Rom 3:13 Whole Redemption
Here is a list of metaphors the express the extent in which we have gone astray form God. He uses parts of the body to show our corruption. (Sproul). These organs of the body, describe how the words spoken by them are used to harm others. The pain of wounds will usually heal, but the pain from words and the harm it brings seems to linger. We may forget the pain of wounds, but it is much more difficult to forget the pain of words. This is the effect words can have on us. (Boice) Paul had expressed his view of the condition of men under sin and the characteristic behavior that identifies them (Rom 1: 29-31) and now he draws from his wealth of Biblical knowledge to present God’s view of the characteristic behavior that identifies those under sin. Sin is pervasive. The text declares the fact that sin effects every part of our human construction, every faculty and function, including our mind, emotions, sexuality, conscience and will. (Stott) With this in mind it is the “whole” man not just his soul that needs to be regenerated (made new).
Rottenness of the sinner
Characteristic Rottenness All are under sin v. 9 and all who are under sin exhibit sinful traits (1:29-31; 3:12-15). The text lists parts of our body: the throat, the tongue, the lips, and the mouth and the feet emphasizing that the whole of man is wholly effected by sin: sin in words (13-14) and sin in deeds (15-17) (Lloyd Jones). Each one these Old Testament texted are chosen to give a picture of the how the organs of the body which God designed to be used for righteousness have become tools of unrighteousness. (Sproul) These bodily limbs were created and given us so that through them we might serve people and glorify God. Instead, they are used to harm people and in rebellion against God. (Stott).
Sin of Words
Stench talk 13 "Their throat is an open grave” (Psalm 5:9) The sentiment here may be 1) as the grave is ever open to receive all into it, that is, into destruction, so the mouth or the throat of the slanderer is ever open to swallow up the peace and happiness of all. 2) or it may mean, as from an open grave there proceeds an offensive and foul vapor, so from the mouths of slanderous persons there proceed noisome and ruinous words. Hey are foul mouthed (Stuart.) The throat is used to indicate a deep-seated evil (Morris). It expresses that deep within the inner recesses of man is death, decay and corruption. If the mouth is opened and one looks down the throat they would see death and corruption. The throat of fallen man is like an unsealed and uncovered grave. The throat is the tunnel, as it were, that leads to our heart, the inside of man. . . . it is out of the heart, out of the inner core of man’s being, that corrupt speech emerges (Sproul). Open- Gk -a perfect participle referring to something that stands open, permanently open. It is like the wicked foul mouth, permanently bringing out unclean things. (Morris). The analogy of the throat being an “open” grave . . . graphically portrays the filthy conversation of the wicked. Nothing can be more abominable to the senses than an open grave, where a dead body beginning to putrefy steams forth its tainted fumes. What proceeds out of their mouth is infected and putrid; and as they are emitted from a grave proves the corruption within, so it is with the corrupt conversation of sinners. (Haldane) What proceeds out of their heart, and finds vent in speech and action through the throat, is like the noxious toxic breath of an open grave;' (Jamison) A spiritually dead heart can generate only spiritual dead words. A corpse is placed in the ground and covered up- not only to show respect for the deceased but also to protect passersby from viewing the disfigurement and smelling the stench of decay. But the natural man keeps his throat (grave) wide open, and in so doing continually testifies to his spiritual death by the foulness of his words. (Mac Arthur) . . Their throat is an open grave full of loathsomeness, of stench, of pestilence and death. But, worse than that, it is an open grave, with all its evil gases issuing forth, to spread death and destruction all around. From the throat . . . all the wickedness of their heart exhales, and comes forth. How dangerous is an open grave; men in their journeys might easily stumble therein, and find themselves among the dead. Ah! take heed of the wicked man, for there is nothing that he will not say to ruin you; he will long to destroy your character (reputation), and bury you in the hideous grave of his own wicked throat. One sweet thought here, however. At the resurrection there will be a resurrection not only of bodies, but characters (reputations). This should be a great comfort to a man who has been abused and slandered by such speech . . . The world may think you vile, and bury your character; but if you have been upright, in the day when the graves shall give up their dead, this open sepulchre of the sinner's throat shall be compelled to give up your heavenly character, and you shall come forth and be honored in the sight of men. (Spurgeon) . . . as a sepulchre doth send out noisome savors and filthy smells, so evil men do utter rotten, hurtful and filthy words. As a sepulchre doth consume and devour bodies cast into it, so wicked men do with their cruel words destroy others; they are like a gulf to destroy others. As a sepulchre, having devoured many corpses, is still ready to consume more, being never satisfied, so wicked men, having overthrown many with their words, do proceed in their outrage, seeking whom they may devour. (Thomas Wilson)
Smooth Talk v13 “. . . they use their tongues to deceive” Ps 140:3 In their conversation, their promises, etc., they have been false, treacherous, and unfaithful.(Barnes) All men are liars. We are deceitful by nature. We do not love truth, using truth only when it advances our self-interests (Sproul). 'That tongue which is man's glory (Ps 16:9; 57:8) is prostituted to the purposes of deception;' (Vincent) Gk dolioo –keep deceiving- imperfect tense –continual repetitive deception –basically it means luring, it was used of baiting a hook by covering it with a small piece of food to disguise its danger. The fish thought it was getting food, but instead became food for the fisherman. Lying and deceit is a habitual and normal part of the life of the natural man. (Mac Arthur) Their language and conversation were full of deceit. No credibility could be given to anything that they said. . . (Gill) The tongue is used by them to deceive their neighbor, or they have flattered with the tongue, and this flattery is joined with the intention to deceive. (Prov 2:16, 7:5) (Haldane). Their tongues are very smooth-speaking falsehoods and flatteries and lies, saying that which is not true, pretending to like people and think the world of them, when they are always criticizing them. (Lloyd Jones). They flatter with their tongue. . . . A smooth tongue is a great evil; many have been bewitched by it. There be many human ant eaters that with their long tongues covered with oily words entice and entrap the unwary and make their gain thereby. When the wolf licks the lamb, he is preparing to wet his teeth in its blood. (Spurgeon)
Striking Talk v. 13 The venom of asps is under their lips." Ps 140:3 We all like the asp were born with venomous “poision sacks” under our lips and often claim the right to strike others with our “venom words” (Newell) The asp, or adder, is a species of serpent whose poison is of such active operation that it kills almost the instant that it penetrates, and that without remedy. The sentiment is, that as the poison of the asp is rapid, certain, spreading quickly through the system, and producing death; so the words of the slanderer are deadly, pestiferous, quickly destroying the reputation and happiness of man. They are as subtle, as shrewd, and as deadly to the reputation, as the poison of the adder is to the body (Barnes) This denotes the mortal poison, such as that of vipers or asps, that lies concealed under the lips, and is emitted in poisoned words. As these venomous creatures kill with their poisonous sting, so slanderers and evil-minded persons destroy the characters of their neighbors (Haldane) The deadliest of all venom is the slander of the unscrupulous. Some men care not what they say so long as they can irritate and injure. So depraved are we by nature that the most venomous creatures are our fit types. The old serpent has not only inoculated us with his venom, but he has caused us to be ourselves producers of the like poison: it lies under our lips, ready for use, and, alas, it is all too freely used when we grow angry, and desire to take vengeance upon any who have caused us displeasure. This poison of evil speaking would never fall from our lips, however much we might be provoked, if it were not there at other times; but by nature we have as great a store of venomous words as a cobra has of poison. O Lord, take the poison bags away, and cause our lips to drop nothing but honey. (Spurgeon) When the slanderous word is spoken, the venom is left behind, to work and rankle, to inflame hearts, to fever human existence, and to poison human society at the fountain springs of life (Frederick William Robertson). -- he that is bitten by the asp falls forthwith into a gentle sweat and a sweet sleep, and his strength and vital spirits decay and weaken by little till he die; thus the present pain is little, but the stroke is deadly. And even such stings are the tongues, and such swords the words of wicked men. And no marvel; for what can come but poisonous words and actions from them whose very inward nature is all poison within! (William Crashaw)
Slanderous Talk 14 "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." Psalms 10:7 Two Greek words Ara – cursing – it is desiring the worst of the person and making that desire public through open criticism and defamation. (Mac Arthur) Gk pikria – bitterness –it is openly expressed emotional hostility against an enemy. It is used to denote severity, harshness, cruelty; reproachful and malicious words. (Barnes) Cursing and bitterness doesn’t bring the respect that it desires, it is rather a sign of human fallneness. (Sproul) Cursing - Against God. Bitterness - Against their neighbor. (Wesley) “Full” here points to a generous supply. It is not speaking of cursing every now and then or occasional bitterness, but a habitual (Morris) Not mouths that let a bad word slip out every now and then, but one that is “full” of cursing (Sproul)
Cause of Rottenness – There is an underlying root from which this fruit of unrighteousness arises. It is the sinful nature expressed through the human heart. Which is deceitful above all things (Jer 17:9). The human heart was made upright in its creation, self-wrecked into moral wrongness when it turned itself from God (at the fall). All of the characteristics of sin come from a sinful heart. (Mark 7:14-23, Matt 12:34)
Regenerated saint James 3:5
As those who have been redeemed we show evidence of our salvation with a new behavior including our speech. If we are truly a new creation in Christ, then our whole being is made new. So that with every part of who we are we can worship every part of who He is. Our lips which should "drop as a honeycomb," (Song of Solomon 4:11) and "give thanks unto His name" (Heb 13:15) secrete deadly poison:' (Jamison) We are told that rather than our throats being an open grave where foul words emerge, we “let no unwholesome word to proceed out of our mouth” (Eph 4:29). Rather than our poisonous lips that bring death, we speak words of life (John 6:68). Rather than deception and lies, we speak the truth in love (Eph 5:25). Rather than lips that curse God we sing praise to God (Ps 51:14-1) Rather than tongues that are uncontrollable, our tongues are under control (James 2, Ps 34;13).) Our joy is to find redeemed speech in the redeemer of speech and as we speak we help others to see and desire the transformation that we have encountered (1 Pet 3:9-12). Let the redeemed of the Lord say so (Ps 107:2)
If the whole soul be infected with such a desperate disease, what a great and difficult work it is to regenerate, to restore men again to spiritual life and vigor, when every part of them is seized by such a mortal distemper! How great a cure does the Spirit of God effect in restoring a soul by sanctifying it! To heal but the lungs or the liver, if corrupted, is counted a great cure, though performed but upon one part of you; but all our inward parts are very rotten. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. How great a cure is it then to heal you! Such as is only in the skill and power of God to do. (Thomas Goodwin)
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