The Righteous Use of the Tongue #3

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the sermon as part of a series on training children, emphasizing the critical importance of the tongue as highlighted in James 3 and Proverbs. He states the…

The analogy of a horse's bridle controlling an eleven-hundred-pound animal illustrates how a small tongue can control the entire body, emphasizing its immense power.

For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbles not in word, the same is a perfect man able to bridle the whole body also. Now, if we put the horse's bridles into their mouths, that they may obey us, we put an instrument weighing a pound or so into the mouth of an animal weighing eleven hundred pounds, and we control the whole beast, having controlled his mouth. If we put the horse's bridles into their mouths, that they may obey us,

0:44 - 1:26 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the sermon as part of a series on training children, emphasizing the critical importance of the tongue as highlighted in James 3 and Proverbs. He states the…

The analogy of a small rudder turning a great ship driven by rough winds further illustrates the disproportionate power of the tongue to direct one's life.

we turn about their whole body also. Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough wind, yet...

1:26 - 1:35 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Parents must consistently and repeatedly admonish their children concerning the righteous use of their tongues. And according to James, if they gain some mastery here, mastery in any other area will be relatively easy.

The metaphor of a small match kindling a great forest fire highlights the destructive potential of the tongue, even though it is a small member.

are turned about by a very small rudder. Whither the impulse of the steersman wills, so the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a forest fire is kindled by how small a match. And the tongue is a fire.

1:35 - 2:02 Read in full sermon

The point: Threaten our children that if they take the place of a false witness, they will not be unpunished by us or by God.

Martin addresses the modern aversion to 'threatening' children by arguing that Solomon himself threatens his son with punishment for false witness, validating the use of holy threats in parenting.

You will damage their psyches. Will you? Not so, Solomon. Here he is threatening his son.

8:17 - 8:28 Read in full sermon

The point: Tell your children that to seek treasures at the expense of truth is to seek death.

Martin shares a personal anecdote about wearing patched knickers to school and living in relative poverty without shame, illustrating that integrity and truth are more valuable than material wealth gained dishonestly.

As I have many times said to go to school with knickers that shows how old I am that had very neat patches in the knees. My mother could patch and repatch clothes like nobody I ever saw. And I never felt ashamed to show up at school with patch knickers because I knew the knickers were honorably gained by my father's honest employment. And I was never ashamed.

15:46 - 16:15 Read in full sermon

The point: Teach your children that if they learn to cautiously guard their mouth and tongue, they will keep their soul from troubles.

Martin quotes an entire hymn by Isaac Watts to provide a poetic and memorable distillation of the Proverbs' emphasis on the sin of lying and its consequences, including divine judgment.

You see, this return to the world, this return to the world, this return to the world, is a repeated emphasis upon lying. And I thought it would encourage you, I'm trying to see what we can do to get this little Hymns for Children by Isaac Watts reprinted. Marvelous little book with hymns on many of the subjects in Proverbs. Listen to the one against lying.

18:19 - 18:38 Read in full sermon

The point: Admonish your children to be inquirers, diligent seekers after truth and knowledge, so that words of truth may be carried by them to others.

Martin uses Jesus' analogy of casting pearls before swine to illustrate the futility and danger of speaking wisdom to those who will despise it, emphasizing discretion.

So what does he say? He says, I will despise the wisdom of your words. The New Testament parallel, cast not thy pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot and turn again and rend you. He tells you old snorty in the barnyard, wallowing in his mud, come here, I've got some beautiful pearls.

23:59 - 24:17 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin encourages children to be diligent seekers of truth so that their lips may speak right things, bringing joy to their parents. He also teaches the difficult lesson of…

Martin shares a personal anecdote from his youth about preaching in bars with his Bible, illustrating his own past lack of discretion in speaking truth to 'fools' and the need to learn this lesson.

Your children must learn that because they see a situation where moral wrong is being done or where it's obvious what one of their friends is going to do is stupid, it's unbiblical, it's unwise, it's self-destructive, they must learn that it is not their responsibility to be the Lord's chief high corrector of everybody in every set of circumstances at all times. Some of us as young Christians had to learn that. I marveled that I didn't get beat up or had an approach lit. I used to go into bars as an 18-year-old kid not to drink but to go up to the bar stools with my Bible and tell people that ...

25:01 - 25:43 Read in full sermon

The point: Rear your children telling them that your capacity in life, no matter how humble, if done with all your heart to the glory of God, will make their father and mother proud.

Martin uses the example of a son becoming a garbage collector to illustrate that parental pride should stem from a child's wise heart and righteous speech, not their worldly achievements or profession.

and it comes up on their lips. That's what will make us glad. Do you rear your children telling them the things with which I reared mine in this area? Your capacity in life some may be no more than to collect the garbage a noble and necessary function in society and if time proves that that's the limit of your capacity and the borders of divine providence then your father and mother will be proud of you if you empty garbage cans with all your heart to the glory of God with a consistent testimony before your fellow garbage collectors.

27:57 - 28:37 Read in full sermon

The point: Lay before our children continually that the 'tit for tat' mentality in verbal exchanges is unacceptable.

Martin quotes an Isaac Watts hymn against scoffing and calling names, reinforcing the biblical command against verbal retaliation and the severe consequences of mocking holy things or people.

A little hymn by Isaac Watts against scoffing and calling names. Our tongues were made to bless the Lord and not speak ill of men. When others give a railing word we must not rail again. Cross words and angry names require to be chastised at school and he's in danger of hell fire that calls his brother fool.

32:49 - 33:16 Read in full sermon

The point: Teach your kids that earning a good reputation is difficult, but losing it is easy, and once lost, it is difficult to regain, especially regarding being a blabbermouth.

Martin uses the example of a public leader losing his reputation over a single act of sexual indiscretion to illustrate how easily a good reputation is lost and how difficult it is to regain, applying it to the importance of keeping secrets.

You see, our children must learn that the earning of a good reputation is one of the most difficult things in all the world, but the losing of it is the easiest thing in all the world. And once lost in a given area, it is difficult ever to be regained. Now we see that with respect to public leaders and their morals. A man may walk with integrity and not a legitimate shadow be cast, over his life and his sexual, moral integrity with regard to women for thirty years.

34:53 - 35:27 Read in full sermon

The point: Teach your kids that earning a good reputation is difficult, but losing it is easy, and once lost, it is difficult to regain, especially regarding being a blabbermouth.

Martin uses the vivid, almost grotesque, analogy of a soft tongue breaking a shin bone to illustrate the surprising power of gentle, soft words to overcome stubborn resistance and entrenched opinions.

Here again, this beautiful grotesque imagery. A soft tongue breaks the bone. Here you've got a big old shin bone. You want to make you up some good stock.

36:56 - 37:09 Read in full sermon

The point: Bear down upon the consciences of our children with the truth that bearing false witness against a sibling is like using instruments of death.

Martin uses the imagery of a maul, sword, and sharp arrow to illustrate that bearing false witness is akin to using instruments of death against one's neighbor, emphasizing the destructive power of lies.

Now look at the imagery. Is a maul and a sword and a sharp arrow. All instruments of death. A maul, a sword and not just an arrow but a sharp arrow.

39:28 - 39:43 Read in full sermon

The point: If you see a pattern of contention in your children, go after it and stop blaming everyone else, recognizing your child may be the problem.

The simple analogy of a fire going out for lack of wood is used to illustrate that contention stops when there is no whisperer or contentious person to fuel the strife.

Every kid can understand. Son, honey, sweetie. What happens if daddy doesn't put anymore fire in the fireplace or in the wood burning thing? Fire's gonna go out.

40:28 - 40:37 Read in full sermon

The point: If you see a pattern of contention in your children, go after it and stop blaming everyone else, recognizing your child may be the problem.

The analogy of a cheap earthen pot overlaid with silver dross is used to illustrate duplicity: fervent lips covering a wicked heart, emphasizing that outward appearance can be deceptive.

We did last week. Same text. Verse 23. Fervent lips and a wicked heart are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

42:33 - 42:44 Read in full sermon

The point: Guard and warn and admonish our children against duplicity – sweet smiles and greetings when the heart is seething with bitterness.

Martin shares a recent counseling incident where someone was shocked to learn they had been slandered by a person who showed them 'fervent lips,' illustrating the pain caused by duplicity.

I faced an incident this week that was most grievous to me. Where someone was absolutely confident that another party really loved and respected them. And I had to bring them out of their fools' pit. Bring them out of their fools' paradise and say, no, no, no, no, no.

43:29 - 43:45 Read in full sermon

The point: Teach our children that there is a time to speak certain things and a time to be silent with respect to certain things.

Martin uses the humorous analogy of a drunk man shouting blessings at his neighbor's window early in the morning to illustrate that even good words can be a curse if delivered at the wrong time, emphasizing the importance of timing.

I can do whatever I can do. I can do whatever I want. I'm not saying I can't do anything. I'm not saying I can do The Lord bless you abundantly today.

48:48 - 49:04 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin instructs children not to brag about themselves and to learn appropriate timing for their words, even blessings. He then distinguishes between legitimate praise and…

The analogy of flattery spreading a net for someone's steps is used to illustrate that flattery is a trap, a calculated act designed to catch someone for one's own selfish ends.

A man that flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his steps. Here again, vivid imagery. The net was the trap by which you would catch the animal. When you spread a net, you're not doing anything for the good of the animal.

51:10 - 51:26 Read in full sermon

The point: Get hold of Bridges on Proverbs and start reading all the text on the tongue and discussing them with your family.

Martin closes by quoting an Isaac Watts hymn against swearing, cursing, and taking God's name in vain, reinforcing the severe consequences of such sins and the importance of teaching children reverence for God's name.

As we seek to admonish our children to the righteous use of their tongues. Here's the hymn against swearing, cursing and taking God's name in vain. Angels that high. Angels that high.

53:56 - 54:09 Read in full sermon