Romans 3:13: Their Throat Is An Open Grave; They Use Their Tongues To Deceive

Romans 3:13
[13] “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” (ESV)

Have you ever spent time walking through a cemetery? On several occasions I have gone through a cemetery, reading all of the tombstones. I found it intriguing to imagine what kind of life was lived by the person buried beneath me. While it was fun to walk on top of the tomb beneath me, it would be quite another matter to dig one up and look inside!

Graves are closed for two reasons. One reason is to give respect for the dead. The other reason is because of the stench! I am not sure if you have been around a dead body, but it is not an air freshener. The process of rot and decay in human flesh brings a stench that is just about unbearable. This is the image the Apostle Paul uses to help us understand the human condition.

Here we have described for us the sinful man who does not know Jesus Christ. What comes out of his mouth is compared to what you would get from an open grave. Vile, rotting, stench of death. Not exactly an encouraging picture. Yet, if you were to be honest, you would have to admit that without God's intervention in your life by the power of his Holy Spirit, you have produced some filth from your mouth!

Look at the second illustration in this verse. Not only do we get filth as in a rotting carcass, but we also find that the unregenerate mouth produces cunning. The asp, or snake, is used to describe the cunning that we produce. It is interesting to consider that the first example of cunning we find in Scripture is that of a serpent. Satan brought down humanity with his cunning in the Garden.

God's power brings transformation to those who were formerly bound in sin. That transformation should include bringing our tongue into submission to God's holy standard. Ask him to help you to speak words of truth; words that build up and not tear down.

Comments

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co

Search This Blog