Colossians 4:6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

Colossians 4:6

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

Your

Seasoned

How

Proverbs 26:4

Luke 20:20

1 Peter 3:15

General references

Psalm 37:30

Bible References

Your

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.

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

You shall teach them [diligently] to your children [impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths], speaking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up.

Declare His glory among the nations,
His marvelous works among all peoples.

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

I have proclaimed good news of righteousness [and the joy that comes from obedience to You] in the great assembly;
Behold, I will not restrain my lips [from proclaiming Your righteousness],
As You know, O Lord.

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

Come and hear, all who fear God [and worship Him with awe-inspired reverence and obedience],
And I will tell what He has done for me.

My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And of Your [deeds of] salvation all day long,
For their number is more than I know.

Which we have heard and known,
And our fathers have told us.

Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
Speak of all His wonderful acts and devoutly praise them.

With my lips I have told of
All the ordinances of Your mouth.

The lips of the righteous feed and guide many,
But fools [who reject God and His wisdom] die for lack of understanding.

A soothing tongue [speaking words that build up and encourage] is a tree of life,
But a perversive tongue [speaking words that overwhelm and depress] crushes the spirit.

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

Listen carefully and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your mind to my knowledge;

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

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

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.

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.

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?”

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].

Seasoned

You shall season every grain offering with salt so that the salt (preservation) of the covenant of your God will not be missing from your grain offering. You shall offer salt with all your offerings.

He said, “Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him.

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its taste (purpose), how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and walked on by people [when the walkways are wet and slippery].

Salt is good and useful; but if salt has lost its saltiness (purpose), how will you make it salty? Have salt within yourselves continually, and be at peace with one another.”

How

Do not answer [nor pretend to agree with the frivolous comments of] a [closed-minded] fool according to his folly,
Otherwise you, even you, will be like him.

So they watched [for a chance to trap] Him. They sent spies who pretended to be upright and sincere, in order that they might catch Him in some statement [that they could distort and use against Him], so that they could turn Him over to the control and authority of [Pilate] the governor.

But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.

General references

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