What does the ninth commandment forbid?
Exodus 20:16 Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor
Matt 19:18 Thou shall not bear false witness
Note: Let those who have used the talent of speech to discourage and dishearten God’s servants, who are striving to advance God’s cause, planning and working to master hindrance, ask God to forgive them for the injury they have done to his work by their wicked prejudices and unkind words. Let them think of the harm they have done by spreading false reports, by judging those they have no right to judge. In the word of God we are given plain directions as to the course we are to follow when we think a brother is in the wrong. Christ says: “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, but if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and publican.” And again the Savior says: “ If thou bring a gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come offer thy gift” Matt 18:15-17; 5:23-24. Testimonies Vol. 8 pg 84
How did Christ teach the importance of guarding our speech?
Matt 12:36-37 Every idle word that we speak we will have to give account
Note : God wants us to do much more praying and less talking. The threshold of heaven is flooded with the light of his glory, and he will let this light shine into the heart of every one who will stand in right relation to him. Every institution will have to battle with difficulty. Trials are permitted in order to test the hearts of God’s people. When adversity befalls one of the Lord’s instrumentalities it will be shown how much real faith we have in God and his work, at such a time let none view matters in the worst light and give expression to doubt and unbelief, do not criticize those who carry the burdens of responsibility. Let not the conversation in your homes be poisoned with criticism of the Lord’s workers, parents who indulge this criticizing spirit are not bringing before their children that which will make them wise unto salvation. Their words tend to unsettle the faith and confidence not only of the children, but of those older in years. All have little enough of respect and reverence for sacred things. Satan will unite most zealously with the criticizer in fostering unbelief, envy, jealousy, and disrespect. Satan is always at work to imbue men with his spirit, to quench the love which should be sacredly cherished between brethren, to discourage confidence, to excite envy, evil surmising and the strife of tongues. Let us not be found acting as his co-workers. One heart open to his suggestions may sow many seeds of disaffection. Thus may be wrought a work whose results in the ruin of souls will never be fully manifest until the great day of final judgment.
To whom are our words all known?
Ps 139:4-10 For there is not a word in my tongue thou knowest
Of what are one’s words an index?
Matt 12:34-35 For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh
Matt 3:7-10 O generation of vipers who warned you from the wrath to come
Luke 6:45-47 Evil men out of the heart bringeth forth that which is evil
What instruction did John the baptist give the soldiers who asked of
him advice regarding the way of life?
Luke 3:14 Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely
Ex 23:1-2 Thou shall not raise a false report put not thine hand with the wicked
Lev 19:11 Neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another
What is one test of a perfect man?
James 3:2-12 If any offend not in word the same is a perfect man
and able to bridle the whole body
The Tale Bearer
What conduct is condemned by the scriptures?
Lev 19:16 Thou shall not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people
Psalm 15:3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue
Prov 11:13-14 A talebearer revealeth secrets
Ezek 22:9 Men that carry tales to shed blood
1Kings 21:7-29 False witnesses against Naboth
Matt 26:59-61 The council sought false witnesses against Jesus
To what are the words of a talebearer compared?
Prov 26:22-28 The words of a talebearer are as wounds
What are their effects?
Prov 17:9 He that repeateth a matter separateth very friends
Prov 10:12-14 hatred stirreth up strifes but love covereth all sins
Prov 16:28 A forward man soweth strife
Backbiting
Among other things what did Paul fear he would find in the Corinthian church?
2 Cor 12:20-21 envying,wrath,backbiting,whispering.
What results follows backbiting and like evils?
Galatians 5:14-15 But if ye bite and devour one another take heed
that ye be not consumed one of another
Rom 6:14 Let not sin reign in your mortal body
How may a backbiting tongue be rebuked?
Prov 25:23 As the wind driveth away the rain so an angry countenance a backbiting tongue
Ps 101:5-8 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor I will cut off
Prov 6:16-20 Six things the Lord doeth hate a lying tongue, a heart that deviseth mischief
Note: Lord who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill, he that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, or doeth evil to his neighbor nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. he that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not,he that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved Psalms 15. Judge not that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again and why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? or how wilt thou say to thy brother, let me pull out the mote out of thine own eye; and behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam from thine own eye and then shall thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye Matthew 7:1-5.Much involved in the matter of judging. Remember that soon your life record will pass in review before God. Remember too that he has said; Thou art inexcusable O man whosoever thou art that judgeth ;For wherein thou judgest another thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things and does the same, that thou shall not escape the judgment of God. Romans 2:1-3 Testimony Treasures pg 229-230.
To whom is the promise made of abiding in the tabernacle of the
Lord and dwelling in his holy hill?
Ps 15:2-3 He that walketh uprightly and worketh righteousness
Note: Winkle is quoted as saying: ‘never carry a sword in your tongue.’ To wound the reputation of any man, Noah Webster laid down this rule: ‘we should say nothing of a person in his absence that we should unwilling to say it if he were present.’ How few view their conversation according to this rule. See Prov 31:10,26
What caution is given in regard to receiving a accusation against an
elder?
1Timothy 5:19 Receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses
Taming the Tongue
Can a man unrenewed by grace control his tongue?
James 3:7-8 The tongue can no man tame
As a guard against the misuse of the power of speech, therefore for
what should we pray?
Ps 141:3 Keep the door of my lips O Lord
What vow did David take against the offenses of his tongue?
Ps 39:1-4 I will take heed to my ways that I sin not with my tongue
1Kings 2:4 If thy children take heed to their ways and walk before me
Col 4:5-6 Walk in wisdom to them that are without, let your speech be always seasoned with grace
Note: The Satanic agencies are great, and the Lord calls upon his people to strengthen one another, building up yourselves on your most holy faith. Instead of cooperating with Satan, let everyone learn what it means to cooperate with God. In these depressing times he has a work to be done that demands the firm courage and faith which enables us to sustain one another. All need to stand shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart as labourers together with God. What might not be accomplished in and through the grace of God if the members of the church would stand together to sustain his workers to help with prayers and their influence when discouragement presses in on every side? Then is the time to work as faithful stewards.
Instead of criticism and censure, let our brethren and sisters have words of encouragement and confidence to speak in regard to the Lord instrumentality, God calls upon them to encourage the heart of those who carry heavy burdens, for he is working with them. He calls upon his people to recognize the sustaining power in his instrumentality, honour the Lord by endeavoring to the utmost of your ability to give it the influence that it should have.
What are those words like which are fitly spoken?
Prov 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver
Prov 15:23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth
Isa 50:4 The Lord had given me a tongue of the learned
Exod 4:11-14 Moses said he cannot speak
Note: As you have opportunity, speak to workers, speak words that will strengthen and be an inspiration. We are altogether too indifferent in regard to one another. Too often we forget that our fellow labourers are in need of strength and cheer, In times of special perplexity and burden, take care to assure them of your interest and sympathy while you try to help them by your prayers, Let them know that you do it, send along the line God’s message to his workers to be strong and of a good courage Joshua 1:6 Testimony Treasures pg 174.
Ambassadors of Christ 