THE SIN OF JESTING

"Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children. And walk in love as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be once named among you as becometh saints, neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting which are not convenient, but rather giving of thanks." Ephesians 5:1-4

In this letter of Paul, he exhorts Christians to be followers of God as his children. There are things that are just not fitting for the children of God to engage in and are not appropriate for a character of purity. The sins noted in the verse are just not appropriate for God's children.

"The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness." Proverbs 10:32

Jesting is language that has doubtful morality in its content. It is the use of words that tease the mind with suggestions of sinful activity that are condemned by the Lord. The language is often hidden in terms with double meanings that can be taken two ways. One innocent and harmless, but one deadly and sinful. Jesting is a means of invitation without commitment, polished and witty speech as an instrument of sin, refinement and versatility without the flavor of Christian grace. Jesting is found in a devious question that suggests an action of sin in a cunning joke. Leaving room for humor but underneath is a secret desire of sin.

A reminder here from Jesus, that our speech comes from our hearts.

"Either make the tree good and its fruit good or else make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt, for the tree is known by its fruit. O generation of vipers how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But i say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Matthew 12:33-37

The words we speak will be with us in judgment. Idle words are those words of the heart that seek for sinful pleasure without the obligation of action. Dirty jokes, foolish talking and cursing will be played back for us by a holy and righteous God and we may stand condemned because of it. We will be justified by our words and condemned by our words. Paul admonishes us to put far away from us this kind of speech. Speech that is funny to the world but not to God.

The morality of the world is filled with jesting and filthy language. We as children of God, as the bride of Christ, must stand apart from it all, from any questionable speech that offends God and his family.

".....let it not be once named among you as becometh saints." Ephesians 5:3

Not once. "let it not be once." God does not want us to speak this way even once. Let it not be even once.

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

This is discernment, restraint, patience, waiting on the Lord to speak. This is a holy and righteous walk with our God. Being aware of who you are with, how to answer, what to say in every given situation and moment. Listening to the heart of a situation and not joining in the jesting but bringing the Gospel of Christ to all situations.

"The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness." Proverbs 15:2

Being a fool brings destruction upon oneself...we must be wise in speech.

"Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom but a man of understanding walketh uprightly." Proverbs 15:21 "But now ye also put off all these, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth." Colossians 3:8 "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret." Ephesians 5:11-12