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

2. Idle word = vulgar, coarse – words that excite lust and corrupt the hearer;
Justified = by good words, good thoughts, and good deeds we will be judged righteous in the final judgment

3. Condemned = By evil words, evil thoughts and evil deeds we will be condemned in the judgment
There will be other factors in judgment – but our words alone can condemn us!

4. When Is One’s Speech The Wrong Kind?
Lesson 1

5. Background/ Introduction

6. Look at Jesus Christ
While here on the earth – for over 33 years – he never spoke the wrong word
Every word that he spoke (1) was the right word, and (2) was spoken in the right way

7. What words to use How to use these words When to speak, and
The Lord Knew:
What words to use
How to use these words
When to speak, and
When not to speak

8. Many of our personal problems and congregational problems could be avoided if we all would imitate the example of Jesus in our speech

9. Our lives would be better and our influence would be greater if we could learn to control our tongues

10. Rom. 1:29-30
[1] Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

11. [2] Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

12. Gal. 5:14-15
[1] For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
[2] But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

13. 2 Cor. 5:17
[17] Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

14. Proverbs 4:23
[23] Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

15. Mt. 5:33-37
[33] Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
[34] But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:…

16. [35] Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
[36] Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black…

17. [37] But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil

18. Our speech must be pure
Our speech must be understandable
It must be free from the influence of evil

19. It must involve a sense of responsibility to God

20. Mt. 12:34-35
[34] O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

21. [35] A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

22. It is sinful to speak against that which is sacred
Speech comes from the heart
Speech shows what is in the heart

23. Proverbs 13:3
[3] He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction (KJV)

24. Proverbs 13:3
He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life; But he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. (ASV)

25. Js. 3:2
[2] For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. (NASV)

26. Js. 3:6
[6] And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

27. When is one’s speech the wrong kind?

28. 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.

29. Corrupt = vulgar words – profanity – dirty stories or jokes – slander etc.

30. The Christian’s speech will edify or build up
It will meet the needs of the hearer
It will benefit those who listen

31. 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.

32. With grace = The Christian’s speech will always be designed to be a blessing to those who hear
With salt = it will seek to save and preserve

33. It will come from a heart that considers WHAT needs to be said and HOW it needs to be said