Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Speech is to be continually gracious in every place and relationship, in the home and in public, toward believers and those outside the faith. Graciousness means kind, pure, truthful and courteous words spoken in pleasant tones, seasoned with a preserving and sanctifying influence that refreshes, encourages and lifts minds to Christ and heavenly things. It shuts out harsh, sarcastic, angry and critical words, along with jesting, levity, flattery, faultfinding and careless irreverent talk. Such speech comes from Christ abiding in the heart by faith and the Holy Spirit shaping mind and lips through prayer and the Word, with Christ Himself as the pattern of timely, grace-filled words. From that inward life comes wisdom to answer every person fittingly, with tact, meekness and reverence, presenting truth convincingly yet lovingly so that words reveal character and exert a holy, saving influence.
Setting and Wording
The command to keep speech always gracious and wholesome belongs with continuing in prayer and watching with thanksgiving, and with walking wisely toward those outside the faith while making good use of time. It is part of being sanctified through the truth and working out salvation with fear and trembling, so that influence becomes saving. It calls for waiting, praying and watching in faith in order to bear testimony for God, and for knowing how to answer every person rightly with speech wisely suited to each one addressed. This answering rightly is kept by thinking only on what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy.
It is given for life in constant spiritual conflict, requiring watchfulness in words and actions. Reckless talk is censured, though Christian cheerfulness is not. Ministers of Christ must discipline themselves for warfare not merely against men but against Satan and his angels, with wisdom greater than that of generals in national battles, by becoming Bible students wholly given to the work, able in word and doctrine and acquainted with the Scriptures to give the reasons of the faith. Their gracious speech, seasoned with salt, means presenting strong convincing arguments not in a boisterous manner or as a perfect storm but with meekness and reverence toward God.
The word always means speech is to be continually gracious in every part of Christian life, in home life, in all dealings and intercourse with others, and in every line of Christian work. What is said in public carries special weight when it agrees with what is said in church, because the world watches conduct and speech makes a constant impression on those nearby, while careless or irreverent words undermine profession of faith. For leaders in the work this requires moving carefully and prayerfully, with Christ revealed in spirit, in words and in deportment. In correcting or advising others, words are to be spoken in love so they heal and reform rather than wound or provoke rebellion, with power supplied through the Holy Spirit. Ordinary conversation is to be cheerful and thankful without becoming frivolous, excluding joking, lightness and trifling, and is to use pleasant tones with pure and correct language and kind and courteous words, for sweet, kind words refresh the soul like dew and gentle showers.
Seasoned with salt means words carry a preserving, wholesome and sanctifying influence that can win others. It is defined as Christian courtesy and true elevation pervading the demeanor, with Christian courtesy and dignity shaping conduct. Christ’s love in the heart shapes spirit and manner, quells passionate impulses, and makes speech represent Christ to those known and sought for God. Staying connected with God by watching and praying lets the peace of God rule within, strengthening and softening the heart and making believers living representatives of Christ, giving labor vital power to arouse conscience, convict of sin and lead sinners to seek salvation. Those converted carry responsibility to bring truth into hearts, characters and speech, revealing the transforming grace of God’s Word by following Christ and speaking suitably and at the right times in daily dealings. This higher firmness of faith and completeness and consistency of character is required because professed believers are backsliding and unready for the soon coming of Jesus, and is reached through fasting and prayerful effort.
Marks of Gracious Speech
Gracious speech uses pleasant tones, pure and correct language, and kind and courteous words that minister grace to all who hear. It is to carry grace continually by habit in every line of Christian work, in home life and in all intercourse with one another. Sweet, kind words refresh the soul like dew and gentle showers, imparting grace to the hearer. The pattern is Christ, into whose lips grace was poured so He could speak a timely word to the weary.
Gracious speech is kind, courteous and pure in every part of Christian life, in the home and in all dealings with others. It shows kindness and courtesy even toward rough or difficult people, with words suited to each person addressed so as to know how to answer every one. Uprightness and sincerity do not excuse unkind words or manners. It blends compassion into all that is said because Christ is listening, revealing His character and His gentle and unassuming manners through those who partake of His nature as daily learners of Him, filling the atmosphere around the soul with spiritual life and upheld by prayer. It is part of letting light shine, reflecting the elevated character of Christ and showing sympathy and love beyond one's own family, helping others and living by God's Word. In correcting or advising, it speaks in love so as to heal and reform rather than wound or provoke rebellion, supplied by Christ through the Holy Spirit.
Gracious speech is modest, cheerful, thankful and encouraging, guided by Christian tact and sanctified judgment so as to answer each person fittingly. It represents Jesus, witnesses to the truth, blesses others, shows the Holy Spirit's influence and brings honor to God. It brings comfort both to speaker and hearers, reaching many hearts that bear unspoken trials, and it does not set aside needed words of caution and reproof but mingles even those with grace and love. Young and old are to be quick to hear what benefits the soul, restrained in speaking, cheerful and grateful for God's love, adorning Christian teaching by speech and conduct. It is cheerful without becoming frivolous, light or trifling, for joking, lightness and trifling are excluded as weakening solemn spiritual work and encouraging carelessness, while wise and instructive cheerfulness is retained.
Gracious speech is pure, truthful, simple and direct, building others up and ministering grace. It avoids jesting, trifling, unchaste, cheap or common talk, turning conversation toward heavenly things rather than the faults of others. Its inexhaustible theme is Jesus Christ and Him crucified, speaking freely of Jesus, His mercy, love and compassion, the Christian hope, the beauties of faith, and things true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report, bringing the precious things of the Gospel from the good treasure of a heart filled with the blessed hope, big with immortality and full of glory. Shaped by the effective grace of Bible truth as a precious gift for God's glory, it gives the message sacred beauty and carries peace and comfort to the needy and suffering, bringing the very best results.
Gracious speech is sound, generous, guarded, wise, dignified and carefully chosen, free from anything offensive, cheap, common, distrustful or unholy. It speaks truth, confesses Christ, and is fit to answer others, since harsh, unkind or unwise words harm others and bring condemnation in the final judgment. Guarded grace in speech with a demeanor showing Christian nobility and elevation is part of living by God's Word and a sign of Christian character, reflecting Christ and letting light shine. In the family it keeps a high standard and a pure, elevating atmosphere where no harsh, passionate, angry or trifling word is spoken, for such words grieve the Lord and hurt speaker and hearer and cannot enter the home above, while gracious words in the home are worth more than any earthly treasure. Such speech produces correct practices and reveals the brotherhood of Bible religion, requiring constant guard against unadvised words and daily private prayer for wisdom lest self-importance yield the talent of speech to satanic control.
Speech to Put Away
The verse rules out cold, critical, sarcastic, sharp, rasping, harsh, passionate and angry words, because such words hurt, wound, discourage and corrupt both speaker and hearers. Such speech is to be replaced by words always gracious and fitted to each person answered, spoken in love and joined with meekness and wisdom, since the way a person speaks reveals character and whether the conduct is Christlike. No harsh, passionate, angry or trifling word belongs in the Christian home, for every such word grieves the Lord Jesus and harms the heart of speaker and hearer, and nothing of that character has place in the home above. The unruly tongue must therefore be brought under divine control through daily private prayer for wisdom, lest self-importance surrender the talent of speech to the enemy and to satanic agencies, and evil thinking and evil speaking must be put away as leaven that breeds contention, alienation and strife. In family and church life this keeps a high standard and a pure, elevating atmosphere, produces correct practices, reveals the brotherhood of Bible religion, and requires constant guard against unadvised words.
The verse also excludes joking, jesting, lightness, trifling, levity, unprofitable and unchaste talk from ordinary conversation as well as solemn work. Such talk is not merely truthful speech gone astray but impure speech that fails to build up and minister grace, turning minds from Jesus, causing loss of His peace and joy and His presence in the company. Believers are instead to speak cheerfully and thankfully without becoming frivolous, simply, directly and truthfully, with thoughts directed to heavenly things and words carefully chosen. Speech exerts influence for or against the truth, so foolish joking, trifling talk and levity are to be avoided in order to answer each one well. On the Sabbath, even while traveling, words are to honor God and reflect devotion rather than being perverse, light, jovial or trifling.
Flattery has no place in counseling, exhorting and reproving, for it feeds self-esteem and vanity, perverts the mind, works against meekness and humility, and has proved a curse as Satan's work. Ministers and all who visit house to house to learn the spiritual condition of all must live near to God so they can counsel, exhort and reprove carefully and with wisdom, with grace in the heart and God's glory in view. Their conversation is to be heavenly and gracious, excluding all lightness, trifling and flattery, while faithful reproof is to be prized.
The verse forbids words that disparage fellow workers and forbids speaking as if those bearing administrative responsibility are at fault for turning means into the wrong channel. Accusing those who carry responsibilities displeases God, injures the speaker's own influence, hedges up the speaker's own way in the end, and creates breach and division between brethren. Obedience therefore requires sound judgment that preserves unity, with speech always gracious and well chosen and free from accusations and criticism. In the missionary spirit it likewise forbids tattling, faultfinding, judging and condemning, requiring instead lips educated to place the light of truth as fully as possible before every soul, especially training the young to speak clearly and distinctly rather than mumbling and to rehearse lessons until they can be spoken rightly.
Careless, irreverent, perverse and unadvised words are forbidden, especially when many are together, in public, on the Sabbath and while traveling, where religion must not be laid aside. Careless talking, jesting and visiting with no reference to the Redeemer causes Jesus to be forgotten and left behind, and angels who do His commands also withdraw, leaving gloom, grief, discouragement and loss of light, peace and joy. To retain Jesus every moment, words must be chosen and seasoned with grace and thoughts controlled to meditate on heavenly and divine things, at worship and on the way home, with lips kept from perverse talk and speech kept pure and holy instead of light, jovial and trifling through extra determined effort. What is said in public carries special weight when it agrees with what is said in church, for the world watches conduct and speech makes a constant impression, so careless or irreverent words undermine profession of faith. Words lacking grace, especially when reinforced by bad example, can lead young people into temptation. Those who lose Christ in this way must spend days in sorrowful returning and searching, and often blame others or God when the fault is their own for driving the heavenly Guest away by a careless, irreverent spirit and lack of meditation, watchfulness and prayer.
The verse forbids correcting others by attacking what are regarded as wrong habits, watching others to point out faults and errors, and arousing combativeness. In association with unbelievers the tongue is instead to convince and persuade, to offer prayer and praise, and to convey rich thoughts of the Redeemer's love, sowing seeds of truth through earnest, tactful effort that directs the mind to true principles. Influence is to come by example — self-denial, victory over appetite, temperance, clearness of mind to discern spiritual things, and a life bearing witness to the sanctifying, ennobling influence of truth. Speech to those diseased in body and mind must not be censuring, for few who have moved in worldly society and view things from a worldly standpoint are prepared to have plain facts about themselves set before them. Even truth is not to be spoken at all times, but kept for the fit time and opportunity when words will not offend.
Inner Source of Speech
The pattern for gracious speech is Christ Himself, into whose lips grace was poured so that He could speak a timely word to the weary. Gracious speech comes from Christ abiding in the soul by faith, with His love shaping the spirit and manner and quelling passionate impulses so that words become a sanctifying, preserving influence that can win others. It is learned daily from Christ as the great Teacher, by partaking of His nature, walking with God, and revealing His Spirit and gentle, unassuming manners in every association, at home and in all dealings with others. Those who are converted in this way carry the responsibility to bring truth into heart, character, and speech, speaking suitably and at the right time and thereby revealing the transforming grace of the Word.
Such speech is shaped by the Holy Spirit and upheld by prayer, for Christ supplies through the Spirit the power needed to speak in love so that correction heals and reforms rather than wounds or provokes rebellion. Christ brought from the closet of private prayer into daily life stands guard at the door of the lips, guards the lips, teaches thinking before speaking, and puts away careless, rough, and discourteous words until gracious speech becomes a habit that brings comfort. Prayer upholds this gracious conversation because Christ is listening to what is said, blending compassion into all that is spoken and filling the atmosphere surrounding the soul with spiritual life. Gracious conversation under the Spirit therefore includes modesty, cheerfulness, thankfulness, and words that represent Jesus, witness to truth, bless others, and bring honor to God.
Gracious speech comes from a pure mind elevated by the truth of God and fixed on Christ and heaven, with the thoughts of the heart disciplined to dwell upon heavenly things. When minds dwell aright the conversation is upon exalted themes — His mercy, love, and compassion — and gives evidence of contemplation of Christ and heaven, showing education in the school of the divine Teacher and giving wisdom to answer wisely even those outside the faith. By contrast, undirected minds produce cheap, earthy, profitless talk that savors not of truth or heaven and falls below even cultured worldly standards. Careless talking, jesting, and trifling turn minds from Jesus, distract from His presence, and grieve Him away, causing loss of His peace and joy and leaving darkness and suffering of mind whose fault lies in self.
Seasoned speech proves that accepted truth has become a firm principle controlling speech and demeanor, with the heart drawn out in sympathy and love for others outside one's own family and with scriptural truth diligently sought with clearer understanding in order to give light to others. It comes from a heart cleansed and made holy, its spirit sweetened by the influence of Christ's life, with genuine inward humility appearing outwardly in gracious words and with the demeanor showing Christian elevation. Those who know they can do nothing without Christ will by faith claim much and receive the Holy Spirit and deep love. Sharp speeches, quick temper, and unadvised, unsanctified speech do the opposite: they misrepresent Christ, put Him to shame, dishonor the Christian name, and corrupt both speaker and hearers. Those who retain such speech need conversion and complete cleansing by faith, growing into the likeness and beauty of His character, for only holy conversation in purity of heart and life, clothed with Christ's righteousness, imbued with His Spirit, and walking even as He walked, will stand the test and be found ready when the Master reckons, when self-righteousness will be of no avail and unsanctified characters cannot enter heaven.
Knowing How to Answer
The verse promises practical wisdom to answer every person fittingly, with Christian tact, sanctified judgment and meekness, giving each one an appropriate reply that blesses, comforts and keeps a clear conscience. Gracious conversation for this answering is modest, cheerful, thankful, kind and courteous even toward rough or difficult people, representing Jesus and witnessing to the truth, showing the influence of the Holy Spirit and bringing honor to God. Uprightness and sincerity never excuse unkind words or manners, and cold, critical, sarcastic, sharp or rasping words that hurt and discourage are rejected as contrary to a spirit shaped by Christ's love. A mind kept focused on Christ and upheld by prayer brings words about His mercy, love and compassion, and God gives wisdom to speak well to those outside the faith.
Knowing how to answer requires not only reading the Word of life but prayerfully studying it, then imparting the light received so others become interested in studying the Scriptures themselves and presenting truth and reasons for the faith to unbelievers in the right manner. Ministers of Christ must discipline themselves for warfare against Satan and his angels, not merely against men, with greater wisdom than generals in national battles, by becoming Bible students wholly given to the work, able in word and doctrine and acquainted with the Scriptures to give the reasons of the faith. Their strong, convincing arguments must convince not in a boisterous manner or with a perfect storm, not contentious, but always gracious and measured, with meekness and reverence and fear of God, even when instructing opposers of the truth.
Knowing how to answer requires living near to God to learn the spiritual condition of all, as in visiting from house to house to talk with every member of the family whether professing truth or not, so as to counsel, exhort and reprove carefully and with wisdom, with the grace of God in the heart and the glory of God constantly in view. Speech is a God-given means of conveying truth and the knowledge souls need, to be kept in harmony with sacred truth both in and outside the pulpit, spoken suitably and at the right time from hearts filled with love and daily communion with Christ, revealing the transforming grace of God's Word. Those converted carry responsibility to bring truth into people's hearts, characters and speech, and by sincere, persistent effort to help save souls, learning to communicate sacred truth with convincing power. This follows Christ's own example when continually watched by spies laying traps with questions to condemn Him, yet His answers presented truth with power and confounded them.
Knowing how to answer requires a missionary spirit that educates the lips, especially of the young, to be modest and restrained in speaking, quick to hear what benefits the soul, and ready to speak to represent Jesus, witness to the truth and adorn Christian teaching. Words must be fitted to stand before people by learning to speak clearly and distinctly rather than mumbling, rehearsing lessons until they can be spoken rightly, placing the light of truth as fully as possible before every soul in connection with believers, while tattling, faultfinding, judging and condemning are forbidden. The call for grace does not set aside needed words of caution and reproof, but even those words are to be mingled with grace and love, always encouraging, kind and cheerful, bringing comfort to speaker and hearers including many who bear unspoken trials. Words should speak truth, confess Christ, and be marked by wisdom and purity and fitness to answer others, since harsh, unkind or unwise words harm others and bring condemnation in the final judgment.
Practice and Saving Influence
In the home the talent of speech is to honor the Saviour, with generous, gracious, Christlike words that are worth more than any earthly treasure, spoken in pleasant tones with pure and correct language as dew and gentle showers to the soul. Parents are to reflect Christ in words and actions so children see they walk with the Saviour, keeping a high standard and a pure, elevating atmosphere where no harsh, passionate, angry, trifling, or wounding word is spoken. Such words grieve the Lord Jesus and hurt both speaker and hearer, and nothing of that character finds place in the home above. The unruly tongue must be brought under God's control through daily private prayer for wisdom, lest self-importance yield speech to the enemy and to satanic agencies. Evil thinking and evil speaking are to be put away as leaven that produces contention, alienation, and strife, and in correcting or advising others words are to be spoken in love so they heal and reform rather than wound or provoke rebellion.
In the church and among brethren speech is to be always with grace and carefully chosen, so it blesses and comforts and helps keep a clear conscience. Compassion for one another is to be blended into all that is said because Christ is listening to the words spoken, thereby revealing His character and His gentle and unassuming manners. As followers partake of His nature by being daily learners of the great Teacher, the atmosphere surrounding the soul becomes filled with spiritual life, upheld by prayer. Words are to reflect Christ's character and grace and wisdom in every association, including at home and with patients and students, so they strengthen others and leave the fragrance of good words rather than a record of sin.
In ministry those who visit from house to house are to talk with every member of the family whether professing truth or not and learn the spiritual condition of all, living near to God so they can counsel, exhort, and reprove carefully and with wisdom. Their conversation is to be heavenly and gracious, coming from hearts filled with love and from daily communion with Christ, with the grace of God in the heart and the glory of God constantly in view. Lightness, trifling, and flattery have no place in it, for flattery is Satan's work that feeds self-esteem and vanity, perverts the mind, works against meekness and humility, and has proved a curse, while faithful reproof is more to be prized. Leaders in the work are to move carefully and prayerfully, with Christ revealed in spirit, in words, and in deportment, and sincere, persistent, earnest, loving efforts are to aim at saving souls.
In canvassing and missionary work speech sanctified by the Holy Spirit is a most precious gift and a power for good to convince and persuade, to offer prayer and praise to God, and to convey rich thoughts of the Redeemer's love. By right use the canvasser sows the precious seeds of truth in many hearts, directing the mind to true principles rather than correcting others by attacking supposed wrong habits, watching to point out faults and errors, and arousing combativeness. Teaching is by example, letting self-denial, victory over appetite, temperance, clearness of mind to discern spiritual things, and a life bearing witness to the sanctifying, ennobling influence of truth give influence upon others rather than by contention.
Select gracious speech with thoughts controlled to heavenly and divine things retains Jesus and His peace and joy moment by moment, at worship and on the way home, kept with watching, meditation, and prayer. Careless talking, jesting, visiting, and conversation with no reference to the Redeemer in whom hopes of eternal life are centered turns minds from Jesus, causes Him to be forgotten and left behind, and grieves away the heavenly Guest so the hearer returns no better than before. Jesus will not be found in the company of those careless of His presence but shuns such company, and the angels who do His commands also withdraw and are driven away. The result is loss of all that is valuable, loss of light, peace and joy, with gloom, mourning, grief, discouragement, and darkness and suffering of mind, and those who lose Him must spend days in sorrowful returning and searching. The fault lies in self through a careless, irreverent spirit and lack of meditation, watchfulness, and prayer, though often others or God are blamed and murmured against when the lack is in themselves.
Speech reveals character and belongs to a life growing in grace and knowledge of the truth and living by God's Word, guarded and marked by grace with Christian nobility, and thoughtfully suited to each person answered with meekness and wisdom. It is to agree continually with profession of faith and minister to others, letting light shine before men so they see good works and glorify the Father, with the inexhaustible theme of Jesus Christ and Him crucified freely spoken from the good treasure of a heart filled with the blessed hope, big with immortality and full of glory, which cannot be dumb. Unprofitable conversation is to be put away, and influence used to bless others and lift their minds toward eternal things, exerting a holy influence. Grace in words is itself convincing evidence of what truth has done in the soul, for through such kindness and graceful behavior the Lord and angels impress human minds with sacred truth so that many submit to the sweet influences of the Spirit of God.
Words matter because the world watches conduct and speech makes a constant impression on those nearby, with special weight on what is said in public when it agrees with what is said in church, since careless or irreverent words undermine profession of faith. Grace is to season speech while holy unction pervades prayer, and Christ's meekness shapes conversation.
Speech is to be continually gracious in every place and relationship, in the home and in public, toward believers and those outside the faith. Graciousness means kind, pure, truthful and courteous words spoken in pleasant tones, seasoned with a preserving and sanctifying influence that refreshes, encourages and lifts minds to Christ and heavenly things. It shuts out harsh, sarcastic, angry and critical words, along with jesting, levity, flattery, faultfinding and careless irreverent talk. Such speech comes from Christ abiding in the heart by faith and the Holy Spirit shaping mind and lips through prayer and the Word, with Christ Himself as the pattern of timely, grace-filled words. From that inward life comes wisdom to answer every person fittingly, with tact, meekness and reverence, presenting truth convincingly yet lovingly so that words reveal character and exert a holy, saving influence.
Setting and Wording
The command to keep speech always gracious and wholesome belongs with continuing in prayer and watching with thanksgiving, and with walking wisely toward those outside the faith while making good use of time. It is part of being sanctified through the truth and working out salvation with fear and trembling, so that influence becomes saving. It calls for waiting, praying and watching in faith in order to bear testimony for God, and for knowing how to answer every person rightly with speech wisely suited to each one addressed. This answering rightly is kept by thinking only on what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy.
It is given for life in constant spiritual conflict, requiring watchfulness in words and actions. Reckless talk is censured, though Christian cheerfulness is not. Ministers of Christ must discipline themselves for warfare not merely against men but against Satan and his angels, with wisdom greater than that of generals in national battles, by becoming Bible students wholly given to the work, able in word and doctrine and acquainted with the Scriptures to give the reasons of the faith. Their gracious speech, seasoned with salt, means presenting strong convincing arguments not in a boisterous manner or as a perfect storm but with meekness and reverence toward God.
The word always means speech is to be continually gracious in every part of Christian life, in home life, in all dealings and intercourse with others, and in every line of Christian work. What is said in public carries special weight when it agrees with what is said in church, because the world watches conduct and speech makes a constant impression on those nearby, while careless or irreverent words undermine profession of faith. For leaders in the work this requires moving carefully and prayerfully, with Christ revealed in spirit, in words and in deportment. In correcting or advising others, words are to be spoken in love so they heal and reform rather than wound or provoke rebellion, with power supplied through the Holy Spirit. Ordinary conversation is to be cheerful and thankful without becoming frivolous, excluding joking, lightness and trifling, and is to use pleasant tones with pure and correct language and kind and courteous words, for sweet, kind words refresh the soul like dew and gentle showers.
Seasoned with salt means words carry a preserving, wholesome and sanctifying influence that can win others. It is defined as Christian courtesy and true elevation pervading the demeanor, with Christian courtesy and dignity shaping conduct. Christ’s love in the heart shapes spirit and manner, quells passionate impulses, and makes speech represent Christ to those known and sought for God. Staying connected with God by watching and praying lets the peace of God rule within, strengthening and softening the heart and making believers living representatives of Christ, giving labor vital power to arouse conscience, convict of sin and lead sinners to seek salvation. Those converted carry responsibility to bring truth into hearts, characters and speech, revealing the transforming grace of God’s Word by following Christ and speaking suitably and at the right times in daily dealings. This higher firmness of faith and completeness and consistency of character is required because professed believers are backsliding and unready for the soon coming of Jesus, and is reached through fasting and prayerful effort.
Marks of Gracious Speech
Gracious speech uses pleasant tones, pure and correct language, and kind and courteous words that minister grace to all who hear. It is to carry grace continually by habit in every line of Christian work, in home life and in all intercourse with one another. Sweet, kind words refresh the soul like dew and gentle showers, imparting grace to the hearer. The pattern is Christ, into whose lips grace was poured so He could speak a timely word to the weary.
Gracious speech is kind, courteous and pure in every part of Christian life, in the home and in all dealings with others. It shows kindness and courtesy even toward rough or difficult people, with words suited to each person addressed so as to know how to answer every one. Uprightness and sincerity do not excuse unkind words or manners. It blends compassion into all that is said because Christ is listening, revealing His character and His gentle and unassuming manners through those who partake of His nature as daily learners of Him, filling the atmosphere around the soul with spiritual life and upheld by prayer. It is part of letting light shine, reflecting the elevated character of Christ and showing sympathy and love beyond one's own family, helping others and living by God's Word. In correcting or advising, it speaks in love so as to heal and reform rather than wound or provoke rebellion, supplied by Christ through the Holy Spirit.
Gracious speech is modest, cheerful, thankful and encouraging, guided by Christian tact and sanctified judgment so as to answer each person fittingly. It represents Jesus, witnesses to the truth, blesses others, shows the Holy Spirit's influence and brings honor to God. It brings comfort both to speaker and hearers, reaching many hearts that bear unspoken trials, and it does not set aside needed words of caution and reproof but mingles even those with grace and love. Young and old are to be quick to hear what benefits the soul, restrained in speaking, cheerful and grateful for God's love, adorning Christian teaching by speech and conduct. It is cheerful without becoming frivolous, light or trifling, for joking, lightness and trifling are excluded as weakening solemn spiritual work and encouraging carelessness, while wise and instructive cheerfulness is retained.
Gracious speech is pure, truthful, simple and direct, building others up and ministering grace. It avoids jesting, trifling, unchaste, cheap or common talk, turning conversation toward heavenly things rather than the faults of others. Its inexhaustible theme is Jesus Christ and Him crucified, speaking freely of Jesus, His mercy, love and compassion, the Christian hope, the beauties of faith, and things true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report, bringing the precious things of the Gospel from the good treasure of a heart filled with the blessed hope, big with immortality and full of glory. Shaped by the effective grace of Bible truth as a precious gift for God's glory, it gives the message sacred beauty and carries peace and comfort to the needy and suffering, bringing the very best results.
Gracious speech is sound, generous, guarded, wise, dignified and carefully chosen, free from anything offensive, cheap, common, distrustful or unholy. It speaks truth, confesses Christ, and is fit to answer others, since harsh, unkind or unwise words harm others and bring condemnation in the final judgment. Guarded grace in speech with a demeanor showing Christian nobility and elevation is part of living by God's Word and a sign of Christian character, reflecting Christ and letting light shine. In the family it keeps a high standard and a pure, elevating atmosphere where no harsh, passionate, angry or trifling word is spoken, for such words grieve the Lord and hurt speaker and hearer and cannot enter the home above, while gracious words in the home are worth more than any earthly treasure. Such speech produces correct practices and reveals the brotherhood of Bible religion, requiring constant guard against unadvised words and daily private prayer for wisdom lest self-importance yield the talent of speech to satanic control.
Speech to Put Away
The verse rules out cold, critical, sarcastic, sharp, rasping, harsh, passionate and angry words, because such words hurt, wound, discourage and corrupt both speaker and hearers. Such speech is to be replaced by words always gracious and fitted to each person answered, spoken in love and joined with meekness and wisdom, since the way a person speaks reveals character and whether the conduct is Christlike. No harsh, passionate, angry or trifling word belongs in the Christian home, for every such word grieves the Lord Jesus and harms the heart of speaker and hearer, and nothing of that character has place in the home above. The unruly tongue must therefore be brought under divine control through daily private prayer for wisdom, lest self-importance surrender the talent of speech to the enemy and to satanic agencies, and evil thinking and evil speaking must be put away as leaven that breeds contention, alienation and strife. In family and church life this keeps a high standard and a pure, elevating atmosphere, produces correct practices, reveals the brotherhood of Bible religion, and requires constant guard against unadvised words.
The verse also excludes joking, jesting, lightness, trifling, levity, unprofitable and unchaste talk from ordinary conversation as well as solemn work. Such talk is not merely truthful speech gone astray but impure speech that fails to build up and minister grace, turning minds from Jesus, causing loss of His peace and joy and His presence in the company. Believers are instead to speak cheerfully and thankfully without becoming frivolous, simply, directly and truthfully, with thoughts directed to heavenly things and words carefully chosen. Speech exerts influence for or against the truth, so foolish joking, trifling talk and levity are to be avoided in order to answer each one well. On the Sabbath, even while traveling, words are to honor God and reflect devotion rather than being perverse, light, jovial or trifling.
Flattery has no place in counseling, exhorting and reproving, for it feeds self-esteem and vanity, perverts the mind, works against meekness and humility, and has proved a curse as Satan's work. Ministers and all who visit house to house to learn the spiritual condition of all must live near to God so they can counsel, exhort and reprove carefully and with wisdom, with grace in the heart and God's glory in view. Their conversation is to be heavenly and gracious, excluding all lightness, trifling and flattery, while faithful reproof is to be prized.
The verse forbids words that disparage fellow workers and forbids speaking as if those bearing administrative responsibility are at fault for turning means into the wrong channel. Accusing those who carry responsibilities displeases God, injures the speaker's own influence, hedges up the speaker's own way in the end, and creates breach and division between brethren. Obedience therefore requires sound judgment that preserves unity, with speech always gracious and well chosen and free from accusations and criticism. In the missionary spirit it likewise forbids tattling, faultfinding, judging and condemning, requiring instead lips educated to place the light of truth as fully as possible before every soul, especially training the young to speak clearly and distinctly rather than mumbling and to rehearse lessons until they can be spoken rightly.
Careless, irreverent, perverse and unadvised words are forbidden, especially when many are together, in public, on the Sabbath and while traveling, where religion must not be laid aside. Careless talking, jesting and visiting with no reference to the Redeemer causes Jesus to be forgotten and left behind, and angels who do His commands also withdraw, leaving gloom, grief, discouragement and loss of light, peace and joy. To retain Jesus every moment, words must be chosen and seasoned with grace and thoughts controlled to meditate on heavenly and divine things, at worship and on the way home, with lips kept from perverse talk and speech kept pure and holy instead of light, jovial and trifling through extra determined effort. What is said in public carries special weight when it agrees with what is said in church, for the world watches conduct and speech makes a constant impression, so careless or irreverent words undermine profession of faith. Words lacking grace, especially when reinforced by bad example, can lead young people into temptation. Those who lose Christ in this way must spend days in sorrowful returning and searching, and often blame others or God when the fault is their own for driving the heavenly Guest away by a careless, irreverent spirit and lack of meditation, watchfulness and prayer.
The verse forbids correcting others by attacking what are regarded as wrong habits, watching others to point out faults and errors, and arousing combativeness. In association with unbelievers the tongue is instead to convince and persuade, to offer prayer and praise, and to convey rich thoughts of the Redeemer's love, sowing seeds of truth through earnest, tactful effort that directs the mind to true principles. Influence is to come by example — self-denial, victory over appetite, temperance, clearness of mind to discern spiritual things, and a life bearing witness to the sanctifying, ennobling influence of truth. Speech to those diseased in body and mind must not be censuring, for few who have moved in worldly society and view things from a worldly standpoint are prepared to have plain facts about themselves set before them. Even truth is not to be spoken at all times, but kept for the fit time and opportunity when words will not offend.
Inner Source of Speech
The pattern for gracious speech is Christ Himself, into whose lips grace was poured so that He could speak a timely word to the weary. Gracious speech comes from Christ abiding in the soul by faith, with His love shaping the spirit and manner and quelling passionate impulses so that words become a sanctifying, preserving influence that can win others. It is learned daily from Christ as the great Teacher, by partaking of His nature, walking with God, and revealing His Spirit and gentle, unassuming manners in every association, at home and in all dealings with others. Those who are converted in this way carry the responsibility to bring truth into heart, character, and speech, speaking suitably and at the right time and thereby revealing the transforming grace of the Word.
Such speech is shaped by the Holy Spirit and upheld by prayer, for Christ supplies through the Spirit the power needed to speak in love so that correction heals and reforms rather than wounds or provokes rebellion. Christ brought from the closet of private prayer into daily life stands guard at the door of the lips, guards the lips, teaches thinking before speaking, and puts away careless, rough, and discourteous words until gracious speech becomes a habit that brings comfort. Prayer upholds this gracious conversation because Christ is listening to what is said, blending compassion into all that is spoken and filling the atmosphere surrounding the soul with spiritual life. Gracious conversation under the Spirit therefore includes modesty, cheerfulness, thankfulness, and words that represent Jesus, witness to truth, bless others, and bring honor to God.
Gracious speech comes from a pure mind elevated by the truth of God and fixed on Christ and heaven, with the thoughts of the heart disciplined to dwell upon heavenly things. When minds dwell aright the conversation is upon exalted themes — His mercy, love, and compassion — and gives evidence of contemplation of Christ and heaven, showing education in the school of the divine Teacher and giving wisdom to answer wisely even those outside the faith. By contrast, undirected minds produce cheap, earthy, profitless talk that savors not of truth or heaven and falls below even cultured worldly standards. Careless talking, jesting, and trifling turn minds from Jesus, distract from His presence, and grieve Him away, causing loss of His peace and joy and leaving darkness and suffering of mind whose fault lies in self.
Seasoned speech proves that accepted truth has become a firm principle controlling speech and demeanor, with the heart drawn out in sympathy and love for others outside one's own family and with scriptural truth diligently sought with clearer understanding in order to give light to others. It comes from a heart cleansed and made holy, its spirit sweetened by the influence of Christ's life, with genuine inward humility appearing outwardly in gracious words and with the demeanor showing Christian elevation. Those who know they can do nothing without Christ will by faith claim much and receive the Holy Spirit and deep love. Sharp speeches, quick temper, and unadvised, unsanctified speech do the opposite: they misrepresent Christ, put Him to shame, dishonor the Christian name, and corrupt both speaker and hearers. Those who retain such speech need conversion and complete cleansing by faith, growing into the likeness and beauty of His character, for only holy conversation in purity of heart and life, clothed with Christ's righteousness, imbued with His Spirit, and walking even as He walked, will stand the test and be found ready when the Master reckons, when self-righteousness will be of no avail and unsanctified characters cannot enter heaven.
Knowing How to Answer
The verse promises practical wisdom to answer every person fittingly, with Christian tact, sanctified judgment and meekness, giving each one an appropriate reply that blesses, comforts and keeps a clear conscience. Gracious conversation for this answering is modest, cheerful, thankful, kind and courteous even toward rough or difficult people, representing Jesus and witnessing to the truth, showing the influence of the Holy Spirit and bringing honor to God. Uprightness and sincerity never excuse unkind words or manners, and cold, critical, sarcastic, sharp or rasping words that hurt and discourage are rejected as contrary to a spirit shaped by Christ's love. A mind kept focused on Christ and upheld by prayer brings words about His mercy, love and compassion, and God gives wisdom to speak well to those outside the faith.
Knowing how to answer requires not only reading the Word of life but prayerfully studying it, then imparting the light received so others become interested in studying the Scriptures themselves and presenting truth and reasons for the faith to unbelievers in the right manner. Ministers of Christ must discipline themselves for warfare against Satan and his angels, not merely against men, with greater wisdom than generals in national battles, by becoming Bible students wholly given to the work, able in word and doctrine and acquainted with the Scriptures to give the reasons of the faith. Their strong, convincing arguments must convince not in a boisterous manner or with a perfect storm, not contentious, but always gracious and measured, with meekness and reverence and fear of God, even when instructing opposers of the truth.
Knowing how to answer requires living near to God to learn the spiritual condition of all, as in visiting from house to house to talk with every member of the family whether professing truth or not, so as to counsel, exhort and reprove carefully and with wisdom, with the grace of God in the heart and the glory of God constantly in view. Speech is a God-given means of conveying truth and the knowledge souls need, to be kept in harmony with sacred truth both in and outside the pulpit, spoken suitably and at the right time from hearts filled with love and daily communion with Christ, revealing the transforming grace of God's Word. Those converted carry responsibility to bring truth into people's hearts, characters and speech, and by sincere, persistent effort to help save souls, learning to communicate sacred truth with convincing power. This follows Christ's own example when continually watched by spies laying traps with questions to condemn Him, yet His answers presented truth with power and confounded them.
Knowing how to answer requires a missionary spirit that educates the lips, especially of the young, to be modest and restrained in speaking, quick to hear what benefits the soul, and ready to speak to represent Jesus, witness to the truth and adorn Christian teaching. Words must be fitted to stand before people by learning to speak clearly and distinctly rather than mumbling, rehearsing lessons until they can be spoken rightly, placing the light of truth as fully as possible before every soul in connection with believers, while tattling, faultfinding, judging and condemning are forbidden. The call for grace does not set aside needed words of caution and reproof, but even those words are to be mingled with grace and love, always encouraging, kind and cheerful, bringing comfort to speaker and hearers including many who bear unspoken trials. Words should speak truth, confess Christ, and be marked by wisdom and purity and fitness to answer others, since harsh, unkind or unwise words harm others and bring condemnation in the final judgment.
Practice and Saving Influence
In the home the talent of speech is to honor the Saviour, with generous, gracious, Christlike words that are worth more than any earthly treasure, spoken in pleasant tones with pure and correct language as dew and gentle showers to the soul. Parents are to reflect Christ in words and actions so children see they walk with the Saviour, keeping a high standard and a pure, elevating atmosphere where no harsh, passionate, angry, trifling, or wounding word is spoken. Such words grieve the Lord Jesus and hurt both speaker and hearer, and nothing of that character finds place in the home above. The unruly tongue must be brought under God's control through daily private prayer for wisdom, lest self-importance yield speech to the enemy and to satanic agencies. Evil thinking and evil speaking are to be put away as leaven that produces contention, alienation, and strife, and in correcting or advising others words are to be spoken in love so they heal and reform rather than wound or provoke rebellion.
In the church and among brethren speech is to be always with grace and carefully chosen, so it blesses and comforts and helps keep a clear conscience. Compassion for one another is to be blended into all that is said because Christ is listening to the words spoken, thereby revealing His character and His gentle and unassuming manners. As followers partake of His nature by being daily learners of the great Teacher, the atmosphere surrounding the soul becomes filled with spiritual life, upheld by prayer. Words are to reflect Christ's character and grace and wisdom in every association, including at home and with patients and students, so they strengthen others and leave the fragrance of good words rather than a record of sin.
In ministry those who visit from house to house are to talk with every member of the family whether professing truth or not and learn the spiritual condition of all, living near to God so they can counsel, exhort, and reprove carefully and with wisdom. Their conversation is to be heavenly and gracious, coming from hearts filled with love and from daily communion with Christ, with the grace of God in the heart and the glory of God constantly in view. Lightness, trifling, and flattery have no place in it, for flattery is Satan's work that feeds self-esteem and vanity, perverts the mind, works against meekness and humility, and has proved a curse, while faithful reproof is more to be prized. Leaders in the work are to move carefully and prayerfully, with Christ revealed in spirit, in words, and in deportment, and sincere, persistent, earnest, loving efforts are to aim at saving souls.
In canvassing and missionary work speech sanctified by the Holy Spirit is a most precious gift and a power for good to convince and persuade, to offer prayer and praise to God, and to convey rich thoughts of the Redeemer's love. By right use the canvasser sows the precious seeds of truth in many hearts, directing the mind to true principles rather than correcting others by attacking supposed wrong habits, watching to point out faults and errors, and arousing combativeness. Teaching is by example, letting self-denial, victory over appetite, temperance, clearness of mind to discern spiritual things, and a life bearing witness to the sanctifying, ennobling influence of truth give influence upon others rather than by contention.
Select gracious speech with thoughts controlled to heavenly and divine things retains Jesus and His peace and joy moment by moment, at worship and on the way home, kept with watching, meditation, and prayer. Careless talking, jesting, visiting, and conversation with no reference to the Redeemer in whom hopes of eternal life are centered turns minds from Jesus, causes Him to be forgotten and left behind, and grieves away the heavenly Guest so the hearer returns no better than before. Jesus will not be found in the company of those careless of His presence but shuns such company, and the angels who do His commands also withdraw and are driven away. The result is loss of all that is valuable, loss of light, peace and joy, with gloom, mourning, grief, discouragement, and darkness and suffering of mind, and those who lose Him must spend days in sorrowful returning and searching. The fault lies in self through a careless, irreverent spirit and lack of meditation, watchfulness, and prayer, though often others or God are blamed and murmured against when the lack is in themselves.
Speech reveals character and belongs to a life growing in grace and knowledge of the truth and living by God's Word, guarded and marked by grace with Christian nobility, and thoughtfully suited to each person answered with meekness and wisdom. It is to agree continually with profession of faith and minister to others, letting light shine before men so they see good works and glorify the Father, with the inexhaustible theme of Jesus Christ and Him crucified freely spoken from the good treasure of a heart filled with the blessed hope, big with immortality and full of glory, which cannot be dumb. Unprofitable conversation is to be put away, and influence used to bless others and lift their minds toward eternal things, exerting a holy influence. Grace in words is itself convincing evidence of what truth has done in the soul, for through such kindness and graceful behavior the Lord and angels impress human minds with sacred truth so that many submit to the sweet influences of the Spirit of God.
Words matter because the world watches conduct and speech makes a constant impression on those nearby, with special weight on what is said in public when it agrees with what is said in church, since careless or irreverent words undermine profession of faith. Grace is to season speech while holy unction pervades prayer, and Christ's meekness shapes conversation.