Ephesians 4:29

Old Behavior, New Behavior, And Motivation

²⁸ The thief [who has become a believer] must no longer steal, but instead he must work hard [making an honest living], producing that which is good with his own hands, so that he will have something to share with those in need. ²⁹ Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak]. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [but seek to please Him], by whom you were sealed and marked [branded as God’s own] for the day of redemption [the final deliverance from the consequences of sin].

Age to Come

For Us

Give Ear

What is Good

Wholesome Words

That Which Is Good

No

Colossians 4:6

Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer each one [who questions you].

Proverbs 10:31-32

The mouth of the righteous flows with [skillful and godly] wisdom,
But the perverted tongue will be cut out.

Proverbs 15:2-4

The tongue of the wise speaks knowledge that is pleasing and acceptable,
But the [babbling] mouth of fools spouts folly.

Psalm 37:30-31

The mouth of the righteous proclaims wisdom,
And his tongue speaks justice and truth.

Proverbs 12:13

An evil man is [dangerously] ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
But the righteous will escape from trouble.

Proverbs 15:7

The lips of the wise spread knowledge [sifting it as chaff from the grain];
But the hearts of [shortsighted] fools are not so.

Proverbs 15:23

A man has joy in giving an appropriate answer,
And how good and delightful is a word spoken at the right moment—how good it is!

Proverbs 16:21

The wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweet speech increases persuasiveness and learning [in both speaker and listener].

Proverbs 25:11-12

Like apples of gold in settings of silver
Is a word spoken at the right time.

Ecclesiastes 10:12

The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious and win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him;

Isaiah 50:4

The Lord God has given Me [His Servant] the tongue of disciples [as One who is taught],
That I may know how to sustain the weary with a word.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple [as One who is taught].

Matthew 5:16

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 12:34-37

You brood of vipers, how can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

Romans 3:13-14

“Their throat is an open grave;
They [habitually] deceive with their tongues.”
“The venom of asps is beneath their lips.”

1 Corinthians 14:19

nevertheless, in public worship I would rather say five understandable words in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue [which others cannot understand].

Ephesians 4:16

From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, when each part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up in [unselfish] love.

Ephesians 5:3-4

But sexual immorality and all [moral] impurity [indecent, offensive behavior] or greed must not even be hinted at among you, as is proper among saints [for as believers our way of life, whether in public or in private, reflects the validity of our faith].

Colossians 3:8-9

But now rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene (abusive, filthy, vulgar) language from your mouth.

Colossians 3:16-17

Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind—permeating every aspect of your being] as you teach [spiritual things] and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage and comfort one another and build up one another, just as you are doing.

James 3:2-8

For we all stumble and sin in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says [never saying the wrong thing], he is a perfect man [fully developed in character, without serious flaws], able to bridle his whole body and rein in his entire nature [taming his human faults and weaknesses].

1 Peter 3:1

In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands [subordinate, not as inferior, but out of respect for the responsibilities entrusted to husbands and their accountability to God, and so partnering with them] so that even if some do not obey the word [of God], they may be won over [to Christ] without discussion by the godly lives of their wives,

Jude 1:13-16

wild waves of the sea, flinging up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of deep darkness has been reserved forever.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9

These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be [written] on your heart and mind.

Psalm 5:9

For there is nothing trustworthy or reliable or truthful in what they say;
Their heart is destruction [just a treacherous chasm, a yawning gulf of lies].
Their throat is an open grave;
They [glibly] flatter with their [silken] tongue.

Psalm 45:2

You are fairer than the sons of men;
Graciousness is poured upon Your lips;
Therefore God has blessed You forever.

Psalm 52:2

Your tongue devises destruction,
Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

Psalm 71:17-18

O God, You have taught me from my youth,
And I still declare Your wondrous works and miraculous deeds.

Psalm 71:24

My tongue also will speak of Your righteousness all day long;
For they are ashamed, for they are humiliated who seek my injury.

Psalm 73:7-9

Their eye bulges from fatness [they have more than the heart desires];
The imaginations of their mind run riot [with foolishness].

Psalm 78:4-5

We will not hide them from their children,
But [we will] tell to the generation to come the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
And [tell of] His great might and power and the wonderful works that He has done.

Malachi 3:16-18

Then those who feared the Lord [with awe-filled reverence] spoke to one another; and the Lord paid attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who fear the Lord [with an attitude of reverence and respect] and who esteem His name.

Luke 4:22

And [as He continued on] they all were speaking well of Him, and were in awe and were wondering about the words of grace which were coming from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

1 Corinthians 15:32-33

What good has it done me if, [merely] from a human point of view, I fought with wild animals at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised [at all], let us eat and drink [enjoying ourselves now], for tomorrow we die.

1 Peter 2:12

Keep your behavior excellent among the [unsaved] Gentiles [conduct yourself honorably, with graciousness and integrity], so that for whatever reason they may slander you as evildoers, yet by observing your good deeds they may [instead come to] glorify God in the day of visitation [when He looks upon them with mercy].

2 Peter 2:18

For uttering arrogant words of vanity [pompous words disguised to sound scholarly or profound, but meaning nothing and containing no spiritual truth], they beguile and lure using lustful desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error.

Revelation 13:5-6

And the beast was given a mouth (the power of speech), uttering great things and arrogant and blasphemous words, and he was given freedom and authority to act and to do as he pleased for forty-two months (three and a half years).

Ephesians 4:12

[and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church];