Day: March 9, 2024

Saturday, March 9, 2024

“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 KJV).

What is this “corrupt communication?”

In the Scriptures, we read about false accusations (Luke 3:14; Luke 19:8; 2 Timothy 3:3; Titus 2:3; 1 Peter 3:16), false apostles (2 Corinthians 11:13), false balances (Proverbs 11:1; Proverbs 20:23), false brethren (2 Corinthians 11:26; Galatians 2:4), false Christs (Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22), false dealings (Genesis 21:23; Leviticus 19:11; Psalm 44:17; Jeremiah 6:13; Jeremiah 8:10), false divinations (Jeremiah 14:14; Ezekiel 21:23), false dreams (Jeremiah 23:32; Zechariah 10:2), and false gifts (Proverbs 25:14).

Also, the Bible refers to false lips (Proverbs 17:4), false matters (Exodus 23:7), false oaths (Zechariah 8:17), false reports (Exodus 23:1), false sayings (Matthew 7:15), false science (1 Timothy 6:20), false swearing (Leviticus 6:3,5; Leviticus 19:12; Jeremiah 5:2; Jeremiah 7:9; Hosea 10:4; Zechariah 5:4; Malachi 3:5), false teachers (2 Peter 2:1), false tongues (Psalm 120:3), false visions (Jeremiah 14:14), and false ways (Psalm 119:104; Psalm 119:28; Jeremiah 8:10).

However, the most prominent mentions are false prophets (Jeremiah 5:31; Jeremiah 29:9; Matthew 7:15; Matthew 24:11,24; Mark 13:22; Luke 6:26; Acts 13:6; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1; Revelation 16:13; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10) and false witnesses (Exodus 20:16; Deuteronomy 5:20; Deuteronomy 19:16,18; Psalm 27:12; Psalm 35:11; Proverbs 6:19; Proverbs 12:17; Proverbs 14:5; Proverbs 19:5,9; Proverbs 21:28; Proverbs 25:18; Matthew 15:19; Matthew 19:18; Matthew 26:59,60; Mark 10:19; Mark 14:56,57; Luke 18:20; Acts 6:13; Romans 13:9; 1 Corinthians 15:15).

All the above references involve something untrue, deceitful, or counterfeit: they relate to dishonest businesspeople, lying religious leaders, and erroneous beliefs or messages. The two dominant themes—and note them well—are false prophets (people claiming to speak for God when they are not) and false witnesses (people arguing something is true when it is not). If the Holy Spirit dedicates so many verses about them, then it only stands to reason these passages about false witnesses and false prophets merit special attention. Yet, in the average “Christian” assembly or institution, little to no consideration is given them.

Let us see how false witnesses and false prophets factor into corrupt communication….