Idle Words, Foolish Talk, And Jesting?

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Category: Holiness

Published on Saturday, 23 May 2009 09:05

Written by Ryan Hicks

IDLE WORDS, FOOLISH TALK, AND JESTING?

By Ryan Hicks

I have noticed a sloppiness or laziness occurring among believers. People once diligent to guard their mouths are becoming more talkative and wallowing around in foolishness. I have seen a common leaning of people to joke around and really treat the words they speak as useless things meant to deceive, trick, and mislead (all in the name of fun). Not only that, but some people make little room for listening because they are constantly speaking about something.

Ephesians 5:3-4
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

How many times have you read this passage and I suspect you still have not really comprehended all its great truths and fearful warning to the lazy believer. Paul says that "fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness" should not be once named among you. Now all believers will say that they are not in these sins and go on their way feeling justified, BUT WAIT! Paul did not end there. He added to that list of things that should not even be ONCE named among the saints: filthiness, foolish talking, and jesting! How many think they are right with God because they are not fornicators when God wants them to immediately cease the foolish talking and the jesting?! Let us dig into this a little more:

Ephesians 5:4
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

"Foolish talking" here is translated from the Greek word mōrologia (#3473) and means: buffoonery, ridicule, silly talk. This mainly refers to ridicule, but includes just random nonsense as well. If you ridicule others, self, or something, you are a rebel and need to repent. If you act like a fool and a buffoon and use your speech to reflect such silliness and nonsense, you are a rebel and need to repent. If you struggle with this, it could be that you associate with people that partake of foolish talking and you need to separate yourself from them if you cannot get them to assist you in correcting your speech.

"Jesting" only occurs once in the Bible right here in this verse and is translated from the Greek word eutrapelia (#2160) and means: artfully turned, witticism, puns, kidding, joking, or double entendre. This refers to word play and especially innuendo, taking some innocent words and giving them a less than innocent meaning, and even puns. It refers to kidding, where a person will say one thing that is untrue and then just say, "I'm just kidding." Such "kidding" is also known as lying.

Where foolish talking can be talk used to ridicule something or someone (including self-deprecating humor) and random nonsense, can you not see how this talk is not that of a Christian that is walking in love toward God and fellow man? While it seems more expected for people to avoid foolish talking, unfortunately jesting is more commonly practiced among believers and some pastors even start their services out with jesting by telling a joke and using puns. This should NOT BE ONCE NAMED AMONG THE SAINTS!

Let us now look at more of this passage to see a grave warning.

Ephesians 5:3-6
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Because of these things! What things? Fornication, all uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talking, jesting! Because "of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience." If you practice foolish talking or jesting you know in your heart you feel conviction each time you do so, otherwise you are "none of his" (Romans 8:9).

Matthew 12:35-37
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

How many times have you read this passage of Scripture, the very words of our Lord Jesus Christ? Did you ever notice how Jesus relates the truth that "an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things" to the idle words that men speak? "What is an idle word," you may ask? The word "idle" here is translated from the Greek word argos (#692) and means: useless, idle, ineffective. These idle words are not "good to the use of edifying" nor are they words that "minister grace unto the hearers" (Ephesians 4:29).

Our words are so important, as Jesus said, "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Matthew 12:37). Have you really considered being a person who follows the Scripture and lets "your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation" (James 5:12)? Do you think sinners look at you with respect when you speak useless words, vain words, jestings, and silly words? Do you think God is pleased? Should not people be able to know if you said something it is true and that it is not some joke or idle word? Should not people be able to say, "That person there is a Christian and the words they speak are always the truth."

Ephesians 4:25
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

You can call your jesting and foolish talk whatever you would like, but generally it involves some form of lying, but the child of God is commanded to put "away lying" and to "speak every man truth with his neighbour." That means no so-called "white lies" where people lie to avoid hurting someone with the truth. Can you honestly tell me that you have not felt even the slightest conviction about telling a joke, jesting, or just talking about useless things? If you can say you do so without conviction then you should be very concerned for the well being of your soul, I would suspect you do not have the Spirit and have never been born again. I want you to honestly and deeply "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" (2 Corinthians 13:5).

If you prove to yourself that you are in the faith then I want you to think about the words you spoke today and then the words you spoke yesterday. Did your words "minister grace unto the hearers" and were they "good to the use of edifying" (Ephesians 4:29), or were they idle, foolish talk, and/or jesting? If they were any of the later then you need to put them off starting this very moment. Repent of this and ask the Lord for grace to think before you speak and to help you control your tongue.

1 Peter 3:10-11
10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

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