The song that serves as the central thought of this lesson contains both direct and indirect references to our speech. In the fourth verse the song speaks of letting the beauty of Jesus be seen in all that we say and to keep sweet. In the third verse, the song speaks of remembering how Jesus was treated when someone speaks some word that pierces us through. Clearly, the implication is that we should show the same restraint that Jesus showed in His speech. What kinds of words characterized the speech of Jesus?
Gracious Words
Luke records, “So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth…” (Luke 4:22). Just think of the words that Jesus spoke from the cross. For those who had shouted for Him to be crucified, He prayed, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). To the woman who was taken in the act of adultery and cast down at His feet for sentencing and stoning, Jesus told her to go and sin no more (John 8:11). It should not surprise us that Jesus spoke gracious words. After all, the mouth speaks from the abundance of the heart (Matt. 12:34; Pro. 4:23; 23:7). When John spoke of the incarnation of Christ, he described Jesus as full of grace (John 1:14). Since Jesus was full of grace, that is what came from His mouth. If we have the mind/heart of Christ, then grace will come out of our mouths also (Phil. 2:5). In Colossians, Paul wrote, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Col. 4:6).
Thoughtful Words
Jesus said, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned”(Matt. 12:36-37). Idle means lazy and useless. Idle words are words that are uttered without thought. We must give great thought to our words because the power of death and life is in them (Pro. 18:21;
cf. Jas. 3:5-6). Life was in the words of Jesus. He declared, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). What about our words? Do we give the necessary thought to them before we speak (Pro. 15:2; 17:27). Are we slow to speak (Jas. 1:19). Do our words tend toward life or death?
True Words
Peter wrote, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth…” (1 Pet. 2:21-23). Deceit means bait or treachery. On many occasions, Jesus dealt with those trying to catch Him in His words. They were baiting Him with their words and questions. They never caught Jesus because he was full of truth (John 1:14). In fact, He was truth (John 14:6). Often, in the gospels, Jesus used the words verily, truly, or most assuredly to make a statement. Jesus had a reputation for truth. Matthew records, “Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth…” (Mat. 22:15-17). The context makes clear that those asking this question had evil intentions. They were likely using flattery to gain an advantage. Yet, their assessment could not have been more accurate. If the beauty of Jesus is going to be seen in our speech then we are going to have to speak true words. In Proverbs, wisdom declares, “For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them” (Pro. 8:7-8). In Ephesians, Paul wrote, “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour…” (Eph. 4:25).
Good Words
Jesus declared, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. (Mat. 12:33-37). The good man brings out of his heart good things. Good means excellent in nature, useful. Evil means bad. We are not to let corrupt communication proceed out of our mouths “but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Eph. 4:29). Corrupt means rotten, unfit, putrid. Certainly, curse words and crude talk would fall among the forbidden. Sadly, sometimes we feel that we have used our tongues properly if we do not say bad things. While it is very important not to say bad things, it is also very important to say good things. Notice the rest of Paul’s inspired instructions: “…but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” We are to speak good words that build up and impart grace. Solomon wrote, “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad” (Pro. 12:25; 15:23). Just think of all the good words that Jesus spoke in the gospels. Think of how he encouraged and comforted people through His words. For example, think of the words that He spoke to His disciples as they sadly and fearfully contemplated His departure. He told them not to be troubled in heart because He was preparing a place for them and coming again to take them there (John 14:1-3). These good words must have edified and ministered grace to them. If the beauty of Jesus is going to be seen in our speech then we must let good words come out of our mouths. To the saints at Colosse, Paul wrote, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Col. 4:6).
Calm Words
Peter wrote, “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously”
(1 Pet. 2:22-23). When Jesus was reviled, He didn’t revile back. Revile is from the Greek word antiloidoreó and means to return abusive insult. In addition, Jesus didn’t threaten. Jesus didn’t respond in anger though it would have been easy to do so. He calmly and compassionately asked God to forgive those who were mocking and murdering Him because they didn’t know what they were doing (Luke 23:43). When one of the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus stopped mocking Him and requested to be remembered, Jesus promised the penitent thief that He would be with Him that day in paradise (Luke 23:39-43). If we want the beauty of Jesus to be seen in our speech we must never let angry words from the tongue unbridled slip. Jesus spoke of how anger can cause us to say the wrong things. We read, “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire” (Mat. 5:22). To the saints at Ephesus, Paul wrote, “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath” (Eph. 4:26).
If the beauty of Jesus is going to be seen in our speech, we must speak like Jesus. We must speak gracious, thoughtful, true, good, and calm words.