What Jesus said about Communication & Speech

Jesus on words and speech: letting your yes be yes and your no be no, the mouth speaking from the heart, careless words, and blessing those who curse you.

1. A disciple's "yes" or "no" should be reliable without manipulative oaths.

   Read the Scripture (KJV) Matthew 5:33–37

   King James Version

   Matthew 5:33–37

   ³³Again, 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:

   ³⁴But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:

   ³⁵Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

   ³⁶Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

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

2. Be willing to absorb insult and inconvenience rather than mirror hostility.

   Read the Scripture (KJV) Matthew 5:39–41

   King James Version

   Matthew 5:39–41

   ³⁹But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

   ⁴⁰And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

   ⁴¹And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

3. Religious verbosity does not manipulate God.

   Read the Scripture (KJV) Matthew 6:7–8

   King James Version

   Matthew 6:7–8

   ⁷But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

   ⁸Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

4. The mouth speaks from the abundance of the heart.

   Read the Scripture (KJV) Matthew 12:34; Luke 6:45

   King James Version

   Matthew 12:34

   ³⁴O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

   Luke 6:45

   ⁴⁵A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

5. People will give account for careless words.

   Read the Scripture (KJV) Matthew 12:36–37

   King James Version

   Matthew 12:36–37

   ³⁶But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

   ³⁷For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

6. Beware hypocrisy because hidden things will be exposed.

   Read the Scripture (KJV) Luke 12:1–3

   King James Version

   Luke 12:1–3

   ¹In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

   ²For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

   ³Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

7. Bless those who curse you.

   Read the Scripture (KJV) Luke 6:28

   King James Version

   Luke 6:28

   ²⁸Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

8. If a brother sins, go privately first and seek restoration.

   Read the Scripture (KJV) Matthew 18:15

   King James Version

   Matthew 18:15

   ¹⁵Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

9. The Spirit will give words in the hour of trial.

   Read the Scripture (KJV) Matthew 10:20; Mark 13:11; Luke 12:12

   King James Version

   Matthew 10:20

   ²⁰For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

   Mark 13:11

   ¹¹But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

   Luke 12:12

   ¹²For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

10. Confess Jesus before people.

    Read the Scripture (KJV) Matthew 10:32; Luke 12:8

    King James Version

    Matthew 10:32

    ³²Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

    Luke 12:8

    ⁸Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

11. Woe to blind guides who manipulate oath rules.

    Read the Scripture (KJV) Matthew 23:16–22

    King James Version

    Matthew 23:16–22

    ¹⁶Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!

    ¹⁷Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

    ¹⁸And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.

    ¹⁹Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

    ²⁰Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.

    ²¹And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.

    ²²And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.