The Froward Mouth – The Vile, Corrupt, Perverse Mouth
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Topical Sermon Outlines Tags: Sermons on the Tongue
PROPOSITION: To set forth four characteristics of the crooked mouth–that it is a lying mouth, a backbiting mouth, a cursing mouth, and a proud mouth.
OBJECTIVE: To help everyone realize the awesome responsibility we have in keeping our language pure.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: Proverbs 4:24 “Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.”
2. About the Text:
1) Whatever a it is, we are supposed to put it away.
2) The parallelism explains–“perverse lips.”
3) The word froward means perverse, crooked, twisted, warped, not normal, disobedient, distorted–hence, something which is froward, is not in keeping with biblical norms, it is strange–unauthorized. (Strange fire–Leviticus 10; Strange women–Proverbs; Strange doctrines–Hebrews 13:8-9).
4) Truly God hates it–Proverbs 8:13.
3. Ref. S, T, P, O.
4. We may not be able to tame the tongue, but we are sure going to try and domesticate it a little, James 3:2-8.
DISCUSSION:
I. The Froward Mouth is a Lying mouth.
1. Description of a lying mouth–Psalm 52:2-4 “The tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.”
2. The source of the lying mouth–John 8:44 “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
3. The consequences of the lying mouth.
1) The Lord hates a lying mouth–Proverbs 6:16-19 “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
2) The lying mouth is a snare–a trap–Proverbs 12:13 “The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.”
3) The lying mouth is fleeting–Proverbs 12:19 “The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.”
4) See serious consequences concerning lying in the New Testament Acts 5:1ff; Rev.21:8
4. Our attitude toward the lying mouth–Ephesians 4:25, 29, 31 “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. . . . Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. . . . Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”
5. Let us cry with the Psalmist–Psalm 120:2 ” Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.”
II. The Froward Mouth is a Cursing mouth.
1. When we make common something that is sacred.
1) Using God’s name in vain.
a. Exodus 20:7 “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”
b. This is of what the Pharisees were guilty.
a) Matthew 23:16-22
2. When we condemn something which God has made.
1) Refer carefully to certain expletives which we utter. (H—, D—, S—, and euphemisms).
2) Matthew 5:22 “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”
3) 1 Peter 3:8-10 “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.”
III. The Froward Mouth is a Backbiting mouth.
1. The Character of the backbiting mouth.
1) Proverbs 12:18 “There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.”
2) Proverbs 26:20-23 “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.”
2. The Consequences of the backbiting mouth.
1) Proverbs 16:28 “A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.”
2) Proverbs 17:9 “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.” comp. 1 Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”
3) Ecclesiastes 10:20 “Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.”
3. The condemnation of the backbiting mouth.
1) James 4:11 “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.”
2) Romans 1:30–Paul lists backbiters as among those whom God condemned.
IV. The Froward Mouth is a Proud mouth.
1. The attitude of the proud mouth.
1) Psalm 12:3-4 “The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?”
2) 2 Peter 2:10-11 “But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.”
2. The actions of the proud mouth.
1) Proverbs 13:3 “He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.”
2) Matthew 12:36-37 “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
CONCLUSION:
1. Some concluding thoughts concerning the froward mouth.
1) Proverbs 10:19 ” In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.”
2) Proverbs 15:28 “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.”
3) James 1:26 “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.”