Mt. 12:36-37 [36] But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. [37] For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

When Is One’s Speech The Wrong Kind? Lesson 2

Review from previous lesson

1. When it is not according to Eph. 4:29 [29] Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

2. When it is not according to Col. 4:6 [6] Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

. When is one’s speech the wrong kind?

3. When it is false Things stated accurately are either true or false It is possible for a person – in all honesty – to speak, to repeat, or to write something that is false

Mt. 26:59-60 [59] Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; [60] But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

4. When it is a lie Col. 3:9-10 [9] Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; [10] And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Jn. 8:44 [44] Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Lying has its beginning with the devil When a man lies, he has become an agent working for Satan “The devil will tell enough truth to cause men to believe a lie.”

Rev. 21:8 [8] But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Rev. 21:27 [27] And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Rev. 22:15 [15] For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

It is possible for one to be honest and sincere and yet to be involved in a lie Falsehood and deception are basic notions found in lying

Abraham lied about Sarah, his wife The serpent (Satan) lied to Eve The old prophet lied to the young prophet

Peter lied about the Lord Ananias and Sapphira lied – by word and by action We can lie by failing to keep God’s commandments while we claim we are doing them

1 Jn. 2:3-4 3] And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. [4] He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

One can lie by failing to keep his word “Men are often careless about their promises”

5. When it is incomplete It is right to tell a person that he must believe on the Lord in order to be saved – it is NOT RIGHT to fail to tell the person the rest of what God requires

Ananias and Sapphira were liars and hypocrites when they withheld important information about the price of the land

6. When one repeats the words but not the meaning We must be careful when we repeat what others have told us to make sure we give the meaning of their words

Jn. 2:19 [19] Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

Mt. 26:61 61] And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

Before we repeat anything we should ask ourselves: 7. When it is true - but the telling of it would do no one any good - & possibly could do lots of harm Before we repeat anything we should ask ourselves: A. Why am I telling this? B. Why do I want to tell it?

C. Are my intentions in harmony with the Lord’s will?

Before we tell anything we should test our thoughts and words by the following: A. Is it true? B. Do I have all the necessary information?

C. Will it do any good? D. Will it – or could it – hurt someone E. Would I want it told about me? F. Would the Lord tell it?