The Story of Man’s Words

About this sermon

Introduction: Tonight, we come to the 6th oracle in the book of Malachi. It’s a message that places a special emphasis on words. The contrast could not be clearer. Set before us are the wicked and the righteous. What distinguishes them, in this oracle, are their words. And the distinction found in theirs words points to the distinction that will belong to their futures. This is a contrast found throughout Scripture. To put it plainly, there is nothing more revealing when it comes to man’s sinfulness than his mouth. The sinfulness of man is a heart matter. The fountain that reveals what is in man’s heart is his speech. ESV Isaiah 6:5 And I said: "Woe is me! aFor I am lost; bfor I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the cKing, the LORD of hosts!" ESV Matthew 12:34 aYou brood of vipers! How can you speak good, bwhen you are evil? cFor out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 aThe good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, aon the day of judgment bpeople will give account for cevery careless word they speak, 37 for aby your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." ESV Matthew 15:18 But awhat comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. ESV Romans 3:13 ab"Their throat is ban open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." c"The venom of asps is under their lips." One of the fruits of salvation, and a changed heart, is changed speech. And not just changed speech, but a newfound concern about speech. ESV 1 Timothy 4:12 aLet no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers ban example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. ESV Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my arock and my bredeemer. ESV Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always abe gracious, bseasoned with salt, cso that you may know how you ought to answer each person. ESV Colossians 3:8 But now ayou must put them all away: banger, wrath, malice, cslander, and obscene talk from your mouth. We see this truth demonstrated here, in the life of post-exilic Israel. THE WORDS OF THE WICKED (vs.13-15) God has extended a hand of mercy. Despite the blatant disobedience of the nation, and despite them already feeling the pain of their disobedience, God has called them to repentance and promised to bless them if they will return. If they will return to Yahweh, He will return to them. THE INDICTMENT (vs.13a) What is their mindset in response to such kindness? God says that their heart condition is one of arrogance. Their words reveal their arrogance. To say that their words are hard, or strong, against Him, means that they are using “stiff” words or sinfully bold words regarding God. THE DISPUTE (vs.13b) Not surprisingly, they claim that they don’t know what he’s talking about. They claim to have not been arrogant in their words. THE EVIDENCE (vs.14-15) The arrogance is found in their claims concerning God’s character. They think in a way, and speak in a way, that is in direct conflict with what God says. DON’T MISS THAT. There is what God says and then there is what we say. There is not only what we say with our mouths, there is what we say within our hearts. Where in your heart have you been questioning God’s version of reality? Where in your heart do you doubt the Words of God? But in this case, it is specifically their words that God deals with. John MacArthur – “These sinful priests and people had not just questioned God (2:17), violated God’s covenant (2:11), disobeyed His laws (2:9), defiled His altar (1:7, 12) and despised His name (1:6), but had openly spoken against Him. In spite of what was promised (vv. 10–12), the people complained that obedience to God’s law brought no rewards (v. 14). Only the proud and wicked prospered, they said (v. 15).” DO YOUR WORDS AND DO YOUR THOUGHTS AGREE WITH GOD’S WORDS? DO YOU FIND YOURSELF DISAGREEING WITH GOD SAYS ABOUT HIMSELF AND ABOUT THE PROMISES HE ATTACHES TO OBEDIENCE?

Topics

• Self-Control