Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Ephesians 5:4 forbids filthy, foolish and jesting speech as unfitting and improper for saints, and requires thankful speech in its place. It belongs to the call to follow God as dear children and walk in love as Christ gave Himself in sacrifice, putting away fornication, uncleanness and covetousness that shut a person out of God's kingdom. The forbidden talk includes lightness, joking, trifling, idle and frivolous words, gossip, low wit, making sport of others and making sacred things a jest, while Christian cheerfulness, sober-minded peace and refreshing recreation are not condemned. Such speech offends God, denies Christ and grieves the Holy Spirit, leaving the soul barren and weak in faith, unfitting the mind for prayer and serious work, and hindering witness by turning minds from sacred subjects. Therefore ministers, publishing workers, teachers and youth, households and gatherings are to put away jesting, levity and careless laughter, and instead speak gracious, sound and cheerful words of praise, wisdom and instruction that honor God and lead others to Christ.
Words and Immediate Context
Filthy impurity, empty foolish talk, and coarse jesting are unfitting, improper, and out of place for holy people, and thanksgiving belongs in their place. Indecent speech and improper joking do not fit the life of those who follow God, and grateful speech is to take their place.
This standard belongs to following God as beloved children and walking in love as Christ gave Himself as an offering and sweet-smelling sacrifice, letting no sexual immorality, uncleanness, or covetousness even once be named among saints. Unclean and unfit speech and joking are to be kept from even being named among them, and impurity and covetousness shut a person out from inheriting God's kingdom. The higher standard set here leads to wisdom that results in salvation.
The instruction of the chapter is to be practiced and not merely read, by studying the whole chapter, opening the heart to the grace of Christ, and being filled with pure, clean, sanctified, Christlike love that is not lost out of humanity. That life comes only by the indwelling and co-working of divinity, becoming perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect, for without Christ nothing can be done. The door of the heart must be opened to let Jesus in as Worker as well as Lawgiver, with believers as laborers together with God, His field and His building. This holy life is practical medical missionary work that testifies to the sanctifying power of truth upon human minds, honoring God and showing the world thankfulness for the great goodness of the heavenly Father.
The ban reaches foolish acting as well as foolish speech, which are sin unfitting for saints. Every person is personally responsible before God to overcome them and put them away. The same standard restrains accusations and harmful speech toward fellow believers, along with anger, malice, and every other form of evil speaking.
Forbidden and Thankful Speech
Lightness, jesting, joking, trifling, idle, frivolous and foolish talk are condemned as unfitting, improper and not convenient for Christians and are to be put away as hindrances to growth. Such speech can leave the soul barren and bring loss of divine favor, calling especially the young to sobriety and to use words and actions to lead others to the Saviour and to encourage believers to walk more closely with Him. Evil, idle, unkind and untruthful words joined with foolish talking and jesting deny Christ, whereas speech should reflect His indwelling presence. Recreation itself should refresh and strengthen, elevate associates and fit people for faithful duty and interest in God and heavenly things, not weaken duty through frivolous talk. For a minister such jesting, trifling and idle talk, especially frivolous conversation after preaching, undermines the sermon, treats sacred truths as common and is unfit for his calling.
The condemned speech includes low wit, vain talk, silly laughter, gossip and common chit-chat, stale jokes and trifling conversation, much relating of stories and personal exploits, and harsh and sour speech toward employees and seekers for counsel. It includes making sport of individuals, imitating words spoken in religious meetings, making sacred things the subject of jest, severely criticizing young men and women, and dwelling on courtship and marriage in a low manner. Joking, jesting and careless laughter are especially unfitting where solemn heavenly truth that tests character is being handled, for making light of it shows a heart not in the work nor sanctified by truth and treats it as a common story soon forgotten. Stale jokes and trifling conversation do not strengthen soul or intellect, appeal to shallow minds and damage spirituality, so words are to be guarded with sobriety and sound common sense.
In place of unfit speech there is to be thanksgiving, gratitude, sound words, the language of Canaan, cheerful praise of God, wisdom and instruction, and the fragrant atmosphere of the Holy Spirit shown in good, sound common sense. Believers have abundant reason for thankfulness, honoring God and showing the world gratitude for the great goodness of the heavenly Father while walking in love as Christ gave Himself as offering and sacrifice and letting impurity and covetousness not once be named among saints. Such thanksgiving belongs to preparation for heavenly life and to growth in grace, hindrances being put away. A true ambassador of Christ is cheerful and speaks forth praise of Him who called out of darkness into marvelous light, and in a minister's conversation this means heavenly, gracious speech without lightness, trifling or flattery, valuing reproof above praise. Those who desire to see Jesus and live with Him speak sound words, living as in the presence of angels and setting an example that leads others to right action and brings divine commendation.
Christian cheerfulness itself is not condemned, and Christians are not called to gloom or despair but to be sober-minded while showing the cheerful peace and rest that come from Jesus and His grace. Bible religion is to be both enjoyed and expressed, with manifest cheerfulness without foolishness, joy in Christ and cheerful words, so that every impression is as God would have it. The example followed is one in whom no trifling word or lightness of character is found, and light trifling joking even when habitual is unchristian and harmful because it hinders others from turning thoughts to sacred subjects and preparing to speak of Christ. Religion is cheering and elevating yet above foolish jesting, joking and vain frivolous chit-chat, and recreation and cheerfulness should refresh spirit, mind and body, benefit and elevate associates, better qualify for duty and contemplation of God, and gather fresh courage and power from the Divine Source for purity, goodness and holiness. In the last days circumspection in word and action fits faith better than levity and recklessness, and solemn influence is shown through good works, care for souls and holy example that represents Christ and wins people to Him.
Seriousness and Spiritual Effects
Foolish talking, jesting and joking are unfitting for those who wear Christ's yoke, offending God and denying Christ by evil, idle, unkind or untruthful words instead of reflecting His presence within. Such lightness and joking are unbecoming for women professing godliness, grieving the Spirit of God, showing lack of Christian refinement, failing to strengthen the soul in God, bringing spiritual darkness, driving away pure heavenly angels, and lowering those who engage in it. Joking and laughter between men and women are unbecoming and spiritually harmful because they bring darkness and draw people away from heavenly influences. Commonplace, improper conversation, common even among those claiming to believe the most solemn truths, grieves the Spirit of the Lord and contributes to lack of faith and spiritual power among God's people.
Such speech can leave the soul barren and lead to loss of God's favor, calling the young to sobriety and to use words and actions to lead others to the Saviour and to closer walk with Him. Lightness unfits the mind for serious thought and faithful work, making people inefficient, superficial, and spiritually diseased. Low wit, vain talk and jesting that make sport of individuals, imitate words spoken in religious meetings, make sacred things the subject of jest, severely criticize young men and women, and dwell on courtship and marriage in a low manner, leave scarcely a serious word spoken, debase the mind, taint the morals, and leave those engaging in it uncommitted to God where thanksgiving should take its place. Stale jokes and trifling conversation do not strengthen soul or intellect, appeal to shallow minds and damage spirituality, requiring guarded words spoken with sobriety and sound common sense. Lightness, jesting and joking hinder growth in grace and knowledge of the truth and must be overcome.
Wrong examples in words and deportment, including uncleanness and unholy conversation and low cheap sentiments from unsanctified lips and impure hearts where no distinction is made between precious and vile, set a harmful example before unbelievers and require complete renovation on Christlike principles and an entirely different education, for God will not be trifled with. Light, trifling joking is unchristian and harmful even when habitual, hindering others from turning thoughts to sacred subjects and preparing to speak of Christ, contrary to Jesus' example in whom no trifling word or lightness is found. Frivolous conversation after preaching counteracts the influence of words in the sacred desk, does no honor to God or truth, brings sacred things down to common level, makes truth of heavenly origin of no effect, and treats sacred truths as common. Lightness and trifling and much relating of stories and personal exploits prevent prevailing in prayer and cause loss of blessings and wrong influence, detracting from the solemnity and dignity of God's work and giving others warrant to be light and trifling and go farther in carelessness, which must not be exemplified in so momentous a time and perilous a condition of the people, with speech instead cheerful yet full of wisdom, instruction and thanksgiving.
Cheap common talk and riotous actions are foolish talking and jesting that are not convenient but an offense to God and a state of disorder and impropriety, demonstrated instead by the working of the Holy Spirit in words and fragrant atmosphere with good sound common sense and thanksgiving, and because success depends wholly on the blessing of the heavenly Father they dare not be passed by. Foolish talking, jesting, joking and low cheap talk joined with levity, recklessness and unruliness are forbidden and contaminating to youth and must not be tolerated especially in a Christian school. Principals and teachers as watchers for souls who must give account are held responsible and stand under God's condemnation while such speech and conduct exist, and must act to change the order of things. Christians are not to associate with this class unless they can lift them up, for otherwise they will be pulled down, but knowing God's will must practice His Word, refuse to draw apart, and love as brethren revealing Christ by unity and love. One who does not walk by this rule should be faithfully admonished, and if he fails to reform should be deprived of license or credentials lest the sanctioning church share his guilt and souls be contaminated by the unholy atmosphere, which removal is mercy showing him he has mistaken his calling, is not united to Christ, does not know the Spirit's influence, and has not by beholding Jesus been changed into His image.
Living the Verse Daily
For ministers and ambassadors of Christ, jesting, trifling, idle talk, and frivolous conversation are condemned as unfit, and speech marked by thanksgiving is required instead. A minister is to be cheerful and speak to praise God who called him out of darkness into marvelous light, speaking in a heavenly, gracious way, putting away flattery and valuing reproof above praise. For a minister after preaching to engage in frivolous conversation counteracts all the influence of his words in the sacred desk, does no honor to God or to the truth, brings the most sacred things down to a level with common things, and makes truth of heavenly origin of no effect. One who does not walk by this rule should be faithfully admonished, and if he fails to reform should be deprived of license or credentials, lest the church that sanctioned him share his guilt and souls be contaminated by the unholy atmosphere surrounding him. Such removal is mercy to the unfaithful laborer himself, for the rebuke of God is upon him, and shows him he has mistaken his calling, is not united to Christ, does not know the influence of the Holy Spirit upon the soul, and has not by beholding Jesus become changed into His image.
In offices and publishing work devoted to preparing solemn truth for publication, joking, jesting, careless laughter, and lightness are not fitting and must not be sanctioned or allowed. Those who prepare truth for others should treat it with seriousness, for making light of it shows that their hearts are not in the work or sanctified by and through the truth. Such conduct treats sacred, heavenly truth meant to test character as a common, ordinary story that can quickly be forgotten. The same standard requires avoiding harshness and sourness toward employees and people seeking counsel.
In schools and among youth, foolish talking, jesting, joking, and low cheap talk joined with a spirit of levity, recklessness, and unruliness are forbidden and contaminating and must not be tolerated, especially in a Christian school. Such lightness can leave the soul barren and lead to loss of God's favor. Principals and teachers are held responsible as watchers for souls as those who must give an account, and stand under condemnation while such speech and conduct exist, and must act to change the order of things. Young men serving as God's agents are to reject such levity and live soberly, and all who desire to see Jesus and live with Him are to speak sound words instead of improper jesting and joking. Knowing God's truth, living in the presence of angels, and choosing a right example carry responsibility to use words and actions to lead others to the Saviour, to encourage those who profess Christ to walk more closely with Him, and to lead others toward right action bringing God's commendation.
Followers of God as dear children who walk in love as Christ gave Himself for an offering and a sacrifice must let no fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talking, or jesting be once named among them as unfitting for saints, but rather give thanks. Christ's presence would purge uncleanness and unholy conversation and low, cheap sentiments proceeding from unsanctified lips and impure hearts, as found where no distinction was made between the precious and the vile, such as in the men's bathroom. Such words and deportment set a harmful example before unbelievers and require a complete renovation on Christlike principles and an entirely different education through the departments of the work, for God will not be trifled with. Foolish jesting and joking, along with frivolous talk, vain and frivolous chit-chat, and joking and laughter between men and women, do not belong in Christian life, being unbecoming and spiritually harmful because they bring darkness and draw people away from heavenly influences. The religion of Christ is cheering and elevating yet is above such speech, and Christian cheerfulness and recreation should be elevating, not senseless or frivolous.
Recreation should refresh and strengthen people and refresh the spirit and invigorate the body by innocent recreation, using physical and mental powers to the glory of God, elevating associates, helping faithful service, and better qualifying for Christian duties and for contemplation of God and heavenly things. It must avoid senseless mirth taking the form of the nonsensical and any amusement that unfits for faithful performance of ordinary duties and lessens relish for contemplation of God and heavenly things or weakens sense of duty and interest in God and heavenly things. From the Divine Source fresh courage and power are gathered to elevate life to purity, true goodness, and holiness.
The verse sets a higher standard leading to wisdom unto salvation and bars a self-conceited man from responsibility as director or superintendent, holding lessons for the guidance of every married man and every married woman, calling each to search the heart as with a lighted candle. It forbids indecent, filthy, foolish, and reckless speech and improper, unfitting joking, and calls instead for giving thanks, as instruction that must be practiced, not merely read, belonging to the conduct by which Christians and their households set a right example and remain watchful and faithful in constant spiritual battle. Those living in the last days should be circumspect in words and actions, with sobriety fitting their faith better than levity, while Christian cheerfulness itself is not condemned. A solemn influence is shown through good works, care for souls, and a holy example that represents Christ and wins people to Him. Jesting and joking are unbecoming for women professing godliness, grieving the Spirit of God, showing lack of Christian refinement, failing to strengthen the soul in God, bringing spiritual darkness, driving away pure heavenly angels, and lowering those who engage in it. Believers are not to associate with those practicing such things unless they can lift them up, lest they be pulled down, but knowing the will of God must practice His Word, refuse to draw apart from each other, and love one another as brethren, revealing the character of Christ by unity and love.
Ephesians 5:4 forbids filthy, foolish and jesting speech as unfitting and improper for saints, and requires thankful speech in its place. It belongs to the call to follow God as dear children and walk in love as Christ gave Himself in sacrifice, putting away fornication, uncleanness and covetousness that shut a person out of God's kingdom. The forbidden talk includes lightness, joking, trifling, idle and frivolous words, gossip, low wit, making sport of others and making sacred things a jest, while Christian cheerfulness, sober-minded peace and refreshing recreation are not condemned. Such speech offends God, denies Christ and grieves the Holy Spirit, leaving the soul barren and weak in faith, unfitting the mind for prayer and serious work, and hindering witness by turning minds from sacred subjects. Therefore ministers, publishing workers, teachers and youth, households and gatherings are to put away jesting, levity and careless laughter, and instead speak gracious, sound and cheerful words of praise, wisdom and instruction that honor God and lead others to Christ.
Words and Immediate Context
Filthy impurity, empty foolish talk, and coarse jesting are unfitting, improper, and out of place for holy people, and thanksgiving belongs in their place. Indecent speech and improper joking do not fit the life of those who follow God, and grateful speech is to take their place.
This standard belongs to following God as beloved children and walking in love as Christ gave Himself as an offering and sweet-smelling sacrifice, letting no sexual immorality, uncleanness, or covetousness even once be named among saints. Unclean and unfit speech and joking are to be kept from even being named among them, and impurity and covetousness shut a person out from inheriting God's kingdom. The higher standard set here leads to wisdom that results in salvation.
The instruction of the chapter is to be practiced and not merely read, by studying the whole chapter, opening the heart to the grace of Christ, and being filled with pure, clean, sanctified, Christlike love that is not lost out of humanity. That life comes only by the indwelling and co-working of divinity, becoming perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect, for without Christ nothing can be done. The door of the heart must be opened to let Jesus in as Worker as well as Lawgiver, with believers as laborers together with God, His field and His building. This holy life is practical medical missionary work that testifies to the sanctifying power of truth upon human minds, honoring God and showing the world thankfulness for the great goodness of the heavenly Father.
The ban reaches foolish acting as well as foolish speech, which are sin unfitting for saints. Every person is personally responsible before God to overcome them and put them away. The same standard restrains accusations and harmful speech toward fellow believers, along with anger, malice, and every other form of evil speaking.
Forbidden and Thankful Speech
Lightness, jesting, joking, trifling, idle, frivolous and foolish talk are condemned as unfitting, improper and not convenient for Christians and are to be put away as hindrances to growth. Such speech can leave the soul barren and bring loss of divine favor, calling especially the young to sobriety and to use words and actions to lead others to the Saviour and to encourage believers to walk more closely with Him. Evil, idle, unkind and untruthful words joined with foolish talking and jesting deny Christ, whereas speech should reflect His indwelling presence. Recreation itself should refresh and strengthen, elevate associates and fit people for faithful duty and interest in God and heavenly things, not weaken duty through frivolous talk. For a minister such jesting, trifling and idle talk, especially frivolous conversation after preaching, undermines the sermon, treats sacred truths as common and is unfit for his calling.
The condemned speech includes low wit, vain talk, silly laughter, gossip and common chit-chat, stale jokes and trifling conversation, much relating of stories and personal exploits, and harsh and sour speech toward employees and seekers for counsel. It includes making sport of individuals, imitating words spoken in religious meetings, making sacred things the subject of jest, severely criticizing young men and women, and dwelling on courtship and marriage in a low manner. Joking, jesting and careless laughter are especially unfitting where solemn heavenly truth that tests character is being handled, for making light of it shows a heart not in the work nor sanctified by truth and treats it as a common story soon forgotten. Stale jokes and trifling conversation do not strengthen soul or intellect, appeal to shallow minds and damage spirituality, so words are to be guarded with sobriety and sound common sense.
In place of unfit speech there is to be thanksgiving, gratitude, sound words, the language of Canaan, cheerful praise of God, wisdom and instruction, and the fragrant atmosphere of the Holy Spirit shown in good, sound common sense. Believers have abundant reason for thankfulness, honoring God and showing the world gratitude for the great goodness of the heavenly Father while walking in love as Christ gave Himself as offering and sacrifice and letting impurity and covetousness not once be named among saints. Such thanksgiving belongs to preparation for heavenly life and to growth in grace, hindrances being put away. A true ambassador of Christ is cheerful and speaks forth praise of Him who called out of darkness into marvelous light, and in a minister's conversation this means heavenly, gracious speech without lightness, trifling or flattery, valuing reproof above praise. Those who desire to see Jesus and live with Him speak sound words, living as in the presence of angels and setting an example that leads others to right action and brings divine commendation.
Christian cheerfulness itself is not condemned, and Christians are not called to gloom or despair but to be sober-minded while showing the cheerful peace and rest that come from Jesus and His grace. Bible religion is to be both enjoyed and expressed, with manifest cheerfulness without foolishness, joy in Christ and cheerful words, so that every impression is as God would have it. The example followed is one in whom no trifling word or lightness of character is found, and light trifling joking even when habitual is unchristian and harmful because it hinders others from turning thoughts to sacred subjects and preparing to speak of Christ. Religion is cheering and elevating yet above foolish jesting, joking and vain frivolous chit-chat, and recreation and cheerfulness should refresh spirit, mind and body, benefit and elevate associates, better qualify for duty and contemplation of God, and gather fresh courage and power from the Divine Source for purity, goodness and holiness. In the last days circumspection in word and action fits faith better than levity and recklessness, and solemn influence is shown through good works, care for souls and holy example that represents Christ and wins people to Him.
Seriousness and Spiritual Effects
Foolish talking, jesting and joking are unfitting for those who wear Christ's yoke, offending God and denying Christ by evil, idle, unkind or untruthful words instead of reflecting His presence within. Such lightness and joking are unbecoming for women professing godliness, grieving the Spirit of God, showing lack of Christian refinement, failing to strengthen the soul in God, bringing spiritual darkness, driving away pure heavenly angels, and lowering those who engage in it. Joking and laughter between men and women are unbecoming and spiritually harmful because they bring darkness and draw people away from heavenly influences. Commonplace, improper conversation, common even among those claiming to believe the most solemn truths, grieves the Spirit of the Lord and contributes to lack of faith and spiritual power among God's people.
Such speech can leave the soul barren and lead to loss of God's favor, calling the young to sobriety and to use words and actions to lead others to the Saviour and to closer walk with Him. Lightness unfits the mind for serious thought and faithful work, making people inefficient, superficial, and spiritually diseased. Low wit, vain talk and jesting that make sport of individuals, imitate words spoken in religious meetings, make sacred things the subject of jest, severely criticize young men and women, and dwell on courtship and marriage in a low manner, leave scarcely a serious word spoken, debase the mind, taint the morals, and leave those engaging in it uncommitted to God where thanksgiving should take its place. Stale jokes and trifling conversation do not strengthen soul or intellect, appeal to shallow minds and damage spirituality, requiring guarded words spoken with sobriety and sound common sense. Lightness, jesting and joking hinder growth in grace and knowledge of the truth and must be overcome.
Wrong examples in words and deportment, including uncleanness and unholy conversation and low cheap sentiments from unsanctified lips and impure hearts where no distinction is made between precious and vile, set a harmful example before unbelievers and require complete renovation on Christlike principles and an entirely different education, for God will not be trifled with. Light, trifling joking is unchristian and harmful even when habitual, hindering others from turning thoughts to sacred subjects and preparing to speak of Christ, contrary to Jesus' example in whom no trifling word or lightness is found. Frivolous conversation after preaching counteracts the influence of words in the sacred desk, does no honor to God or truth, brings sacred things down to common level, makes truth of heavenly origin of no effect, and treats sacred truths as common. Lightness and trifling and much relating of stories and personal exploits prevent prevailing in prayer and cause loss of blessings and wrong influence, detracting from the solemnity and dignity of God's work and giving others warrant to be light and trifling and go farther in carelessness, which must not be exemplified in so momentous a time and perilous a condition of the people, with speech instead cheerful yet full of wisdom, instruction and thanksgiving.
Cheap common talk and riotous actions are foolish talking and jesting that are not convenient but an offense to God and a state of disorder and impropriety, demonstrated instead by the working of the Holy Spirit in words and fragrant atmosphere with good sound common sense and thanksgiving, and because success depends wholly on the blessing of the heavenly Father they dare not be passed by. Foolish talking, jesting, joking and low cheap talk joined with levity, recklessness and unruliness are forbidden and contaminating to youth and must not be tolerated especially in a Christian school. Principals and teachers as watchers for souls who must give account are held responsible and stand under God's condemnation while such speech and conduct exist, and must act to change the order of things. Christians are not to associate with this class unless they can lift them up, for otherwise they will be pulled down, but knowing God's will must practice His Word, refuse to draw apart, and love as brethren revealing Christ by unity and love. One who does not walk by this rule should be faithfully admonished, and if he fails to reform should be deprived of license or credentials lest the sanctioning church share his guilt and souls be contaminated by the unholy atmosphere, which removal is mercy showing him he has mistaken his calling, is not united to Christ, does not know the Spirit's influence, and has not by beholding Jesus been changed into His image.
Living the Verse Daily
For ministers and ambassadors of Christ, jesting, trifling, idle talk, and frivolous conversation are condemned as unfit, and speech marked by thanksgiving is required instead. A minister is to be cheerful and speak to praise God who called him out of darkness into marvelous light, speaking in a heavenly, gracious way, putting away flattery and valuing reproof above praise. For a minister after preaching to engage in frivolous conversation counteracts all the influence of his words in the sacred desk, does no honor to God or to the truth, brings the most sacred things down to a level with common things, and makes truth of heavenly origin of no effect. One who does not walk by this rule should be faithfully admonished, and if he fails to reform should be deprived of license or credentials, lest the church that sanctioned him share his guilt and souls be contaminated by the unholy atmosphere surrounding him. Such removal is mercy to the unfaithful laborer himself, for the rebuke of God is upon him, and shows him he has mistaken his calling, is not united to Christ, does not know the influence of the Holy Spirit upon the soul, and has not by beholding Jesus become changed into His image.
In offices and publishing work devoted to preparing solemn truth for publication, joking, jesting, careless laughter, and lightness are not fitting and must not be sanctioned or allowed. Those who prepare truth for others should treat it with seriousness, for making light of it shows that their hearts are not in the work or sanctified by and through the truth. Such conduct treats sacred, heavenly truth meant to test character as a common, ordinary story that can quickly be forgotten. The same standard requires avoiding harshness and sourness toward employees and people seeking counsel.
In schools and among youth, foolish talking, jesting, joking, and low cheap talk joined with a spirit of levity, recklessness, and unruliness are forbidden and contaminating and must not be tolerated, especially in a Christian school. Such lightness can leave the soul barren and lead to loss of God's favor. Principals and teachers are held responsible as watchers for souls as those who must give an account, and stand under condemnation while such speech and conduct exist, and must act to change the order of things. Young men serving as God's agents are to reject such levity and live soberly, and all who desire to see Jesus and live with Him are to speak sound words instead of improper jesting and joking. Knowing God's truth, living in the presence of angels, and choosing a right example carry responsibility to use words and actions to lead others to the Saviour, to encourage those who profess Christ to walk more closely with Him, and to lead others toward right action bringing God's commendation.
Followers of God as dear children who walk in love as Christ gave Himself for an offering and a sacrifice must let no fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talking, or jesting be once named among them as unfitting for saints, but rather give thanks. Christ's presence would purge uncleanness and unholy conversation and low, cheap sentiments proceeding from unsanctified lips and impure hearts, as found where no distinction was made between the precious and the vile, such as in the men's bathroom. Such words and deportment set a harmful example before unbelievers and require a complete renovation on Christlike principles and an entirely different education through the departments of the work, for God will not be trifled with. Foolish jesting and joking, along with frivolous talk, vain and frivolous chit-chat, and joking and laughter between men and women, do not belong in Christian life, being unbecoming and spiritually harmful because they bring darkness and draw people away from heavenly influences. The religion of Christ is cheering and elevating yet is above such speech, and Christian cheerfulness and recreation should be elevating, not senseless or frivolous.
Recreation should refresh and strengthen people and refresh the spirit and invigorate the body by innocent recreation, using physical and mental powers to the glory of God, elevating associates, helping faithful service, and better qualifying for Christian duties and for contemplation of God and heavenly things. It must avoid senseless mirth taking the form of the nonsensical and any amusement that unfits for faithful performance of ordinary duties and lessens relish for contemplation of God and heavenly things or weakens sense of duty and interest in God and heavenly things. From the Divine Source fresh courage and power are gathered to elevate life to purity, true goodness, and holiness.
The verse sets a higher standard leading to wisdom unto salvation and bars a self-conceited man from responsibility as director or superintendent, holding lessons for the guidance of every married man and every married woman, calling each to search the heart as with a lighted candle. It forbids indecent, filthy, foolish, and reckless speech and improper, unfitting joking, and calls instead for giving thanks, as instruction that must be practiced, not merely read, belonging to the conduct by which Christians and their households set a right example and remain watchful and faithful in constant spiritual battle. Those living in the last days should be circumspect in words and actions, with sobriety fitting their faith better than levity, while Christian cheerfulness itself is not condemned. A solemn influence is shown through good works, care for souls, and a holy example that represents Christ and wins people to Him. Jesting and joking are unbecoming for women professing godliness, grieving the Spirit of God, showing lack of Christian refinement, failing to strengthen the soul in God, bringing spiritual darkness, driving away pure heavenly angels, and lowering those who engage in it. Believers are not to associate with those practicing such things unless they can lift them up, lest they be pulled down, but knowing the will of God must practice His Word, refuse to draw apart from each other, and love one another as brethren, revealing the character of Christ by unity and love.