JESUS WOULD NEITHER USE PROFANE LANGUAGE NOR SAY MEAN, HURTFUL THINGS
By Todd L. Baker
Jesus said that "the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart, and they defile the man" (Matthew 15:18).
Jesus is considered by nearly everyone as a “good man.” What traits made Him a “good man” in most people’s eye? For one, Jesus would not use profane language, nor say mean, hurtful things. Do not be mistaken, this does not mean that Jesus would not speak out against sin for fear of how He may be perceived by His peers or the elite of His day. Jesus indeed spoke the truth, but in a loving, caring, concerned manner.
“Profane” is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as “not sacred, secular, heathen, showing contempt of sacred things, to violate, desecrate, to put to an unworthy use.” Most folks would agree that given this definition, to profane something is not a Christian quality. To say mean, hurtful things is done for only one purpose: to hurt someone by making him look bad or by making oneself look good. This is also something that is not a Christian quality. Let’s look at some examples of how Jesus did speak.
First of all, Jesus often spoke by quoting or referencing Scripture. In order to do this, it is impossible to use profane language. For example, consider how Jesus answered the tempter after fasting for forty days and forty nights in the wilderness, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” ”On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” ”Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only’” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). Given these types of answers, should we also not seek God’s word as guidance for how to answer when we are tempted?
Throughout the gospels, Jesus showed in His speech that He was often motivated by compassion. Thus, His speech was seasoned with concern for those around Him. Examine how He spoke to the leper (one who would have been shunned and put down in Jesus’ day) in Mark 4:41: “Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’” Should we also not strive to season our speech with compassion and concern for all souls around us?
Jesus avoided idle, unproductive talk. All that Jesus spoke had a purpose - to teach us how to obtain salvation through Him because He does not want any to perish. “So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish” (Matthew 18:14). Jesus did not spend His effort using speech to gain any worldly position or popularity; He also did not spend His effort using speech in order to be “political.” Paul followed Jesus’ example when he admonished the young preacher Timothy, “But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17aand their talk will spread like gangrene” (2 Timothy 2:16-17a).
Jesus spoke words of comfort and hope to His disciples. Consider how He spoke in John 15:12-17: “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. 17 This I command you, that you love one another.” These are all words of love and comfort to all of His disciples because of His concern for their souls. Should we also not seek to encourage those around us with our speech, to always strive to the best of our ability to live for God and to love one another?
The decision is up to you. Will you do what Jesus did and avoid profane, mean and hurtful speech?
By Todd L. Baker
Jesus said that "the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart, and they defile the man" (Matthew 15:18).
Jesus is considered by nearly everyone as a “good man.” What traits made Him a “good man” in most people’s eye? For one, Jesus would not use profane language, nor say mean, hurtful things. Do not be mistaken, this does not mean that Jesus would not speak out against sin for fear of how He may be perceived by His peers or the elite of His day. Jesus indeed spoke the truth, but in a loving, caring, concerned manner.
“Profane” is defined in Webster’s Dictionary as “not sacred, secular, heathen, showing contempt of sacred things, to violate, desecrate, to put to an unworthy use.” Most folks would agree that given this definition, to profane something is not a Christian quality. To say mean, hurtful things is done for only one purpose: to hurt someone by making him look bad or by making oneself look good. This is also something that is not a Christian quality. Let’s look at some examples of how Jesus did speak.
First of all, Jesus often spoke by quoting or referencing Scripture. In order to do this, it is impossible to use profane language. For example, consider how Jesus answered the tempter after fasting for forty days and forty nights in the wilderness, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” ”On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” ”Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only’” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). Given these types of answers, should we also not seek God’s word as guidance for how to answer when we are tempted?
Throughout the gospels, Jesus showed in His speech that He was often motivated by compassion. Thus, His speech was seasoned with concern for those around Him. Examine how He spoke to the leper (one who would have been shunned and put down in Jesus’ day) in Mark 4:41: “Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’” Should we also not strive to season our speech with compassion and concern for all souls around us?
Jesus avoided idle, unproductive talk. All that Jesus spoke had a purpose - to teach us how to obtain salvation through Him because He does not want any to perish. “So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish” (Matthew 18:14). Jesus did not spend His effort using speech to gain any worldly position or popularity; He also did not spend His effort using speech in order to be “political.” Paul followed Jesus’ example when he admonished the young preacher Timothy, “But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17aand their talk will spread like gangrene” (2 Timothy 2:16-17a).
Jesus spoke words of comfort and hope to His disciples. Consider how He spoke in John 15:12-17: “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. 17 This I command you, that you love one another.” These are all words of love and comfort to all of His disciples because of His concern for their souls. Should we also not seek to encourage those around us with our speech, to always strive to the best of our ability to live for God and to love one another?
The decision is up to you. Will you do what Jesus did and avoid profane, mean and hurtful speech?
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment