October 9, 2025 -Slow Down That Tongue

LUKE 9:7-9

MARK 6:14-29

MATTHEW 14:1-21

MARK 6:30-44

LUKE 9:10-17

JOHN 6:1-15

MARK 6:45-52

MATTHEW 14:22-33

JOHN 6:16-21

MARK 6:53-56

MATTHEW 14:34-36

Chronological Bible Readings

Mark 6:19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.

21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.

The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”

“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.

This coming Sunday is from James 3 and is about the power of the tongue. I never would have looked at this story and had the thoughts that came to mind had I not been also studying the tongue. Herod's tongue which is powerful put him into a difficult and undesirable situation. He did not want to kill John. He didn't understand it all, but he knew that John was a Godly man with many followers and it intrigued him. But he was prideful and selfish. He cared so much being pleased and with being seen as a man who threw a great party. When Herodias' daughter danced in a way that impressed and pleased him and his guests his impulsive braggard tongue got him in trouble. In his excitement he offers her anything she wants. The phrase “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” was a known phrase which means that the king is willing to grant absolutely anything the person asks apart from the crown, I am sure he expected to ask for some kind of material thing but she did not. When she asks for John the Baptists in front of all his party guests the king cannot refuse her. And he used the power of his tongue to order that her request be granted.

In James it talks about the power of the tongue. How it can change lives for good or evil. How it can bless and curse. One word like a tiny spark can set destroying fire. When we speak impulsively without thinking because we are blinded by our emotions we will say things that we regret, And the damage can be irreversible at times. So, remember as James also said in chapter 1 that we should be slow to speak, quick to listen and slow to become angry. When it comes to our tongue I would put any emotion that might cause you to speak rashly in place of anger. Because once it's out it's out and even the best apology cannot make it not happen, It will change something.