Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 42

Paul Exhorts the Believers in Colosse to use their Words Wisely

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. KJV

It is no coincidence or it is not by happenstance that the Apostle Paul follows his exhortation to walk wisely among unbelievers with an exhortation to use their/our words wisely, because no matter how much we love our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, having to live with and rub shoulders with people who hate and despise you for your faith in Jesus Christ will wear on any saint of God and cause us to spew out words sometimes that are not glorifying to our Lord Jesus Christ and injurious to the hearers of said words, again Paul speaks from his own personal experiences as he also spoke amiss out of anger and frustration of the non-believing Jews who constantly hounded him as we see in these words recorded for us by Dr. Luke, "Then Paul, gazing earnestly at the council (Sanhedrin), said, Brethren, I have lived before God, doing my duty with a perfectly good conscience until this very day [as a citizen, a true and loyal Jew]. At this the high priest Ananias ordered those who stood near him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, God is about to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit as a judge to try me in accordance with the Law, and yet in defiance of the Law you order me to be struck? Those who stood near exclaimed, Do you rail at {and} insult the high priest of God? And Paul said, I was not conscious, brethren, that he was a high priest; for the Scripture says, You shall not speak ill of a ruler of your people." (Acts 23:1-5) (Amplified Bible). Therefore, Paul tells these Colossian believers and we believers today to, "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) (Amplified Bible). The English word 'speech' appears to be straightforward enough that we should understand what Paul refers to by using it, but the Greek word logos used to translate this English word has an even deeper meaning, which is a primary verb meaning not only something said but (including the thought); by implication a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive. Therefore, we see then that not only the words that proceed forth from the mouth are what Paul wants these Colossian believers and we believers today to hold in check, but it is also the thoughts that produce said words and the motive behind them, for it was surely Paul's errant motive not only to warn those Jews above, but also to scare them and hurt them, which is why in his apology he referred to the Scripture in the Old Testament which reads as such, "You shall not revile God [the judges as His agents] or esteem lightly {or} curse a ruler of your people." (Exodus 22:28) (Amplified Bible).

Paul declares that this caution or guard of our speech/logos should occur at all times because our tongue or our words seem to us so insignificant (especially those spoken in private) we tend to not take them as serious as we do our actions, but let us remember what the Apostle James had to say about the tongue, "Not many [of you] should become teachers (self-constituted censors and reprovers of others), my brethren, for you know that we [teachers] will be judged by a higher standard {and} with greater severity [than other people; thus we assume the greater accountability and the more condemnation]. For we all often stumble {and} fall {and} offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character {and} a perfect man, able to control his whole body {and} to curb his entire nature. If we set bits in the horses' mouths to make them obey us, we can turn their whole bodies about. Likewise, look at the ships: though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines. Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things. See how much wood {or} how great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze! And the tongue is a fire. [The tongue is a] world of wickedness set among our members, contaminating {and} depraving the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of birth (the cycle of man's nature), being itself ignited by hell (Gehenna). For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea animal, can be tamed and has been tamed by human genius (nature). But the human tongue can be tamed by no man. It is a restless (undisciplined, irreconcilable) evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who were made in God's likeness! Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be so. Does a fountain send forth [simultaneously] from the same opening fresh water and bitter? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can a salt spring furnish fresh water." (James 3:1-12) (Amplified Bible).

In contrast to this reality, Paul exhorts these Colossian believers and we believers today to yield to God the Holy Spirit that our words may be with grace and seasoned with salt. The English word 'grace' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word charis meaning graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual. The English word 'salt' is translated by the Greek word halas meaning figuratively prudence or discretion and avoidance of embarrassment. In other words, our impulsive words can cause others to be hurt or injured and embarrassed, therefore, we should season our words with graciousness and kindness, thinking of how we would feel if such language were directed to us and about us and more importantly thinking of how our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ thinks of the person or persons such negative language is spoken to or about, even if the person or persons are our enemies and enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ (those spoken of in the last study/commentary out of Deuteronomy 18:9-14), for it was Christ Jesus our Lord who said these words to the very men who brutally beat Him, nailed Him to a wooden Cross, and crucified Him, "And Jesus prayed, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' And they divided His garments {and} distributed them by casting lots for them." (Luke 23:34) (Amplified Bible) also it was our Lord Jesus who said these words, "But I say to you who are listening now to Me: [in order to heed, make it a practice to] love your enemies, treat well (do good to, act nobly toward) those who detest you {and} pursue you with hatred, Invoke blessings upon {and} pray for the happiness of those who curse you, implore God's blessing (favor) upon those who abuse you [who revile, reproach, disparage, and high-handedly misuse you]." (Luke 6:27-28) (Amplified Bible). If this be our mind-set, then we will be able to hear God the Holy Spirit speaking to our spirit or our inner man or inner woman and we will know what words to say to every person we encounter no matter the person or the circumstance of our discourse with them.

"One answer is proper for one man, and another for another man Proverbs 26:4-5. We have need of a great deal of wisdom and grace to give proper answers to every man, particularly in answering the questions and objections of adversaries against our religion, giving the reasons of our faith, and showing the unreasonableness of their exceptions and cavils to the best advantage for our cause and least prejudice to ourselves. Be ready always to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear, 1 Peter 3:15." Matthew Henry

"The Apostle Paul knew that during our faith pilgrimage we will not always find ourselves in pleasant circumstances or pleasant company, but this must not be an excuse for us to revert back to our old man or old nature and his way of conversing spewing out reviling words or words of profanity in anger or frustration, but instead we should purpose ourselves to respond to fellow Christians and even those outside of Christ as instructed by the Apostle Peter with these words, 'Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For {know that} to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God--that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection].' (1 Peter 3:9) (Amplified Bible)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…