Matthew 15:18 The Heart Behind Our Words
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says, “What comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.”
Our Words Are a Mirror to Our Hearts
He opens a window into the psychological and spiritual fabric of human nature: when we speak, we reveal what is going on inside. Our words are a mirror to our hearts.
What’s in our hearts? For the believer, love for God and others, but also sin, selfishness, pride, and unresolved wounds.
When our hearts are filled with:
Hurt: Our words come out as anger, shame, or distrust.
Fear: Our words sound like control.
Shame: We make accusations, blame others, and sound defensive.
Anger: Our words lash out and harm others.
These reactions are natural, but they emphasize the need for healing.
The Call for Healing, Not Suppression
Such words don’t call for self-discipline alone. Rather than bite our tongues, we are wise to bring our hearts before Jesus, who can heal us. God’s desire isn’t simply for us to “watch our mouths” but to come closer to Him, where transformation can occur.
Rather than bite our tongues, we are wise to bring our hearts before Jesus, who can heal us.
When we face our inner turmoil, we are invited to trust Jesus with our hurt. He understands our pain and has already paid the price for our sins. His Spirit equips us to embrace God’s justice, understand the humanity of others, and ultimately drop our charges against those who have hurt us.
Healing cannot take place without trust in Jesus. Healing bears fruit when it leads to forgiveness, which opens the process of restoration.
The Path to Restoration
How can we change our speech to be more Christlike? Choose to trust Jesus with it. Spend time in His presence. Let God’s Word and Spirit reveal areas that need His grace. Focus on healing your heart through prayer, scripture, worship, and openness to God’s transformative work.
What should I do if I hurt someone with my words? Confess to God, seek healing, and make amends with the person by acknowledging your hurtful words and welcoming their forgiveness.
Approach the person you hurt. Acknowledge your wrongdoing: “What I said was wrong and hurtful. I was feeling hurt/insecure/scared, but that’s no excuse. I am so sorry for hurting you. I look to the day that you forgive me.”
Jesus reminds us that our speech reflects what’s going on in our hearts and encourages us to seek healing rather than control. As we bring our hurts and hearts to Jesus, He heals and softens, enabling us to speak words of grace and truth in love.