Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not tell the messenger that your vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands? Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sinThis phrase emphasizes the power of words and their potential to lead to sin. In biblical context, the mouth often symbolizes the heart's intentions ( Matthew 12:34). The warning here is against rash vows or promises, which were common in ancient Israelite culture. The Law of Moses addressed the seriousness of vows ( Numbers 30:2), highlighting the importance of integrity and the consequences of failing to fulfill one's word. The connection between speech and action is a recurring theme in Scripture, as seen in James 3:5-6, where the tongue is described as a small part of the body that can cause great harm. and do not tell the messenger that your vow was a mistake
In ancient times, a messenger or priest might be sent to collect on vows made to God. This phrase warns against attempting to retract a vow by claiming it was made in error. Such actions reflect a lack of reverence for God and a failure to recognize the sanctity of one's promises. The cultural context underscores the seriousness of vows, as they were considered binding and sacred. This aligns with Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:33-37, where He advises against making oaths altogether, advocating for simple and honest communication. Why should God be angry with your words
This rhetorical question highlights the divine response to insincere or careless speech. In the Old Testament, God's anger is often depicted as a response to disobedience and irreverence (Exodus 32:10). The phrase serves as a reminder of God's holiness and the expectation of His people to uphold their commitments. It reflects the broader biblical principle that God values truth and integrity, as seen in Proverbs 12:22, which states that lying lips are an abomination to the Lord. and destroy the work of your hands?
The consequence of God's anger is described as the destruction of one's labor. This reflects the biblical principle of divine retribution, where disobedience leads to tangible consequences (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). The "work of your hands" symbolizes one's efforts and achievements, which can be undone by God's judgment. This serves as a warning to maintain integrity and sincerity in one's relationship with God. The phrase also echoes the futility of human endeavors without divine favor, a theme prevalent throughout Ecclesiastes. Persons / Places / Events 1. The Preacher (Qoheleth)Traditionally identified as King Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, who shares wisdom on the futility of life without God. 2. GodThe ultimate judge and authority who holds individuals accountable for their words and actions. 3. The MessengerLikely a temple official or priest who would hear vows and ensure they are fulfilled. 4. The VowA solemn promise made to God, often in the context of worship or seeking divine favor. 5. The Work of Your HandsRepresents the efforts and achievements of an individual, which can be jeopardized by careless words. Teaching Points Guard Your WordsOur words have power and can lead us into sin. We must be mindful of what we say, especially in the presence of God. The Seriousness of VowsMaking a vow to God is a serious commitment. We should not make promises lightly or without the intention to fulfill them. Accountability Before GodGod holds us accountable for our words and actions. We should live with the awareness that our speech can impact our relationship with Him. Integrity in WorshipOur worship and promises to God should be sincere and not made out of impulse or emotion. True worship involves integrity and honesty. Consequences of CarelessnessCareless words can lead to the destruction of our efforts and achievements. We must be diligent in aligning our speech with God’s will. Bible Study Questions 1. How can we ensure that our words do not lead us into sin, especially in our commitments to God? 2. In what ways can we apply the principle of being slow to speak and quick to listen in our daily lives? 3. How does understanding the power of the tongue, as discussed in James 3, influence our approach to making vows or promises? 4. What steps can we take to ensure that our worship and commitments to God are made with integrity and sincerity? 5. How can reflecting on the consequences of careless words help us in our spiritual growth and relationship with God? Connections to Other Scriptures James 3:5-6Discusses the power of the tongue and how it can lead to great destruction, similar to how careless words can lead to sin in Ecclesiastes 5:6. Matthew 12:36-37Jesus warns that people will give an account for every careless word they speak, aligning with the caution against rash vows. Proverbs 20:25Warns against making vows rashly and then reconsidering them, echoing the message of Ecclesiastes 5:6. Numbers 30:2Emphasizes the importance of fulfilling vows made to the Lord, reinforcing the seriousness of making promises to God. People SolomonPlaces JerusalemTopics Account, Allow, Angel, Angry, Bring, Cause, Destroy, Destroyed, Error, Evil, Flesh, Guilt, Hands, Inadvertence, Lead, Messenger, Mistake, Mouth, Presence, Protest, Sin, Speech, Suffer, Temple, Voice, Vow, Wherefore, WrothDictionary of Bible Themes Ecclesiastes 5:6 5408 messenger
5549 speech, positive
5803 carelessness Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 5468 promises, human Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 5741 vows Ecclesiastes 5:6-7 5575 talk, idle Library Naked or Clothed?
'As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.'--ECCLES. v. 15. '... Their works do follow them.'--REV. xiv. 13. It is to be observed that these two sharply contrasted texts do not refer to the same persons. The former is spoken of a rich worldling, the latter of 'the dead who die in the Lord.' The unrelieved gloom of the one is as a dark background against which the triumphant assurance of …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureLessons for Worship and for Work
'Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. 2. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few. 3. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words. 4. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Things to be Meditated on as Thou Goest to the Church.
1. That thou art going to the court of the Lord, and to speak with the great God by prayer; and to hear his majesty speak unto thee by his word; and to receive his blessing on thy soul, and thy honest labour, in the six days past. 2. Say with thyself by the way--"As the hart brayeth for the rivers of water, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, even for the living God: When shall I come and appear before the presence of God? For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety Literature.
i. editions of chrysostom's works. S. Joannis Chrysostomi, archiepiscopi Constantinopolitani, Opera omnia quæ exstant vel quæ ejus nomine circumferuntur, ad mss. codices Gallicos, Vaticanos, Anglicos, Germanicosque castigata, etc. Opera et studio D.Bernardi de Montfaucon, monachi ordinis S. Benedicti e congregatione S. Mauri, opem ferentibus aliis ex codem sodalitio, monachis. Greek and Latin, Paris, 1718-'38, in 13 vols., fol. This is the best edition, and the result of about twenty …
St. Chrysostom—On the Priesthood Ninth Day for God's Spirit on Our Mission Work
WHAT TO PRAY.--For God's Spirit on our Mission Work "The evangelisation of the world depends first of all upon a revival of prayer. Deeper than the need for men--ay, deep down at the bottom of our spiritless life, is the need for the forgotten secret of prevailing, world-wide prayer." "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate Me Barnabas and Saul. Then when they had fasted and prayed, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed."--ACTS …
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession Thoughts Upon Worldly-Riches. Sect. Ii.
TIMOTHY after his Conversion to the Christian Faith, being found to be a Man of great Parts, Learning, and Piety, and so every way qualified for the work of the Ministry, St. Paul who had planted a Church at Ephesus the Metropolis or chief City of all Asia, left him to dress and propagate it, after his departure from it, giving him Power to ordain Elders or Priests, and to visit and exercise Jurisdiction over them, to see they did not teach false Doctrines, 1 Tim. i. 3. That they be unblameable in …
William Beveridge—Private Thoughts Upon a Christian Life There is a Blessedness in Reversion
Blessed are the poor in spirit. Matthew 5:3 Having done with the occasion, I come now to the sermon itself. Blessed are the poor in spirit'. Christ does not begin his Sermon on the Mount as the Law was delivered on the mount, with commands and threatenings, the trumpet sounding, the fire flaming, the earth quaking, and the hearts of the Israelites too for fear; but our Saviour (whose lips dropped as the honeycomb') begins with promises and blessings. So sweet and ravishing was the doctrine of this …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12 How to be Admonished are those who Give Away what is their Own, and those who Seize what Belongs to Others.
(Admonition 21.) Differently to be admonished are those who already give compassionately of their own, and those who still would fain seize even what belongs to others. For those who already give compassionately of their own are to be admonished not to lift themselves up in swelling thought above those to whom they impart earthly things; not to esteem themselves better than others because they see others to be supported by them. For the Lord of an earthly household, in distributing the ranks and …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great Covenanting Confers Obligation.
As it has been shown that all duty, and that alone, ought to be vowed to God in covenant, it is manifest that what is lawfully engaged to in swearing by the name of God is enjoined in the moral law, and, because of the authority of that law, ought to be performed as a duty. But it is now to be proved that what is promised to God by vow or oath, ought to be performed also because of the act of Covenanting. The performance of that exercise is commanded, and the same law which enjoins that the duties …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting Ecclesiastes
It is not surprising that the book of Ecclesiastes had a struggle to maintain its place in the canon, and it was probably only its reputed Solomonic authorship and the last two verses of the book that permanently secured its position at the synod of Jamnia in 90 A.D. The Jewish scholars of the first century A.D. were struck by the manner in which it contradicted itself: e.g., "I praised the dead more than the living," iv. 2, "A living dog is better than a dead lion," ix. 4; but they were still more …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Ecclesiastes 5:6 NIVEcclesiastes 5:6 NLTEcclesiastes 5:6 ESVEcclesiastes 5:6 NASBEcclesiastes 5:6 KJV
Ecclesiastes 5:6 Commentaries
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