Proverbs 18: 21 – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…”
Under the New Covenant of Grace, Proverbs 18:21 takes on a deeper, Spirit-filled meaning that aligns with the finished work of Christ and the believer’s new identity in Him.
The New Covenant, based on Jesus’ finished work, changes how we understand life and death, power, and especially the role of the tongue. This verse is not about legalism, self-effort, or trying to “speak things into existence” by force. It’s about understanding the spiritual authority you now carry because you are in Christ.
THE TONGUE AS A SPIRITUAL INSTRUMENT – Under grace, your words are not just sounds – they carry spiritual significance because you are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), filled with the Holy Spirit.
Your tongue can agree with life (the Gospel, grace, truth, peace, healing), or it can agree with death (condemnation, fear, unbelief, self-hatred).
AGREEING WITH THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST – To speak life is to confess what Christ has accomplished on your behalf:
To speak death is to deny or forget those truths:
“God is punishing me.”
“I’ll never be free.”
“I’m not good enough.”
Speaking in alignment with the truth of the Gospel activates faith, encourages the spirit, and releases peace and healing. Speaking in fear, condemnation, or bitterness can grieve the Spirit and poison your heart (James 3:6–10).
Your tongue either partners with grace or with the enemy. Speaking life means aligning with God’s verdict: You are forgiven, loved, and empowered.
- You are no longer under the law, but your words still plant seeds—either life-giving or destructive.
Think of a time you said something you regret or were the target of undeserved gossip. Now, reflect on a situation where you encouraged a friend who was hurting, or felt the life-giving effects of someone else’s words.
Words matter. Your words matter. And God has given you the freedom to choose how you use them.
Your tongue either partners with grace or with the enemy. Speaking life means aligning with God’s verdict: You are forgiven, loved, and empowered.
“What you say flows from what is in your heart,” Jesus explained in Luke 6:45. Fruit reveals the health of a tree, just as a tongue reveals what is happening in the heart.
Most of us want to use our words for good and not for harm … we don’t want to be unkind or critical. But James 3 tells us that the tongue is unstable and cannot be tamed.
So, what can we do? Is there a way to control it?
Self-control is a fruit the Holy Spirit produces in us, which means we can’t manufacture controlling our tongues on our own. But we do have a part to play in the process: we need to stick close to Jesus.
When we read His Word, seek His face, and walk in His ways (no matter how many times we mess up and have to begin again), love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control begin to grow in our lives. The biblical term is abiding; staying, continuing, or remaining in Jesus’ presence.
So this week, how will you use your words to bring healing and hope to people? If this isn’t something you’re used to doing, it’s never too early to speak words that spark life in someone.
Under the New Covenant, the power of life and death in the tongue isn’t just about watching what you say. It’s about agreeing with what God says—and when you do, your words release grace, healing, and power. As we abide with Jesus, the Holy Spirit begins to curb the way we speak and change the way we act. When that happens, our words start to bring life and hope to the people around us. Amen.
