Proverbs 15:23; Proverbs 25:11; Colossians 4:6; Ephesians 4:14,15
A word spoken in due season, how good it is!
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.
JOHN CALVIN (1509-1564): After being born to Christ, we ought to grow, so as “not to be children in understanding,” 1 Corinthians 14:20.
C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892): Brethren, we have everywhere to battle with falsehood and if we are to bless the world we must confront it with sturdy face and zealous spirit.
CHARLES SIMEON (1759-1836): We should not be ashamed of our principles. We should candidly state that we are sinners, deserving of God’s wrath and indignation: that God has sent his only-begotten Son to die for us: that through His precious blood, we hope and believe that we have obtained the forgiveness of all our sins. We should then state our conviction, that sinners redeemed with so inestimable a price, are bound to consecrate themselves to Him, and, above all things, to seek the glory of His great name. We should further avow our full persuasion, that in the day of judgment we shall all be dealt with according to our works; that those who have suffered any thing to stand in competition with their duty to Christ, will assuredly be cast out as wicked and unprofitable servants; but that they who have loved, and served, and honoured Him with their whole hearts, shall be applauded by Him as good and faithful servants, and enter forever into the joy of their Lord.
H. A. IRONSIDE (1876-1951): It is an important thing to stand for the fundamentals, but as we seek to bear witness to the great fundamental truths, let us never forget that the greatest fundamental of all is love.
JOHN NEWTON (1725-1807): The cause of truth itself may be discredited by improper management.
CHARLES SIMEON: As respects the truth itself, we should have no hesitation in declaring it, yet we should be much on our guard against any thing harsh or acrimonious in our manner of declaring it…A Christian on such occasions must bear in mind how much the honour of God is involved in his conduct; and how much, humanly speaking, the salvation of others may depend on him. By an indiscreet mode of vindicating the truth, he may shut the ears, and harden the hearts of many; and so embitter their minds, as to make them determined haters and despisers of vital godliness: but by a meek, modest, affectionate, and prudent statement, he may remove their prejudices, and lead them to a candid examination of their own state before God.
H. A. IRONSIDE: It should always be remembered that in contending for the faith, the soul of the sinner has to be thought of as well.
JOHN GILL (1697-1771): “A word fitly spoken,”—Or, “a word spoken on its wheels,” as it is in the Hebrew, that proceeds aright, keeps due order, is well circumstanced as to matter, method, time, place, and persons; a discourse well put together, properly pronounced, roundly, easily, and fluently delivered to proper persons, and adapted to their circumstances; and “seasonably” spoken, as many versions render it.
CHARLES BRIDGES (1794-1869): Our Lord witnessed of Himself, as “gifted with the tongue of the learned, that he might know how to speak the word in season,” Isaiah 50:4—a word upon the wheels—not forced or dragged, but rolling smoothly along, like the chariot-wheels. His discourses on the living water and the bread of life arose naturally out of the conversation, and therefore were full of arresting application.
MATTHEW POOLE (1624-1679): “Let your speech be alway with grace,” because our converse with men ought to be managed with the greatest circumspection, in imitation of Christ, who entertained those that did converse with Him with “gracious words,” Luke 4:22. Endeavour to speak that the hearers may conceive your discourse proceeds from a gracious spirit, or “grace in the heart,” Colossians 3:16, teaching your mouth “with meekness of wisdom,” James 3:13, “using knowledge aright,” Proverbs 15:2, and being in its tendency gracious, Ecclesiastes 10:12, not as tinctured with gall or venom—but “ministering grace to the hearers,” Ephesians 4:29.
CHRISTMAS EVANS (1766-1838): There is great need of faithfulness and prudence, in defending the truths of Christ, against the errors of the times. Faithfulness indeed will oblige us to do it; but prudence must direct us how to do it.
CHARLES BRIDGES: We may think to relieve our conscience by speaking our mind. But to do it rudely and harshly, may put a stumbling-block in our brother’s way. Under all circumstances our “lips should know what is acceptable,” Proverbs 10:32. Unseemly language makes wholesome truth more unpalatable.
WILLIAM GURNALL (1617-1679): Let them see that love, not wrath, gives the blow.
C. H. SPURGEON: Speak your mind, but still be kind. In being frank some are rough, and this is by no means needful.
A. W. PINK (1886-1952): There is a happy medium between harshness and firmness, as there is between sentimentality and tenderness. We are bidden to speak “the truth in love,”—and Christ was doing so as truly when denouncing the Pharisees in Matthew 23:1-39—as when He was comforting His disciples in John 14:1-31. But does that mean that His countenance, the tone of His voice, or His general bearing was the same? He ever spoke the truth in love—but if some would re-read the four Gospels with this particular thought in mind—it might cause them to revise, or at least, to modify their present conception of what “speaking the truth in love” really is. It depends upon the particular fault committed. Mole-hills are not to be magnified into mountains. There are times when it is fitting “to rebuke sharply,” Titus 1:13, as Christ did in Luke 24:25. But for the most part, it should be done in “the spirit of meekness,” Galatians 6:1.
CHRISTMAS EVANS: Wisdom is necessary here to distinguish the different characters, those who require severity, and those who claim tenderness.
CHARLES BRIDGES: A word spoken for everyone, like a coat made for everyone, has no individual fitness. When “the wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment,” Ecclesiastes 8:5, the word is doubly effective…Paul powerfully charged superstition on the Athenians by an inscription on their own altar; and strengthened his reasoning by quoting one of their own poets, Acts 17:22-28. To a corrupt and profligate judge he preached “righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come,” Acts 24:25. In general intercourse much depends, not only upon the word spoken, but upon the occasion and spirit of speaking. We must not only lay ourselves out to do good, but to watch the fittest seasons of doing it. Under affliction, or tender impressions of conviction, “a word fitly spoken” may be as the descent of our gracious Lord to the soul, “like rain upon mown grass,” Psalm 72:6. The plough enters most effectually when the earth is softened.
JOHN NEWTON: But let us be firm and unmoved, and not hesitate to speak the truth in love, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear. Go forth, therefore, in the name and strength of the Lord of Hosts, speaking the truth in love; and may He give you a witness in many hearts, that you are taught of God, and favoured with the unction of His Holy Spirit.
THOMAS GOODWIN (1600-1679): The God of grace and peace grant all His children spirits endeavouring to speak “the truth in love” in these dividing times.
