A troublemaker and a villain...
who goes about with a corrupt mouth…
Summary: Spotting a corrupt mouth is easy if you know the truth to start with.
How do you spot a corrupt mouth? Can you? Do you know what to look for?
Interestingly, the NIV chose this expression to convey the meaning of the Hebrew. The KJV uses the word “froward” to describe the words of a villain. That is not a word we use anymore. It means that a person is difficult or antagonistic. Other translations use words like “dishonest,” “contrary,” or “perverse.”
It seems clear that the “corrupt mouth” uses words that do not cleave tightly to truth.
Which brings us back to our opening question: How do you spot a corrupt mouth? Logically, there is only one way I can see to do that. You have to be able to compare the words of the corrupt mouth with the words of a mouth that speaks the truth.
Hmmmm…
That brings us to another question. What is truth?
I have spent the better part of seven decades pondering this question. It turns out that the answer is a personal choice. We get to pick what we want to believe is true.
I know, I know… If we get to pick what we believe is true, then how can we say anyone has a “corrupt mouth”? If they believe what they say is true, then isn’t it true?
Mmmm … no. One of the basic rules of logic is the rule of non-contradiction. Something cannot be true and not true at the same time.
Well then, who gets to pick what is true?
Well, someone actually said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). That happened to be Jesus. Of course, as Christians, using Jesus as the baseline for truth is kind of a no-brainer.
So, if we know what Jesus said (i.e. – We have actually read the Bible), then we can spot a corrupt mouth by comparing a person’s words to what the Bible says.
Now, this might sound like we are out of luck when it comes to picking a financial advisor, but the principle still applies. If your prospective financial advisor doesn’t know Jesus, then that raises a red flag about their knowledge of the truth right away. Without submitting to Jesus, who knows what kind of shape their moral compass might be in.
Application: Read the Bible. It is the best way to get to know what the truth is.
Food for Thought: What do you look for when you are checking to see if someone tells the truth or has a “corrupt mouth”?
I think you answered the question in the devotion. I would compare what anyone says to Scripture. Acts 17: 11. Scripture is from the source of truth and is truth. It is our standard. 2 Peter 1: 20 – 21; 2 Timothy 3: 16 – 17. If someone knows Jesus that certainly helps because then they know the source. John 14: 6. But someone can know Jesus and still be misled by taking in and accepting a philosophy of the world. Colossians 2: 8 is written to believers (Colossians 2: 6 – 7). We have to evaluate every thought. 2 Corinthians 10: 5. Scripture is the standard for accepting and evaluating every truth claim.
Rich,
Thank you for your summary and especially for the Scripture references. I have provided a link for those here. Scripture is the absolute standard for all truth. Well said!
03-12-2022, Proverbs 6:12b, What do you look for when you are checking to see if someone tells the truth or has a “corrupt mouth”?
“Listen to their words, as they will express the condition of their hearts. Are their words of God or the world.”
God tells us, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. Jesus tells us, He is the way, the truth and the life. We can only come to our Holy God, through Him, and how we are at war, with no neutral ground. All who are not on His side, are of the enemy. John writes how all who profess to know Christ should live as He lived on this earth
Leviticus 11:44-45, 19:2, 20:26, 21:28, John 14:6, 1 John 2:6, Luke 11:23
Giving ourselves to Christ requires we surrender our lives, our hearts to His will over our own, and allow Jesus to minister through us, to the world around us. The mouth is the means for expressing what is in one’s heart. As believers there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting. Instead, we are to give thanks and let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths. Speak only what is helpful for building up the one in need, bringing grace to those who listen and praising God our provider.
Ephesians 4:29, 5:4
Jesus tells us how it is impossible for those who are evil to say anything good because their words declare what their heart is full of. Good things will come from the good stored in a good persons heart while evil will come from the evil stored in th evil persons heart. All will one day give an account of every word spoken, and by our words will be acquitted or condemned.
Matthew 12: 34-37
Good words, Ron.
Thank you! Words are the expression of what is in the heart. James 3:11 comes to mind: “Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?“
God’s word has a wonderful way of blowing all the smoke, clutter away and getting directly to the point.
Thanks Jeff!
Ron
Another Great One!
Thank you, Jim!
I appreciate you checking in! 🙂