What Does the Bible Say About Swearing and Cursing?
By Betty Miller
Matthew 15:1:1
"Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh
out of the mouth, this defileth a man."
Matthew
15:17-20: "Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the
mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the
heart; and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands
defileth not a man."
Curse Words
Reveal the Condition of a Man's Heart
Jesus taught in the Bible that when a man curses or uses
profanity it is a sign of evil that was in that man's heart. It is popular
today for both men and women to curse. They never think of it as an evil
condition in their heart, but rather a small thing that everyone does. These
small words of cursing the Bible says, will defile the whole man if they are
not repented of and stopped. Cussing and using the name of the Lord in vain
causes one to become defiled.
Popular movies and T.V. are responsible for causing society
to accept foul language as the "norm." They portray cursing as a way to vent
anger and tell people off. The very attitudes behind cursing show that it is
not right as cussing is used to demean and put down people. These words can
be mild expletives to horrible blasphemies. Since the devil is the one who
inspires these evil utterances he causes people to use our Lord's name in
the most ungodly ways.
In the modern definition of cursing, usually people use the
name of Jesus or God in vain and swear with curses such as
"go to hell" or "damn you." These words clearly show it is an evil coming
from the devil. Have you ever wondered why people do not not use the names
of gods of other religions when they curse? The names that the devil hates
and uses people to voice hateful curses are "God," "Christ," "Jesus Christ"
and "Jesus." Terms about hell and heaven are also used in derogatory ways.
The very misuse of these words should prove the existence of God and the
reality of a heaven and hell.
Even Christians have been tricked into using bad expressions
when they are upset. They are take-offs of the Lord's names such as: "Geeze"
or "Jes" (short for Jesus), "Good Gosh," "Gosh Darn," "Lordy." This is known
as "shoot cussin." There are other terms used, which we will not repeat, as
they are vulgar profanities. However, these illustrations make the point.
Many good
movies have been ruined for Christians because the script writers thought
adding profane language (which they refer to as adult language) somehow made
the movie more realistic. Adults nor children should use bad language if we
are to be like our Lord. We do not have to use curse
words to emphasize our intentions.
Colosians 3:8
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy
communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye
have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the
image of him that created him."
Matthew 5:37:
"But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more
than these cometh of evil."
If swearing and cursing have been a problem in your life ask
the Lord to forgive you and deliver you so that your words may be good and
loving words full of grace and truth. He will help you overcome this problem
through His power.
Matthew
12:34-36: "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good
things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good
man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an
evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 But I say
unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account
thereof in the day of judgment."
Psalm 19:14:
"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in
thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."
Speech and conversation tell a
great deal about one’s character. "Out of the overflow of the heart the
mouth speaks" (Matt. 12:34). We learn much about our Heavenly Father and His
only begotten Son Jesus, by reading how Jesus conversed with the Father in
prayer (Luke 22:41,42). The profanity and obscene talk of ungodly people
reveal the nature of their hearts.
Spoken words have unbelievable
power. Words are described as weapons, as swords and arrows (Psa. 57:4;
64:3; Jer. 9:8). James describes the power of the tongue and its words as
the rudder of a ship or a spark that sets a forest on fire (James 3:2-12).
Christians observe the power of the spoken word today in political
propaganda and media news.
9.
Is using profanity really a sin?
Read
Matthew 5:33–37. Jesus says you don’t need to enforce your words with
contrived utterance, and He has set rules regarding oaths.
Introduction
We are
looking at this passage to gain a better understanding of the problem of
profanity. Although this passage doesn’t specifically address profanity in
name, if Jesus says you don’t need to enforce your words with contrived
utterance, then He has made a case against the general use of profanity
right there. The general use of profanity is to buttress the force of your
words. In this passage we see Jesus not just setting down rules regarding
oaths, but rather wanting to cultivate a culture of people whose word is
sufficient—their words count.
“For
everything that is more than this is of the evil one.” (Mt. 5:37) To begin
with “more than this” are of the evil one because they come from a context
of either exaggeration or deception. Jesus establishes the whole realm of
exaggeration and deception, including profanity and of course blasphemy, as
being of a spirit.
A. A Definition
1.
Profanity is a quest for some emotional release in language when we are mad
or of fortification of what you are saying.
2.
There is a spirit of profanity that hovers in our world and fosters speech
that is inordinate. Profanity is a problem that is around us in so many
areas. It is a significant issue today.
B. Blasphemy and Profanity
1.
Profanity is foul language. Blasphemy is against the Lord, using His name.
2.
Most people saying blasphemous words don’t even know they are saying it.
They are just flowing in the spirit of the world. But we should flow in the
love and goodness of God.
3.
Profanity with the believer is a token of a residue of the spirit of the
world that is still seeking a place of dominion in our lives.
C. Wisdom
1.
Proverbs 8:7–9—The flow of wisdom. One of the notable aspects of wisdom in
the book of Proverbs is that it is creative. There is a life begetting,
creative quality to wisdom so that sound expressions of the lips are
conducive to prosperity and fruitfulness. It begets life! It is creative!
(Also see Prov. 15:4; 18:21; 21:23)
2.
With the profane influences on television and movie screens we can find
ourselves, just as our culture, becoming numb to the use of such words.
D. 9 things that have to do with the power of profanity
1. It
instills a reticence to speak righteously.
2. It
creates or extends an atmosphere of hostility.
3. It
substitutes brassy speech for genuine boldness.
4. It
diminishes the creative power of the tongue.
5. It
acclimates the mind to the world spirit.
6. It
sacrifices character on the alter of acceptance.
7. It
depends on shock or crudity to establish either authority or to create
humor.
8. It
cheapens or desecrates life’s most precious relationships.
9. It
erodes sensitivity toward ultimate, eternal issues.
E. What should we do?
1.
Confront it in yourself.
a.
Confess it as sin.
b.
Call for deliverance.
There are at least ten or twelve spirits that relate to profanity. (i.e.
spirits of profanity, uncleanness, lust, fear and intimidation, hatred,
anger, murder, death, blasphemy, anti-Christ, and rebellion.
c. Be
cleansed in the blood of Jesus.
Believe the Lord will wash your mouth with His blood.
2.
Seek to influence others.
The Lord will give us times to speak and we need to be available to speak
what He gives us.
3.
Train your children correctly.
a.
Begin early with your children to let them know they will hear words that
they may not know or understand. Let them know that “we do not use those
words.”
b.
Identify meanings. Let them know, as is appropriate, what these words mean
and explain clearly.
c.
Periodically ask your children if they have heard any words.
d. Acknowledge to your children that sometimes the use of the word
will be funny and they will laugh. Help them to not feel ashamed. This will
help them remain open to you and to conversations and will inhibit the
thought that because they laughed they are “bad” or the enemy has some kind
of control over them in this regard.
Copyright ©2003 by
Christ Unlimited Publishing, Dewey,
Arizo |
