The Use of Speech

“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.” Ephesians 4:29

What does it mean if something is corrupt? The word “corrupt” means “in a depraved state; debased; perverted, morally degenerate; weak in morals.” 

For example of the word corrupt, sometimes you will read or hear about a story of someone, or a group of people in government (peace officers, judges, mayors, govenors, etc) that have been “paid off” to look the other way to criminal offenses. I know that back in the 1920’s in the United States, some of the elected leaders in a community would be paid off by “mob bosses” to ignore the illegal activity that they would be doing. That would be called a “corrupt government,” where to a normal citizen they would see a judge as a someone who stood against crime, but in reality they were a part of the crimes themselves. Instead of doing what was right and moral according to the law, they were crooked, perverse, or “corrupt.” 

So when it says to let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, it means that we should not speak in a way that is “perverted” or “morally degenerate.” Corrupt communication would be using your speech to slander others, tell lies, verbally injure someone, speak evil, blaspheme against the Lord, or otherwise speak very foolishly. The kind of speech that does nothing to help another person become better or improve.

The Pharisees spoke evil of Jesus, saying that He cast out devils through the prince of the devils, which is blasphemy. They attributed Jesus’ works to the devil. 

“But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.” Matthew 9:34

Lying would be another form of corrupt communication, as it is morally wrong. Lying about someone shows that they don’t have love for them. 

Using the Lord’s name in vain would also fall under this category. Our Lord’s name is a great, holy, sacred thing, but some people use it as an exclamation of displeasure. They aren’t calling on His name in prayer or thanks, but they use it in an unholy manner.

Instead of using your voice to speak evil things, we should use our speech to edify others, which means to build them up. We should use our voices to sing praises to God, not to sing about wicked and sinful things. Instead of using your voice to spread lies, we should speak the truth.

Edify means to instruct or improve someone morally or intellectually. To “build them up” so to speak. Screaming curse or profane words at someone does not help them. It does not improve their life, or help them to change. In fact, it usually only serves to further anger or rile up someone. If someone is showing love and kindness, it is a good thing to tell them to keep it up, that they are doing a very nice, good thing. That kind of speech is edifying to hear.

The tongue can be used to speak good, and it can be used to speak evil. Without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we cannot truly control our speech, as it says in James.

“But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similtude of God. 

Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” James 3:8-10

We need to pray for the Lord to help guide our speech.

“Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3”

Use your voice for the glory of God. Don’t let it become tainted with evil speech, or perverse words. Keep your speech pure.

In Christ,

Andrew