Audio commentary on this verse

Note 8 at Rom. 12:14: Many people think of a curse only in relation to witchcraft. However, it should go without saying that a Christian should not practice witchcraft against someone who has done them harm. That is not the type of curse that is being spoken of here.

The Greek word used for "curse" is "kataraomai" meaning "to execrate; by analogy to doom." The word "execrate" means "to protest vehemently against; denounce." W.E. Vine says "kataraomai" means "to pray against; to wish evil against a person or thing."

Therefore, our vicious talk about others is actually a curse. Without realizing it, many Christians curse others and thereby allow the devil access to the lives of those they are denouncing.

Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Every word we speak either releases life or death. Our negative talk releases death. When we speak against others, we are actually releasing Satan against them.

Once a person understands this it should make us pray this prayer with David, "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips" (Ps. 141:3).