54
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing
speech. “Let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is
more than these is of the evil one.” R.V.
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These words condemn all those meaningless phrases and expletives
that border on profanity. They condemn the deceptive compliments,
the evasion of truth, the flattering phrases, the exaggerations, the mis-
representations in trade, that are current in society and in the business
world. They teach that no one who tries to appear what he is not, or
whose words do not convey the real sentiment of his heart, can be
called truthful.
If these words of Christ were heeded, they would check the utter-
ance of evil surmising and unkind criticism; for in commenting upon
the actions and motives of another, who can be certain of speaking the
exact truth? How often pride, passion, personal resentment, color the
impression given! A glance, a word, even an intonation of the voice,
may be vital with falsehood. Even facts may be so stated as to convey
a false impression. And “whatsoever is more than” truth, “is of the
evil one.”
Everything that Christians do should be as transparent as the sun-
light. Truth is of God; deception, in every one of its myriad forms, is
of Satan; and whoever in any way departs from the straight line of truth
is betraying himself into the power of the wicked one. Yet it is not a
light or an easy thing to speak the exact truth. We cannot speak the
truth unless we know the truth; and how often preconceived opinions,
mental bias, imperfect knowledge, errors of judgment, prevent a right
understanding of matters with which we have to do! We cannot speak
the truth unless our minds are continually guided by Him who is truth.
Through the apostle Paul, Christ bids us, “Let your speech be
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alway with grace.” “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of
your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may
minister grace unto the hearers.”
Colossians 4:6
;
Ephesians 4:29
. In
the light of these scriptures the words of Christ upon the mount are
seen to condemn jesting, trifling, and unchaste conversation. They
require that our words should be not only truthful, but pure.
Those who have learned of Christ will “have no fellowship with
the unfruitful works of darkness.”
Ephesians 5:11
. In speech, as in life,
they will be simple, straightforward, and true; for they are preparing
for the fellowship of those holy ones in whose mouth “was found no
guile.”
Revelation 14:5
.