By Steve A. Hamilton

Introduction: We live in a generation that cares little about the words people use. To the world, cursing is something that accompanies every other sentence. God’s name no longer commands respect and honor but something flippantly spoken at every opportunity to express excitement or amazement. Jesus’ name is likewise degraded in a manner that no one would think the speaker was actually a religious person. This generation does not care how they use words to express themselves. This lesson is about choosing our words carefully.

I. How to talk

    A. Paul told Timothy that there is an appropriate way to talk (1 Tim. 1:13).

    B. How should we speak (1 Pet. 4:11)?

    C. Otherwise, Solomon said to guard your words (Psm. 39:1).

    D. Paul told those in Colosse to consider every word (Col. 4:6).

II. Why do we have these instructions?

    A. Because we fail as humans to grasp the consequences of corrupt communication. Consider Matt. 12: 32-37.

        1. We will give an account for every idle word we speak!

        2. If we so much as speak against the Holy Spirit, that will not be forgiven!

        3. God is all knowing!

        4. What we say will justify us or it will condemn us!

    B. Because man is spiritually “near sighted.” We need remembrance of God’s instructions.

        1. Peter, an apostle, suffered from being spiritually “near sighted” (Matt. 26: 73-74).

        2. We suffer the same way (James 3:8-10).

III. Our words should reflect respect and reverence for God.

    A. He is our creator. He deserves our admiration.

        1. When Christ gave a model prayer in Matt. 6:9, how did he show respect for God? He said, “Hallowed be Your name.” Hallowed means holy, sacred or revered.

        2. How do we act in front of an important people we respect?

    B. We are forbidden to misuse or misrepresent His name.

        1. It was a command under the Old Law (Deut. 5:11). Vain here means to ruin or devastate His name [Strongs]. It means to make His name useless.

        2. Lev. 19:12, prohibits swearing (taking oaths [Strongs]) with His name nor profaning His name. Profane here means to wound a person. To break one’s word [Strongs]. Hence, to wound God while breaking one’s word by misusing God’s name.

        3. Interestingly in Ezek. 36:16-23, the children of Israel profaned God’s name. However, it wasn’t by misusing His name, it was by misrepresenting God before other nations.

        4. I wonder if we can profane God’s name in the same way as the children of Israel. When we say and act like non-Christians, aren’t we misrepresenting Christ? Something to think about.

IV. Cursing shows a total disregard for God.

    A. Defined: To make light, bring into contempt, no respect, evil or wicked talk.

    B. Cursing is a sin (Rom. 3: 9, 14). Under sin... mouth full of cursing.

    C. To curse (or speak evil) of your parents was punishable by death under the Old Testament (Mark 7:10).

    D. Remember Peter in Matt. 26:73-74? Those who stood by the trial of Christ correctly accused Peter of being a follower of Jesus because his speech betrayed him. In other words, Peter didn’t talk like everyone else! But because Peter didn’t want to be identified with Christ at that moment, he cursed and swore to prove he wasn’t a Christian!

    E. When we curse, what do we prove? We prove we aren’t Christians!

V. Christians should not participate in any inappropriate talk (Eph. 5:1-7).

    A. From verse 4:

        1. Filthiness = obscenity.

        2. Foolish talking = silly talk, morally worthless.

        3. Course jesting = vulgar witticism, i.e. vulgar jokes.

    B. These things are not to be named among Christians because they don’t reflect a Christians (vs. 3)! Christians who participate in this type of talk are not going to Heaven (vs. 5)! God’s wrath will come upon such who talk this way (vs. 6)! Simply, don’t participate in such talk (vs. 7).

Conclusion: We must bridle our tongues (James 1:26)! Why, because our religion becomes useless. We won’t be going to heaven though we may try. We can now understand James 3: 3-6. It is not easy to control our tongue. However, this is no excuse. We must master the control of our tongues before it is eternally to late!