's going to happen.

In fact, your actions and behaviors are going to be so consumed with a love for God; so all encompassing in every area of your life; that Paul used the word “slave” to describe it in the verses we just read. It will happen. 

I'm going to hit this nail on the head just a few more times, so that when we shift into our words, all the heavy lifting will already be done. 

The type of heart you have is the single determining factor of what actions you take. Period. Is it a heart that loves God, or self? Is it a heart that was “born not from blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but the will of God” (Jn. 1:13)? If it is, then your actions will be those that God approves of, and when they aren't…it will be heart-breaking.

And that right there is the key behind this my friends. Because you are fallen, yet redeemed, there will be many times, over the span of your life, when your actions betray your heart. When you do things, with your hands or bodies, that Scripture plainly tells you not to. 

But when you do…does it break your heart?

Does it grieve you to sin with your actions?

Do you hate it every time you do? Does it break…your…heart? 

Or…is it just a speed-bump? An inconvenience?

“Yeah I know I shouldn't act that way, but, it's not as bad as all that; I know God will forgive me; plus I have lots and lots of reasons why the circumstances were lined up in such a way that it really isn't my fault. It's because of the way I was raised; or the culture; or my friends; or anything that isn't me.”

We are the salt and light of the world (Matt. 5:13-16) because our actions and behaviors have a preserving and illuminating effect on the world around us, yes. And in our main verses today we can understand that our words ought to as well. 

Your salvation effects your words

Now…take all of that; your actions being the means by which the kind of heart you have is put on display for the world around; and apply it to your words. 

For His reasons, and without taking into account your opinions or feelings, God gave you a new heart. You were a God hating enemy (Rom. 5:10); dead in your sins (Eph. 2:1); enslaved to that which was killing you (Jn. 8:34); and the God of all creation, without asking you first, saved you (Eph. 1:5). He gave you a new heart, and that new heart began to act in a certain way. Your new heart motivates, and fuels your behaviors and actions to align with that which you hold in the highest regard, yes. And it does the exact same thing to your speech.

A heart made new by God

will always speak in ways that glorify Him.

One of the verses we mentioned last week was during Jesus’ condemnation of The Pharisees, and in it He speaks on this very truth. He says this in Matthew 12:33 & 34 → “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. [34] Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Are you a good tree, children of Clyde-Savannah?

Then you will bear good fruit…with your words.

How could evil things come from your mouth? The willful cosmic treason you committed against the King of the Universe was forgiven by the glowing blood of Jesus Christ. He took “the heart of stone out of your flesh and gave you a heart of flesh” and then He put His “Spirit within you and cause(d) you to walk in (His) statutes,” so that “you will keep (His) judgments and do them.” (Ez. 36:26 & 27) If that is true, and remember that God can’t lie, how then can filthy, deceptive, or disgusting words be produced by a heart such as that? The heart you have will speak in ways that glorify Him. It's going to happen.

Prov. 15:2 → “ The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.”

Are you wise? Was your heart made new?

Or does your mouth pour forth foolishness?

If God did give you a new heart, then why would foolishness pour forth from it?

Is the majority of the words that you speak on a day to day basis…nothing but hobbies or fun? Nothing but leisure or pleasure? Is every conversation you have with others about all the flashy and fun things you enjoy? No speaking on the grand realities of life in a fallen world, no defending your understanding of this or that Doctrine; and the only time you mention the gathering storm clouds on America’s horizon isn't because you follow it with the words of the Gospel being our only hope, but it’s simply to point at the clouds and say “looks like rain”.

Does your mouth pour forth foolishness?

Do you save the “God-talk” for Sundays where it belongs?

Furthermore, can there even be speech that isn't directly connected to the reality of God’s sovereign rule and reign over earth? Of course not. Your hobbies don’t exist in a vacuum; you were made by Him on purpose to enjoy them, so let your words speak this truth to everyone in earshot. 1 Tim. 6:17 → “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.”

Or…does your mouth pour forth foolishness?

Is the majority of your speech nothing but plans for the weekend or future? Always talking about this event or that time in your life that is soon to come, and all the various ways your life will be what you want it to be once that time arrives? I hope not, because if that is all you talk about…then you are giving everyone around you plenty of reasons to think it is the only thing in your heart.

James 4:13-16 → “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; [14] whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. [15] Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” [16] But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.”

What comes out of your mouth is proof of what is in your heart. 

Does your mouth pour forth foolishness?

Yes, an argument can be made about the “time and place” for jokes and laughter, of course. And yes, not speaking about the future is just as bad as it being the only thing you speak on. But if the vast majority of the topics you talk about are nothing but nonsense or hypotheticals…you need to ask if your heart really was made new.

This is a bold claim, I understand, but the reality of eternal Hell demands a level of reverence which only bold words can bring. Meaning: the speech that you use, your words and how you say them, need to be a factor when you “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12).

Why wouldn't they? Is how you speak, the words and topics you choose and the tone you use when you speak them, “sectioned off” from the rest of your life?

Do you think they are just random verbs, adjectives, and nouns that have nothing to do with the kind of heart that you have? Do you think of yourself as nothing but a machine, spitting out information, and all the while claiming that you are unaccountable for the words you choose?

I pray you don’t, because the verse we mentioned earlier about our words coming from our heart (Matt. 12:33-35) is followed by these: Matt. 12:36 & 37 → “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. [37] For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Brothers and sisters, your words are not simply a collection of vowels and consonants that our culture has unilaterally decided to assign to certain things, no. How you speak, in every aspect, is what your heart sounds like.

Is God in there? If He is, then how you talk will prove it. 

When your favorite hobby has captured your attention; when the future plans you can't wait to fulfill get closer and closer; when the newest nonsense comes rolling out of Washington to such a degree you can’t remain quiet…will your words be simultaneously truthful and gracious? Will you be both, at the same time, unmovingly bold and unquestionably kind? Or do you veer in one direction over the other? If you do…why?

Sticks and stones

Moving forward, I would like to call to mind a truth we spoke on a few Sundays ago when we spoke about anger. Remember, ‘anger’ in and of itself, isn't sinful or bad…but it is dangerous. It's volatile and can tip towards sin with little effort. And the same thing can be said about our words as well.

Of course there is nothing sinful about the letter “F”, right?

What about the letter “U”, or “C”?

Words are amoral (neither good nor bad) and powerful. They are weapons designed by an infinitely intelligent God, and have the potential to do massive, life altering damage…or healing…every single time they are employed.

Fathers, if you aren't telling your daughter how earth-shakingly beautiful she is, what do you think will happen when a different man, old enough to be her father, tells her?

Mothers, if you aren’t telling your sons how amazingly strong they are, what do you think will happen when the harlots of this world fawn over the strength he never knew he had?

The student who is called stupid over and over and over again, will start to act like it's true, even if it isn't. The spouse who is called an adulterer over and over and over again, will do the same. The repentant thief, if he doesn't hear the words of total, holistic renewal that the Gospel brings, but is instead told he will never amount to anything but a thief…what do you think he will do with his life?

Now, it must be said that the onus of an individual rests solely upon them for their actions, yes. At the final judgement a young woman can’t tell God: “It's not my fault for sleeping around, my dad never told me he loved me.” Of course not. And at the same time, the reverse is true. As in, when you are standing at the final judgement, you can’t say to God: “Yes I was a rude and arrogant jerk with my language, but I have no moral culpability for how they are received.” If you disagree with that, go shout “fire” in a crowded movie theater.

Your words, children of God, can hurt or heal. They can bless or curse. You can build up the people in your life with nothing but nouns and verbs, and you can tear them down just as easily. In fact, everything you say will always either hurt or heal, because words aren't neutral …because hearts aren't neutral.

How can you say something that

doesn't come from your heart?

You can’t.

To repeat that in a different way; everything you have ever said, all of it, has come from your heart. Every insult, swear word, celebration, compliment, or curse. Every time you spoke about the plans needed to run your life, or told someone about the Gospel of salvation. Everything you have ever said originated in your heart. Which brings about quite a big question, right?

Is it possible to say something you didn't mean?

No.

You really did mean it, because all of your words came from inside of you.

Where the sin is.

The sin in your heart that has yet to be sanctified away, came out of your mouth. In a burst of emotion, or at the end of your patience, words came out that you wish you could take back. The heat was turned up, one degree by another, and the dross of your soul came to the surface of your tongue and hurt the people around you.

The things you’ve said that you wish you could take back are evidence of the sin that remains in your heart. Face it down child of God! Don’t explain it away, placing the onus on your circumstances, or the other person, or the sensitive subject, but own up to it! That's the only way you can be forgiven. 

Have you made a habit of speaking however you want, then working backwards through your words in an attempt to justify your deceit, cowardice, or arrogance?

Is your mouth on autopilot? Did you say something you wish you never had? 

Have you seen the hurt, tears, and shame that your words have caused?

And when you did see it, did it cause you to see the sin in your heart the way God does?

Good.

Because the only way to be forgiven is by owning up to it and repenting.

And when you do, when you repent of your filthy, vile, violent, and wicked words; when you repent of letting nothing but foolishness pour from your mouth; or of double speak that obscures the truth, take comfort! Not because you know what words to parrot to be righteous, no. Not because you know the magic words to say to make all the sin go away, no. Take comfort because of the words of Scripture, spoken by a God who can’t lie:

John 6:39-40 → “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. [40] And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

You can never take your words back, my friends, but you can be forgiven of them.

Closing

As we bring our message to a close this morning, I must acknowledge that this is quite a large doctrine. As such, we will be extending this into another Sunday, and possibly one after that. We will be talking about: lying, “swear words”, slurs, sarcasm, mockery, and the 3rd Commandment.  There is a rich bounty of words about words in the Word of God. And all of them speak on the truth that our words are an audible extension of our soul.

Prov. 12:17-20 → “He who speaks truth declares righteousness, but a false witness, deceit. [18] There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health. [19] The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.[20]Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy.”

Are you a “counselor of peace” who desires joy in your life?

If you are, then your words will promote health.

Prov. 21:23 - 25 → “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles. [24] A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name; he acts with arrogant pride. [25] The desire of the lazy man kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.”

Are you a proud and haughty scoffer, filled with arrogant pride and laziness?

Or do you keep your soul from trouble…by guarding the words you use?

Prov. 16:21 - 24 → “The wise in heart will be called prudent, and sweetness of the lips increases learning. [22] Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly.[23]The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. [24] Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.”

Are your words sweet to the lips, and thereby increase learning?

Or are you a fool who refuses correction?

Do you teach wisdom with your mouth and add learning?

I hope so, because pleasant words are sweet, sweet, health to your soul and bones.

Remember, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matt. 12:34), so if your mouth isn't speaking words of truth and beauty…does it break your heart?

There is an opportunity in a teaching like this to fall into despair. To be faced with our words being evidence of what's in our heart, and then reading James 3:8-10 say that our tongue is → “...an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. [9] With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.” [10] Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” can cause us to remember the words we have said and fall to overwhelming dread.

“Pastor…if our words come from our heart, and I have said vile things I wouldn't even whisper…what does that say about my heart? I've lied and cursed and spoken in ways that bring me shame. I've said things I can never take back, that I can never forget…so how can God?”

Be sure! oh tired one, that God told us that our words originate from our heart…because that is where His words originate from as well. 

“God said…” (Gen. 1:3,6,9,11,14,20,24,26,29) and reality came into existence, because in His heart, He is a creator. 

“For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Is. 57:15) because in His heart, God is a forgiver.

“But how Pastor! How can I be forgiven of having a heart that spits out such slanderous, vile, and wicked things! How? If the source of my words is my heart, and my heart is corrupt and broken, then…then…then there is nothing I can say to save myself! How can I be forgiven?”

You can be forgiven, oh weak one, not by saying the right words, but because

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men…”

And that Word! that glorious eternal Word who created all things; Him with no beginning and no end; Him who was and is and is to be; the first and the last; that Word who is one with God… that Word

“became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Jn 1:1-3; 14)

We are forgiven because God came to earth, took on our nature, remained sinless in doing so, and died for the sins that we committed. The eternal Word, the living Word, the source of truth, Jesus Christ, condescended to a creation that hated Him, became one of us, lived along side of us, and spoke to us the unchanging truths of who He is, who we are, and what He and He alone has done about the differences.

Do you believe that the words of Christ came from the heart of Christ?

If you do, then repent, and believe in Him who said that He is the only way to the Father (Jn. 14:6). And you will be forgiven…because God said so. You are declared to be righteous because the punishment that your sins have earned you was accounted to the Word Made Flesh, as His righteousness was accounted to you.

Is The Word in your heart?

Then be heart-broken when your words hide Him from the people in your life. Repent of it, and then live like “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” because “those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Prov. 18:21)

Rev. Jacob Marchitell

May 17th 2026