Bitter words.
Of the ten commandments, two are directed against sins of speech—one against profane words concerning God; the other against slanderous words concerning our neighbours. No sins are apt to be thought more lightly of than sins of the tongue; yet no sins are more severely and constantly denounced in Scripture. Probably no class of sins does more mischief in the world. Our words are spoken of as the special object of Divine knowledge (Psalms 139:4). The sinfulness of "bitter words" is seen
I. IN THEIR SOURCE. St. James compares the heart to a fountain, and notes the unnatural anomaly that from the same source should flow sweetness and bitterness, blessing and cursing, praise and slander (James 3:8-12). If the heart harboured no envy, malice, anger, pride, uncharitableness, ill-natured censorious judgments, how sweet and refreshing would the flow of speech be (Ephesians 4:29-32; Matthew 15:18)!
II. IN THEIR UTTERANCE. Our Lord speaks of the good man bringing forth what is good from "the good treasure of his heart," and the evil man, that which is evil "out of the evil treasure" (Matthew 12:35). Solomon marks it as one great difference between a wise man and a fool, that the former knows how to hold his tongue (Proverbs 10:19; Proverbs 29:11). A good man may be aware of envious evil, uncharitable thoughts; but he is very careful how he gives them vent in bitter words. His prayer is, "Keep the door of my lips" (Psalms 141:3). Some people not merely find a pleasure in uttering all the sharp unkind things that occur to them; they persuade themselves it is a duty. No matter how bitter the word may be, out it comes, on the plea, "I must be honest; I must always speak my mind." Why must you? It is not honesty; it is want of self-control, of sympathy, good feeling, Christian and Christ-like consideration for others.
III. IN THEIR RESULTS. The word once spoken, like the bolt overshot, cannot be recalled. But the deadliest arrow can hit but one mark; the bitter word may fly from lip to lip, growing as it flies, and inflict a thousand wounds before it is forgotten. David suffered much from bitter words. He counts it a great instance of God's goodness when he defends his servants "from the strife of tongues" (Psalms 31:20; cf. Psalms 31:13, Psalms 31:18). Unjust, slanderous, cruel words are compared to arrows, swords, spears, razors, serpents' teeth, burning coals (Psalms 52:2-4; Psalms 55:21; Psalms 57:4; Psalms 58:4; Psalms 120:4; Psalms 111:3).
Bitter words were no small part of the bitter cup which our Saviour drank for us, and of which he warned his disciples they must taste. Spoken by the unbelieving world, "falsely for his sake," they are the Christian's glory (Matthew 5:11; Matthew 10:25); but spoken by Christians of Christians, they are weapons put into the hand of unbelief. The bitterness of controversy has perhaps been a greater hindrance to truth than the assaults of atheism. Wherever this Marah flows—in the Church, the home, the social circle, the nation—it poisons life. Seek to cast into it the healing branch (Colossians 4:6).