KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 18:30 KJV” They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.”

The Lord was in the court of the governor, Pilate. Since the Jews were not prepared to go into the court of the Gentile governor, he decided to walk out and speak to them. He asked them, what offense has the man done, and the following was their answer: “They answered and said unto him, if he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. “A malefactor means an evil doer. These people answered the governor in a very harsh way.

He knew that, since they brought Him, then He might have done something wrong. That was the reason he asked what particular wrong thing he had done. Pilate got infuriated at their answer and asked them to take Him away and judge Jesus by their law. These people had no definite offense to accuse Jesus about.

Wrong words always give people away into the hands of the law, or their enemies. Even demons take advantage of people and destroy them because of what they say. Prov 15:1 KJV “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” The scriptures say out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Your words are a product of your heart. These people were bitter against Jesus, seeking Him dead, yet they had no particular accusation against Him.

Now, people give out words out of the following state of hearts.

1. An angry heart. Angry hearts speak with pain and seek vengeance: Eph 4: 26:27

2. A judgmental heart: A judgmental heart accuses and condemns. Words like, you are a wicked person, a liar, etc. These are all words judging the individual. If a mother tells his son ‘You are evil, it shall not be well with you’ please you have judged and condemned him Lk 6: Luk 6:37 KJV ” Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

3. A carnal heart: It speaks unscriptural and corrupt words. Its words are full of unbelieve, lust, and lies. Eph 4:29:

4. A loving heart: It speaks kind, truthful, wise, assuring, gracious, forgiving, blessings encouraging, and thoughtful words. Col 4:6 KJV” Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

THOUGHT: A GOOD HEART GIVES GOOD WORDS

FURTHER STUDIES

James 1:19 KJV” Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”

Eph 4:29 KJV “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.”