Posted July 9, 2026, by Timothy

I do not have this gift, and I have brothers and sisters in Christ who did not receive this gift. It's OK. God gave you other gifts. Remember, we are all part of the body, each with our own God directed purpose.

 Jesus’ Teaching on Speaking in Tongues and the Scripture

Jesus is recorded as promising the gift of speaking in new tongues to believers in Mark 16:17:

“And these signs will follow those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues”.

This promise came after His commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel. The Greek word glossa (τῆς γλώσσας) means “tongue” or “language,” and in this context refers to foreign human languages that the believer had not previously known. The verb laleo (λαλεῖν) means “to speak out” and describes the supernatural act of uttering words in another language by the Holy Spirit’s power, as seen at Pentecost in Acts 2:4–11.

Jesus’ Teaching and Purpose

• For all believers: Jesus said, “these signs will follow those who believe,” indicating the gift is for every believer, not just some.
• New tongues: The gift is “new” in the sense of being a supernatural ability not previously known to humanity, reserved for the New Testament age.
• Purpose: The gift is meant to edify others who can understand the language, as Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 14:6–7. It is not merely for personal prayer or confusion, but for effective communication with people of different languages.

Did Jesus Himself Speak in Tongues?

There is no clear biblical record of Jesus speaking in tongues in the sense of the New Testament gift.

• He spoke Aramaic, Hebrew, and likely Greek (Mark 5:41; Acts 26:14).
• Some point to Mark 7:34 and Mark 8:12, where Jesus “groaned in the Spirit,” but the Greek terms for “groaning” (stentor) and “speaking in tongues” (laleo) are different.
• “Groaning in the Spirit” refers to the Spirit interceding in prayer (Romans 8:26), while “speaking in tongues” is the Spirit giving utterance in another language.

Summary

Jesus taught that speaking in new tongues would be a sign of the Holy Spirit’s work in believers, enabling them to preach the gospel in foreign languages. He did not personally use this gift, as He already spoke the languages of His listeners. The gift’s purpose is to edify others, not to confuse or isolate the speaker