Proverbs 21:23

Proverbs 21:23 Proverbs

Pastor Martin expounds Proverbs 21:23, emphasizing that guarding one's mouth and tongue is crucial for avoiding trouble and heartache in life. He uses vivid analogies of children avoiding danger—such as falling into a ditch, through thin ice, or being struck by a car—to illustrate the severe consequences of unguarded speech. The sermon applies this wisdom directly to the listener, asserting that careful control over one's words is a divine principle for preserving one's soul from various troubles, even death itself.

1 illustration in this sermon

The Command to Guard Mouth and Tongue

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Children Avoiding Danger

The point: Guard the exercise of your mouth and tongue to keep your soul from troubles.

Martin uses the examples of children avoiding a ditch, thin ice, or being hit by a car to illustrate the practical, life-saving wisdom of guarding one's mouth and tongue, making the abstract concept of 'troubles' concrete.

Verse 23, Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue, that is, guards its exercise, or their exercise, keeps his soul from troubles. And you say to your children, would you keep out of trouble? Would you avoid falling into a ditch? Would you avoid falling through thin ice and drowning?

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