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“Let The Beauty Of Jesus Be Seen In Your Speech – Part 2”
Let The Beauty Of Jesus Be Seen In Your Speech – Part 2
Wade Webster
The song that serves as the central thought of this lesson contains both direct and indirect references to our speech. What kinds of words characterized the speech of Jesus? Last week we noticed that the words of Jesus were gracious and thoughtful. This week we will notice that they were true words..
True Words
Peter wrote, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Pet. 2:21-23). Deceit wasn’t found in His mouth. Deceit is from the Greek word dolos which means bait or treachery. Jesus dealt with on many occasions those who were trying to catch Him in His words. They were baiting Him with their words and questions and trying to catch Him in His words. They never were successful because Jesus, unlike them, was full of truth (John 1:14). In fact, He was truth . He declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Often, in the gospels, Jesus used the words verily , truly, or most assuredly to make a statement. For example, in his conversation with Nicodemus, he said, “Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Jesus had a reputation for truth. Matthew records, “Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” (Mat. 22:15-17). The context makes clear that the motives of those who came and posed this question were not good. They were likely trying to use flattery to gain an advantage. Yet, their assessment of Jesus could not have been more accurate. In spite of the fact that He told them and all men the truth, they sought to kill him (John 8:40). If the beauty of Jesus is going to be seen in our speech then we are also going to have to speak true words. In Proverbs, wisdom declares, “For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.” (Prov. 8:7-8),. To the saints at Ephesus, Paul wrote, “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another” (Eph. 4:25). All lies are to be put away, even the little white ones (Rev. 21:8). Not only must we speak the truth , but we must speak it in love. Within the same context, we read, “ But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ” (Eph. 4:15).
