Matthew 16 - GNTD & NBA93

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

The Bible is rich with wisdom regarding the power of our words. Throughout Scripture, we are reminded that the tongue—though small—holds the capacity to uplift, destroy, heal, or harm. The words we speak can shape destinies, mend relationships, or cause deep wounds. Let’s explore seven Bible verses that illuminate the profound power of the tongue.

1. Proverbs 18:21 – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”

The words we choose to speak can bring encouragement, love, and healing, or they can cause hurt, division, and destruction. The “fruits” we reap from our words reflect their power—whether for good or ill.

2. James 3:5-6 – “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness.”

Although it is a small part of the body, the tongue can cause significant harm, much like a small spark can ignite an entire forest fire. James warns believers of the dangers of careless speech, reminding us that words can spread like wildfire, causing damage that can be difficult to undo.

3. Proverbs 12:18 – “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Words spoken in haste or anger can cut deeply, inflicting pain and damage similar to physical wounds. Conversely, wise and thoughtful words can bring comfort, peace, and restoration, highlighting the importance of controlling our speech and choosing our words carefully.

4. Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

We are urged to avoid corrupting or harmful talk and instead speak in ways that edify and encourage others. Words have the power to build up or tear down, and we are encouraged to use our speech to impart grace and support to those around us.

5. Proverbs 15:4 – “A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”

A gentle tongue, like a tree of life, offers nourishment, strength, and growth. In contrast, perverse or harsh speech can crush a person’s spirit, leading to discouragement and despair. The verse encourages us to speak with kindness and gentleness, fostering life and growth in others.

6. Matthew 12:36-37 – “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Jesus’ words in Matthew are a sobering reminder of the accountability we have for our speech. Every word we speak—careless or otherwise—will be subject to judgment. Our words reflect our hearts, and they play a role in our justification or condemnation. This verse underscores the importance of being mindful of our speech, knowing that it has eternal consequences.

7. Proverbs 16:24 – “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”

Words that are kind, loving, and considerate are likened to honeycomb—sweet and nourishing, bringing joy and health to both the speaker and the listener. The verse encourages us to speak in ways that bring sweetness and well-being to others, reflecting the love and grace of God through our words.

Conclusion

The Bible consistently teaches that the tongue, though small, wields immense power. It can bring life or death, healing or harm, joy or sorrow. As followers of Christ, we are called to use our words wisely, to speak life, and to reflect God’s love through our speech. By guarding our tongues and choosing our words carefully, we can positively influence those around us and honor God with our speech.

The Demand for a Miracle

(Mark 8.11-13Luke 12.54-56)

1 Some Pharisees and Sadducees who came to Jesus wanted to trap him, so they asked him to perform a miracle for them, to show that God approved of him. 2 But Jesus answered, “When the sun is setting, you say, ‘We are going to have fine weather, because the sky is red.’ 3 And early in the morning you say, ‘It is going to rain, because the sky is red and dark.’ You can predict the weather by looking at the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs concerning these times! 4 How evil and godless are the people of this day! You ask me for a miracle? No! The only miracle you will be given is the miracle of Jonah.”

So he left them and went away.

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

(Mark 8.14-21)

5 When the disciples crossed over to the other side of the lake, they forgot to take any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, “Take care; be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

7 They started discussing among themselves, “He says this because we didn't bring any bread.”

8 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he asked them, “Why are you discussing among yourselves about not having any bread? What little faith you have! 9 Don't you understand yet? Don't you remember when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand men? How many baskets did you fill? 10 And what about the seven loaves for the four thousand men? How many baskets did you fill? 11 How is it that you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? Guard yourselves from the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!”

12 Then the disciples understood that he was not warning them to guard themselves from the yeast used in bread but from the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Peter's Declaration about Jesus

(Mark 8.27-30Luke 9.18-21)

13 Jesus went to the territory near the town of Caesarea Philippi, where he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14 “Some say John the Baptist,” they answered. “Others say Elijah, while others say Jeremiah or some other prophet.”

Peter: Confession of Jesus as the Messiah

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah!

15 “What about you?” he asked them. “Who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

17 “Good for you, Simon son of John!” answered Jesus. “For this truth did not come to you from any human being, but it was given to you directly by my Father in heaven. 18 And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven; what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

20 Then Jesus ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Jesus Speaks about His Suffering and Death

(Mark 8.31—9.1Luke 9.22-27)

21 From that time on Jesus began to say plainly to his disciples, “I must go to Jerusalem and suffer much from the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law. I will be put to death, but three days later I will be raised to life.”

22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “God forbid it, Lord!” he said. “That must never happen to you!”

23 Jesus turned around and said to Peter, “Get away from me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my way, because these thoughts of yours don't come from God, but from human nature.”

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you want to come with me, you must forget yourself, carry your cross, and follow me. 25 For if you want to save your own life, you will lose it; but if you lose your life for my sake, you will find it. 26 Will you gain anything if you win the whole world but lose your life? Of course not! There is nothing you can give to regain your life. 27 For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will reward each one according to his deeds. 28 I assure you that there are some here who will not die until they have seen the Son of Man come as King.”

Lifirriisiiyyiin-ŋǝ Lisaḏɔɔgiiyyiin-ŋǝli naŋnar-gwɔ ŋilima ŋeere.

(Mɔrgus 8:11-13Luuga 12:54-56)

1 Nǝ Lifirriisiiyyiin-ŋǝ Lisadɔɔgiiyyiin-ŋǝli iila naanɔ-gwɔ Yǝcu ethi mɔmmi, mindaŋ nǝr uṯicǝlɔ ethisi ǝrrici ŋilima ŋeere, mindaŋ ethi elŋe ethaarɔŋw kwǝthi Allah kwiri. 2 Laakin nǝsi Yǝcu ǝŋnici nɔŋwsǝccǝŋw, “Mǝ aaŋwɔn ɔɔri ǝṯi aarɔŋw, ‘Ǝzir windi ethi aami naana, kaka nɔɔri-gwɔ leere-la cel-cel’. 3 Nǝ ŋɔrpana tuttuk ǝṯaarɔŋw, ‘Kaaw kindi ethi dɔnni; kaka nuumǝ-gwɔ leere-la’. Nǝ ilŋithiŋǝsi-mǝ ethisi andasi ŋǝthi leere, e-ta nǝseere elŋe mac ŋǝthisi andasi ŋǝthi ŋwɔɔmɔr ŋwɔ-a? 4 Lizi lǝthi kirem-ŋwɔ lir-mba ligii mindaŋ liti lilŋithi Allah too! Ŋaaŋa luṯucǝny-lɔ ŋilim ŋi-a? Bǝri-mǝ! Ŋilim ŋɔtɔpɔt ŋǝrŋǝsi ilŋithini nǝrṯoro ŋǝthi Yuunaan dak.” Ŋwɔṯaŋw nɔŋwsi ɔrlacci ŋwɔḏoŋw nɔŋweele.

Khamiira kǝthi Lifirriisiiyyiin-ŋǝ Lisaḏɔɔgiiyyiin-li.

(Mɔrgus 8:14-21)

5 Mǝ Yǝcu-ŋǝ ṯalaamiiz-thi ṯuuŋwun ṯamthitha bahara ṯɔɔlɔthala, nǝr ṯɔɔthana ethi appa ethneya. 6 Nǝsi Yǝcu ǝccǝŋw, “Aŋrathir a kette yǝy ŋǝmmǝŋ ŋiɽaŋal-ŋi ŋǝthi khamiira kǝthi Lifirriisiiyyiin-ŋǝ Lisadɔɔgiiyyiin-ŋǝli.” 7 Nǝrsi mɔmri-la deŋgen-na nǝraarɔŋw, “Ŋandisa-ŋwsi ŋɔ kaka mǝrgweere appa ethneya mac.” 8 Nǝsi Yǝcu elŋece ŋɔmɔmrirsi-la, e-ta nɔŋwsǝccǝŋw, “Ŋotho ŋɔmɔmri-ŋǝsi-la ŋǝthi ethne witi wǝthiŋǝ mac? A lirṯaŋ kɔlɔ limǝthi ṯǝmminǝ ṯokwɔɽoc-ŋwɔ! 9 Ŋiti ŋimǝsi elŋe kinnǝ mac-a? Ŋaaŋa liti likithaayina rǝghiivǝ mac-a rir ṯɔthni rǝthi lizi lir khamsa alf-a? Luvǝ lir tha limǝsi urǝzi? 10 Nǝ ŋǝthi rǝghiiv dɔvokwɔɽony rundǝcǝ-nyji lɔɔrɔ-na lir arba@ alf? Luvǝ lir tha limǝsi urǝzi? 11 Ŋende ŋilŋithi-ŋǝsi ethaarɔŋw kwiti kwandisa ŋiɽaŋali ŋǝthi ethne wiira mac? Aŋricar rogɽo raalɔ ŋiɽaŋal-ŋi ŋǝthi khamiira kǝthi Lifirriisiiyyiin-ŋǝ Lisadɔɔgiiyyiin-ŋǝli!” 12 E-ta nǝrsi mǝ elŋe ethaarɔŋw kwiṯi kwandica-nyji ethi aŋraci khamiira kǝthi rǝghiiv mac, laakiri ethi aŋraci ṯa@liima ṯǝthi Lifirriisiiyyiin-ŋǝ Lisadɔɔgiiyyiin-ŋǝli.

Bɔṯrɔs aarɔŋgwɔŋw Yǝcu kwir Kwɔrɔstɔ.

(Mɔrgus 8:27-30Luuga 9:18-21)

13 Mǝ Yǝcu ɔppathi kǝzir wǝthi mǝḏiinǝ kwǝthi Gaysariiyya Fiilibbus-ŋwɔ, nɔŋw utici ṯalaamiiza-lɔ ṯuuŋwun nɔŋwsǝccǝŋw, “Lizi lǝtaarɔŋw Tɔr tǝṯhi Kwizigwunǝŋ tir ṯaŋ?” 14 Nǝrǝccǝŋw, “Lǝṯaari lokwoŋw, a kwǝni Yuhanna kwǝni Ma@maḏaan, lokwo ǝtiraarɔŋw, a kwǝni Iliiyyǝ, nǝ lithaathɔ ǝṯiraarɔŋw a kwǝni Irmiiyǝ, ya kwiɽii kweere nyithak.” 15 Nɔŋwsǝccǝŋw, “Laakin nǝ ŋaaŋa tǝ nimaarɔŋw nyii-ŋgi kwir ṯaŋ?” 16 Nǝ Sim@aan Bɔṯrɔs ǝŋnici nɔŋwɔccǝŋw, “A kwir kwǝni Kwɔrɔstɔ, kwir Tɔr ṯǝthi Allah wɔmiithɔ.” 17 Nǝ Yǝcu ǝŋnici nɔŋwɔccǝŋw, “A kwɔrtanni Sim@aan tɔr ṯǝthi Yɔɔna, ŋiɽaŋal ŋɔ ŋir rerrem ŋiti ŋinḏi naanɔ-gwɔ kwizigwunǝŋ kweere mac, laakin ŋitǝllicǝr-gǝsi-lǝ tallac, naanɔ-gwɔ Papa kwiinyi kwǝṯi naani ki-leere-na. 18 Ŋwɔṯaŋw nyii kwɔŋa andaci Bɔtrɔs. A kwir ṯida, nǝ ki-ṯɔgwagiza-la ṯǝthi ṯida kɔthɔ, nyacci kǝniisǝ kiinyi, mindaŋ a ŋiɽany ere ŋeere mac ŋǝthi ŋɔma ethi ǝccǝlɔ ṯirgic. 19 Ŋa inḏǝthǝ lɔmɔfṯa lǝthi Ŋeeleny ŋǝthi ki-leere-naŋw, ŋeere ŋǝsi kǝkki dɔŋw kɔnɔŋw kwurǝyu-lu, ǝri kǝkkini ki-leere-na tok. Ŋeere ŋǝsi kǝdu kɔnɔŋw kwurǝyu-lu, ǝri kǝdinni ki-leere-na tok.” 20 E-ta nɔŋw ǝllici ṯalaamiiza ṯuuŋwun waamira etheere andaci kweere mac ethǝccǝŋw kwundǝr-ṯǝ kwir Kwɔrɔstɔ.

Yǝcu nandisa-ŋwsi gwɔ ŋǝthi ṯurvǝ ṯuuŋwun nǝ ŋiɽany tok.

(Mɔrgus 8:31—9:1Luuga 9:22-27)

21 Ki-lɔɔmɔr-la ṯǝ kila nǝ lindi ethiila tok, nǝ Yǝcu aari ibṯǝḏi ethi andaci ṯalaamiiza-lɔ ṯuuŋwun por-por nɔŋwsǝccǝŋw, “Laazim nyeele Urshaliim mindaŋ nyii rǝrinni beṯṯen ki-rii-na rǝthi lishiyuukh nǝ rǝthi rɔ-asa rǝthi kahana, nǝ mɔ@allimiin tok kwǝthi Sherii@a. Ǝrnyii ɽeenye laakin mǝ ŋwaamin ṯoɽol ere nyii diiɽǝ kwɔmiithɔ kwokwony.” 22 Nǝ Bɔṯrɔs ruwǝzǝlɔ kǝni-gi, nɔŋw ǝrmici nɔŋwɔccǝŋw, “Athri-pa Kweeleny; ǝṯisi-ṯǝ Allah duŋgwǝcǝ ethoroŋw mac.” 23 Mindaŋ mǝ Yǝcu ɔrllalǝ nɔŋwɔccǝ Bɔṯrɔs-ŋwɔ, “Tuccǝny-pǝ-nǝ kithaay yaa Shiiṯaan! A kwirrǝcǝny keereny ki-thaay-la ṯiinyi, kaka niti nɔrɔ-gwɔ ǝfkǝr wɔɔŋa wɔ wǝthi Allah mac, wǝthi ŋizigwunǝŋ wirta domony.”

24 E-ta nǝ Yǝcu andaci ṯalaamiiza ṯuuŋwun, nɔŋwsǝccǝŋw, “Mɔŋw naŋni kweere ethi rɔɔma nyuŋwɔ, laazim ŋwɔ ṯɔǝthina rogɽo-ri ruuŋwun, mindaŋ ŋwɔ dimmi ŋwrnup ŋwuuŋwun kwǝnyii-ŋi rɔɔma. 25 Kweere nyithak kwǝṯi aŋraci ŋimiitha ŋuuŋun ŋwɔsi kiirasalɔ, nǝ kweere kwɔgiirasi ŋimiitha-lɔ ŋuuŋun ŋiɽaŋal-ŋi ŋǝni ŋiinyi ŋwɔsi kaṯṯasi. 26 Aatha kwɔ kwizi ǝgini mɔŋw aavi ṯurmunǝ tatap ethǝthi mindaŋ mɔŋw kiirasi ŋimiitha-lɔ ŋuuŋun? Bǝri-mǝ! kwomne kwiṯi kweere mac kwɔŋgi uppi ŋimiitha-na ŋuuŋun. 27 Kaka ninḏi-gwɔ Tɔr ṯǝthi Kwizigwunǝŋ ethiila ŋinith-ŋi ŋǝthi Ṯǝrnyin, nǝ limeleka-li luuŋwun, mindaŋ ŋwɔsi kannac kila ɔjra wir kaka wǝthi ŋothɽor ŋeeŋen. 28 Nyii kwǝccǝ-ŋǝsi-mǝ ŋwɔ rerrem, kɔlɔ lokwo lirlɔ kɔnɔŋw liṯi linyeŋle ŋiɽany kinnǝ mac, mindaŋ mǝreese Tɔɔrɔ ṯǝthi Kwizigwunǝŋ, tinḏi ethiila kaka mǝlik.”