Yeshua included a bunch of information in His ‘heart-check’ statement: “But I say to you, that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whoever shall say to his brother, raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whoever shall say, you fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Matt. 5:22)

We have learned that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9). We have learned that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks and out of this heart flows the issues of life (Matt. 12:34; Prov. 4:23). Knowing this, life is filled with deceit and the master of deceit has influenced our hearts more than we can imagine (John 8:44; Rev. 12:9). Yet we are commanded to love Yahweh our Elohim with all our heart, soul and might (Deut. 6:5; Mark 12:30).

For most of us, when we were children, our hearts were impacted in many negative ways. As we grew up that pain inflicted upon us showed up. Much of our time is spent trying to mask the pain with socially accepted behaviors. Unfortunately, we are not always good at that masking. This is a wonderfully, miserable thing! It’s Yahweh’s way of helping us deal with the events that unwittingly happened to us as children and allow Him to create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit with us (Psa. 139:23,24).

The tongue, the way we speak to one another, is a clear testimony of what is in our heart. This small object, similar to the rudder of a ship or the bridle of a horse has a tremendous impact on our destiny (James 3:3,4). A heart that has been cleaned and renewed uses knowledge correctly, but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness (Prov. 15:2). Our tongue is like a sword that pierces the heart of our target (Prov. 12:18). For those who have bridled their tongue, their words are like choice silver, where the heart of the wicked has little worth (Prov. 10:20). Truly, death and life are in the power of the tongue and our life is filled with eating the fruit of our words (Prov. 18:21).

Solomon gives us a lengthy discourse on the dangers of an unbridled tongue in Proverbs 26:17-28. “He that passes by and meddles with strife that doesn’t belong to him, is like on that takes a dog by the ears. As a mad man who casts firebrands, arrows and death, so is the man that deceives his neighbor and says, ‘I was just kidding’. Where there is no wood, the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases. 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 to the innermost parts of the belly. Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. He that hates disguises it with his lips and lays up deceit within himself. When he speaks fair, believe him not for there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be revealed before the whole assembly. Whoever digs a pit shall fall therein. And he that rolls a stone, it will return upon him. A lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

In Yeshua’s ‘heart-check’ statement, we see him reiterating Solomon’s wise words warning each of us about an unchecked heart. One warning that can put us in front of a ‘council’ (earthly and/or heavenly) and one that can put us in danger of hell fire (Matt. 5:22).

James, like Solomon, likens the tongue to a world of iniquity. It’s a member of our body that can ‘kindle a fire’ and set the whole world on fire (James 3:5,6).

The Torah commands us to work six days and rest on the seventh (Ex. 35:2). We are also commanded not to ‘kindle a fire’ on the Sabbath day (Ex. 35:3). To our detriment we have exclusively defined this activity as ‘lighting a fire’, but I believe that Yahweh has much more in mind with ‘kindling a fire’ on the Sabbath.

Too many of us are familiar with how much ‘kindling a fire’ we do on the Sabbath with our spouses, children, friends and even prayerfully during assembly time. Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and curses (James 3:10). Out of the same mouth flows bitter waters and sweet (James 3:11). The fruit of our lips doesn’t match the type of ‘plant’ we are; and flowing from these lips are both salt water and fresh (James 3:12). Brethren, these things shouldn’t be!

Clearly Yeshua is wanting us to do the Aaron Rodgers ‘double-check’ on our heart. If you’re not sure whether your heart is being renewed and spiritually detoxed, just listen to how you speak about one another.

We are all guilty of misusing our tongue at some point in time. Some are worse than others. Wicked words come from a wicked heart. The wicked heart is the result of a hurtful past. ‘Hurt people, hurt people’ needs to be a closed chapter in our lives. We were once darkness, but now are children of the Light, so walk in the light (Eph. 5:8).

Avoid the ‘danger’ and enjoy the light!

Shalom,

Alan