"JESUS NEVER SPOKE IN TONGUES!"
Copyright © 2002 J. David Martin

This is what we put on our church sign one month. We got the most response ever from this little saying. (It ranks even above our sign that read: "Homosexuality - Alternate Death Style.") Some anonymous charismatic left a note on the church door rebuking us for blaspheming the Holy Ghost. A member's mother chewed her out in the parking lot of the church after services one Sunday. She ranted and raved in a most un-Christian fashion about our church and yours truly, the preacher, for putting that on the sign. I also received a letter from the director of the "It Is Written" Ministries here in our town complaining about our sign. Here is my answer to the Charismatic crowd who place more faith in their "feelings" than they do the written word of God.

The Biblical Perspective on "Speaking In Tongues."

There is nowhere in scripture where "it is written" that Jesus ever spoke in tongues. The only place would be the few instances where the Bible records where Jesus spoke in the Aramaic language. No doubt He also spoke Hebrew, being that He was a Jew. We do not know that He ever spoke in Latin or Greek. But as for "speaking in tongues," as practiced by the 20th century Charismatic/Pentecostal churches, there is not the slightest indication of Him doing so. So I stand by the statement JESUS NEVER SPOKE IN TONGUES.

In the Bible we are told that "TONGUES ARE FOR A SIGN" (1 Corinthians 14:22). We are told in the same book (1:22) that there is a group of people who "REQUIRE A SIGN." That group is not Gentiles, but JEWS. Read the verse. The Jewish nation began with God showing them SIGNS in Exodus 4 with Moses.

"Speaking in tongues" along with other "signs" was given to the early church as evidence that what the apostles and early Christians preached was the word of God (see Mark 16:17-20; the word "follow" means to accompany, and the Lord confirmed the word they preached with the signs named in Mark 16); however, as the New Testament of the word of God began to be written and circulated, these "signs" began to fade out until eventually they were no longer needed. We have the BOOK now, so we don't need a "sign" to confirm anything. (A verse is better than a vision any day!)

You must remember that the purpose of the Apostles was to LAY THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH (Ephesians 2:20) and the "signs" that accompanied ("followed") their ministry was for that purpose. The foundation was laid, the "signs" are no longer needed. We have the BOOK.

In the Bible, "speaking in tongues" was the evidence that someone had received the Holy Ghost on three occasions, and three only, as "it is written" in the Scriptures. In Acts 2, Jews and Jewish proselytes came to Jerusalem at Pentecost and they heard the word of God as the Apostles spoke with tongues and PREACHED TO THOSE HEARING IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE! There was no interpreter needed! Some 3000 souls were converted that day, and they understood every word spoken. The Apostles did not speak that day in an "unknown tongue," but in known languages (verses 6-11).

In Acts 10 the Jews that went with Peter to preach to the Gentiles were amazed that the Lord had given them the Holy Ghost and saved them. The Jews present knew that God had accepted these Gentiles because they spoke in tongues. We don't know if they spoke an unknown tongue or not. But the tongue-speaking occurred where JEWS were present. The Jews "require a sign" (Again I refer you to 1 Cor. 1:22). God confirmed His promise with a "sign" (Mark 16:17-20). "Tongues are for a sign" (1 Cor. 14:22).

In Acts 19, some people received the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues. There was a Jewish synagogue in the area. Read the passage. The Jews "require a sign."

Now, in spite of what happened in the Book of Acts, the Apostle Paul later in his ministry (59 A.D) had to deal with the ABUSE OF TONGUES in his letter to the Corinthians, the most carnal, problem-riddled, and "gifted" church we know of in the New Testament. In 1 Corinthians 14 he laid down the "ground rules" for speaking in tongues in the church services (read the entire chapter for the context - Paul is not talking about a so-called private prayer language, but the public use of them). He said that if a man claimed to be "spiritual" he would have to agree that the guidelines he gave were not his opinion, but the "COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD." (1 Cor.14:37). He said if a person did not accept them as God's word, they could remain "ignorant" if they wanted to (1 Cor.14:38).

God's Guidelines for "Speaking in Tongues"

The rules are given in 1 Corinthians 14, verses 27 through 28, and include verse 34 in context. Here they are: