Text: "Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I swell in the midst of a people of unclean lips...." –Isaiah 6:5a

"Men perish with whispering sins, nay with silent sins, sins that never tell the conscience they are sins; as with crying sins;" – so said the English preacher, John Donne.

Sins of the tongue are more often cried against in the Bible than all other sins. In fact the New Testament devotes an entire chapter to the lack of control of the tongue. The reason is clear: "Death and Life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." – Proverbs 18:21

There are many kinds of sins committed with the tongue, but these may be divided into two categories: 1) sins of omission as when we do not use our tongues when we should; and 2) sins of commission such as when "to hold our tongue is needful."

To the first class belong such sins as bearing grudges: and we fail to speak. Also the lack of confession whether it be to God or man. "I am sorry" when said sincerely has been called the three hardest words to pronounce.

To the second class belong such sins as lying—and "a lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it." -– Prov. 26:28. Gossip also belongs to this class of sins. Briefly defined, gossip is that sin of speaking as true what we do not know to be true. But it is said that as "a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue," so "a wicked doer giveth need to false lips." –Prov. 17:4.

To this second class of sins belongs the sin of griping—- faultfinding. How many know the reason why Israel wandered around in the wilderness for forty years when it was but a two-week trip from Egypt to Canaan? Exodus 16:8 tells us, "...the Lord heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against Him: and what are we? YOUR MURMURINGS ARE NOT AGAINST US, BUT AGAINST THE LORD." Why, when Israel complained to Moses and Aaron, was it said they murmured against the Lord? Because it was the Lord who had made Moses and Aaron their leaders! (Read Numbers 14:26-35)

Criticism, a complaining attitude likewise belongs to this second class of sins. David was pursued by Saul who sought his life—even unjustly so, but if you search all the writings of David including those about David’s life, you will search in vain for one place where He criticized the king! In I Samuel 24:1-16, David declared, "I will not lift up my hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed." – (10c).

On the contrary, in verse 5, his heart smote him when he had cut off Saul’s skirt. Then in verse 6, he calls him "my master", and then, " the Lord’s anointed." In verse 8, he cries to him saying, "my lord, the king." When Saul looked back, David bowed himself. In verse 16, "Saul lifted up his voice and wept."

Peter tells us all the redeemed are "priests" unto God. He refers to them as a "chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people." – I Peter 2:9. May the God in Heaven forgive Christians for the slander they have offered as well as believed against one another!

As the prophets of old cried out against the sins of their day, so preachers who stand against the villainy of a degenerate day are the present day prophets. Who is it that is interested in castigating the godly pastor? The drunk? The thief? The harlot? No indeed! It is the man in the pew who feigns himself a spiritual giant. May God help those who truly belong to Him to humbly pray that they may never be guilty of "lifting up their hand against the Lord’s anointed."

A fifth sin committed by the tongue is the loss of our temper. "Be ye angry and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath." – Ephesians 4:26. It was Washington Irving who wrote, "A sharp tongue is the only edged tool that grows keener with constant use." And again he wrote, "A tart temper never mellows with age."

Discord is another such sin. Remember how David gave way to public pressure to allow Absalom, his treacherous son, to return from exile? Absalom stood beside the say o the gate, and when any has a controversy came to the king, he called unto him, then inquired his business, then sympathizing with the matter would say, "Oh, that I were made judge...." And when any man failed to see this treachery and would show some measure of accepting Absalom, the renegade youth would "put forth his hand, and (take) him, and (would) kiss him. "And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. " – II Samuel 15:6. Is it possible for a whole nation to be misled? To be blinded to such treachery through the sowing of discord? Yes! Most Assuredly! And the whole nation suffered for it by having this despot as their ruler.

Paul commands in Romans 16:17, "MARK them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and AVOID them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and speeches deceive the hearts of the SIMPLE." – (verse 18). Note the two commands: "MARK THEM" – point them out; and "AVOID THEM."

Another sin committed by the tongue is that of taking the Lord’s name in vain. "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." – Exodus 20:7. Of course we are mindful, whether obedient or not, the command refers to shady stories, vulgar—gutter jokes, and simple swearing, but I never cease to be amazed that preachers think nothing of saying, "Bless God," or "Lord have mercy" and the like. God does not hold them that do such as being innocent.

The last sin in this group we will mention is the sin of talkativeness. Paul warned Timothy to refuse the care of the church to younger widows, "for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; having damnation because they have cast off their first faith. And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some are already turned aside after Satan." – I Timothy 5:11-15.

It is the work of Satan to be a talebearer or a busy body. This includes idle talk. John Bunyan’s character, Christian, had no fear in leaving Talkative alone with his friend, Faithful. How many men do we know we are not afraid to leave with our friends? "What a brave companion we have got. Surely he will make an excellent pilgrim," remarked Faithful. "So I once thought until I went to live beside him and have to do with him in the business of daily life, " Christian responded.