The Bible and Cussing (Cursing, Swearing)

I love it when people ask me, "What does the Bible say about _______?"
It gives me hope that the person asking the question is sincerely wanting to know what God's Word says about a particular topic and they are willing to submit their lives to His truth. I often ask myself this same question about different topics because I want to see the world the way God sees it. The topic today is about "Cussing (Cursing, Swearing)" 
Please consider the verses below. If you call yourself a Christian, the verses below may rebuke you to stop acting in a way that is not honoring to Jesus Christ. For others, these verses may help you to realize that your mouth is an overflow of a dirty heart, one which needs the transforming power and forgiveness that comes through faith in what Jesus did for you on the cross--There is hope to be clean on the inside (Matthew 23:26, Titus 3:4-7, Romans 10:9-10)
-Barry



There's no need to add cuss words to your "yes" or "no"
James 5:12
But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Matthew 5:33-37
“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

Using God's name as a cuss word (or treating it lightly) is a violation of God's law
Exodus 20:7
“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

Deuteronomy 5:11
“‘You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

Words that tear down, are filthy, foolish or part of crude joking are forbidden
Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 5:4
Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Warnings against the danger of the tongue and cursing
James 3:5-11
So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?


Our words show the condition of our heart (!!!)
Luke 6:45
The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.