Food vs. Words

Read It: Matthew 15:10-12 (NRSV)

10 Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” 12 Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” 

Learn It:

In the Old Testament there are different laws about what types of food you can and cannot eat.  For Jesus to basically say that you can eat any kind of food goes against a number of laws that the Pharisees hold onto as part of their faith.  Jesus tries to point out that the greater evil of the mouth is not what goes in (food and water) but what comes out (our words).  When I was little I used to hear and even say the phrase, "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me".  I have since learned that that phrase is not true at all.  There are things that we say that is not nice or helpful and when we're angry we even say things that are downright mean.  We may later feel sick for things we ate or how much we ate but there are times when the words we say can cause great trouble and rifts.  Words are more dangerous than the food we eat.

Share It:

What might be some things recently that you have said that you later regretted saying because you realize that it might have been wrong or hurtful to say?  Why do you think that we sometimes say things before we think them through?  What are some specific ways that we can use words to build each other up?  What are ways that we can be more careful of the words we choose to say?  

Live It:

This next week spend some time building people up with words of kindness.  Take this week to really think about the words that come out of your mouth before you say them.  When you are talking to someone really listen to what they have to say, think about how to respond, then respond to them with your carefully chosen words.  See how spending some intentional time choosing words might affect your conversations this week and in the future.  

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Please post comments with your experience with the share it or live it part of this weeks post.  Let others know if you and your family found this useful.