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What Does the Bible Say
About Swearing and Cursing?
By Betty Miller
Matthew 15:11: "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth
a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man."
Matthew 15:17-20: "Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever
entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they
defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts,
false witness, blasphemies:
20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a
man."
Curse Words Reveal the Condition of a
Man's Heart
Jesus taught in the Bible that when a man curses or uses profanity it is a
sign of evil that was in that man's heart. It is popular today for both men and women to
curse. They never think of it as an evil condition in their heart, but rather a small
thing that everyone does. These small words of cursing the Bible says, will defile
the whole man if they are not repented of and stopped. Cussing and using the
name of the Lord in vain causes one to become defiled.
Popular movies and T.V. are responsible for causing society to accept foul
language as the "norm." They portray cursing as a way to vent anger and
tell people off. The very attitudes behind cursing show that it is not right as cussing is
used to demean and put down people. These words can be mild expletives to horrible
blasphemies. Since the devil is the one who inspires these evil utterances he causes
people to use our Lord's name in the most ungodly ways.
In the modern definition of cursing, usually people use the name of Jesus or
God in vain and swear with curses such as "go to hell" or "damn
you." These words clearly show it is an evil coming from the devil. Have you
ever wondered why people do not not use the names of gods of other religions when
they curse? The names that the devil hates and uses people to voice hateful curses are
"God," "Christ," "Jesus Christ" and "Jesus."
Terms about hell and heaven are also used in derogatory ways. The very misuse of
these words should prove the existence of God and the reality of a heaven and hell.
Even Christians have been tricked into using bad expressions when they are upset. They
are take-offs of the Lord's names such as: "Geeze" or "Jes" (short for
Jesus), "Good Gosh," "Gosh Darn," "Lordy." This is
known as "shoot cussin." There are other terms used, which we will not
repeat, as they are vulgar profanities. However, these illustrations make the point.
Many good movies have been ruined for Christians because the
script writers thought adding profane language (which they refer to as adult language)
somehow made the movie more relalistic. Adults nor children should use bad language if we
are to be like our Lord. We do not have to use curse words to emphasize
our intentions.
Colosians 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that
ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that
created him."
Matthew 5:37: "But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay:
for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."
If swearing and cursing have been a problem in your life ask
the Lord to forgive you and deliver you so that your words may be good and loving words
full of grace and truth. He will help you overcome this problem through His power.
Matthew 12:34-36: "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak
good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good man out
of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the
evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that
men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."
Psalm 19:14: "Let the words of my mouth, and the
meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my
redeemer."
This article was taken from
the Overcoming Life Digest (May/June 2000 Issue); click here to view Digest
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