So it’s certain that the people who heard Jesus speak and
the disciples who recorded
his words believed that words have power. (You can read part #1 here and #2 here to see the evidence for that.)
In order to correctly interpret the Bible passages about "words" we need to start with this understanding. If we don’t interpret the scriptures according to what their plain meaning was for the first century Jews who heard Jesus teach then we are sure to mis-interpret them. (All of this of course assumes that Jesus wanted his audience to understand him; which I don’t think is a huge assumption.)
Okay, now that we’ve got all that foundational stuff out of the way lets get to the actual scriptures. I want to show you in a number of different ways that the Bible clearly teaches that our words have power, i.e. they can effect the world around us.
1. Jesus said our words have power
Let’s start with the most obvious scripture:
Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Jesus states that if we are able to believe that "…those things which he saith shall come to pass…" our words can move mountains. This principle, that faith filled words can effect the world is repeated explicitly in the gospels on three separate occasions. I don’t mean that this story of the cursing of the fig tree followed by the teaching that faith filled words can move mountains is repeated three times, but that this principle of the power of faith filled words is repeated in three different stories; which is a pretty rare occurrence for the relatively brief Gospels.
1. The story of the boy the disciples couldn’t heal found in Matt. 17:14-21, with the relevant scripture being:
Matt:17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Matthew also repeats the fig tree story at Matt. 21:19-22.
2. The story where the disciples request Jesus to increase their faith at Luke 17:5-10 with the relevant scripture:
Luke 17:6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
So on these three separate occasions, fig tree, couldn’t heal the child, and increase our faith, this principle of the power of words is repeated. It’s hard to think of any other principle emphasized this much in the gospels. Not do unto others. Not turn the other cheek. The unusual repetition of this principle suggests that it’s something important.
In addition there are other references where a similar, I belive identical, principle is mentioned:
I’ll get to these scriptures next.
I agree whole heartedly that our words carry power. I would like to understand more effectively, how powerful is it when people unknowingly speak negetive vows due to fear or pain, and if it is possible that another person ,through prayer and faith can break a negetive vow off another on thier behalf, who has no idea what they have done? Where are answers to this question found in the Bible?
Sorry to be so slow in responding.
“…how powerful is it when people unknowingly speak negetive vows due to fear or pain…”
Well the Bible says (Proverbs 18:21) Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
“if it is possible that another person ,through prayer and faith can break a negetive vow off another on thier behalf, who has no idea what they have done?”
I think it’s possible but it’s kind of like praying for a person to be healed of coughing who won’t quit smoking, it might work for a while but at some point they’re going to have to make a change.
What is in your heart and comes out of your mouth is what effects your life. Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. When people have fear in their heart that is what will come out of their mouth. Change has to begin in the heart. They have to change what they have in their heart. The way to do this is by filling their heart with hope and faith and love and joy and peace. You fill your heart with these things by meditating in God’s Word. If they spend much time in God’s word the abundance of their heart will eventually change.
Hope that helps.
Greg Marquez
goyomarquez@earthlink.net