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2026-06-28: 3rd Sunday of Paoune - “By Your Words”

“For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:37)

The words that we speak should not be taken lightly. By my words I will be justified and by my words I will be condemned...

  • "Judge not, that you be not judged." (Matthew 7:1)
  • "But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire." (Matthew 5:22)
  • "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." (Matthew 15:11)
  • "If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body." (James 3:2)

You see the great danger of my words? This is why many of the great saints and desert fathers preferred to live in silence.

This is why St Arsenius said: "I have often repented of having spoken, but never of having been silent."

Words of Condemnation

    What are some of these Words of Condemnation:

    • Filthy Language
      1. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.” (Colossians 3:8)
    • Lying
      1. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,” (Colossians 3:9-10)Blasphemy
    • Mockery
    • Harsh or Angry words
    • Bitterness
    • Gossiping
    • DivisiveEnvy
    • IdleTalk Wordsof pride or boasting
    • ExcusesExaggeration
      1. Words of hypocrisy or deceit
      2. False witness and repudiating others
      3. Foolish disputes and prattle
      4. Talk that when it is poured into the ears of others, defiles their purity or their thoughts or their faith or their knowledge
      5. Talk that damages relationships or causes friction
      6. Talk that changes someone's mind about his friends
      7. Making excuses
        • Problem of Excuses - Words of Spiritual Benefit 1.5
  • Complaining or Grumbling
  • Idle words

    • "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." (James 1:19)

    The one who is quick to talk and rushes into speaking is bound to err. And once we have said a word, we cannot get it back.

    Words of Justification

      There is such a thing as useful talk!

      The saints used to travel from the farthest ends of the world, just to hear a "word of benefit" from the mouth of one of the fathers. 

      • Gentle"It Wordsis not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you." (Matthew 10:20)
      • "O
    Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall show forth your praise." (Psalm 51:15)

    Words of Justification:

    • A word of blessing
    • A word of comfort
    • A word of encouragement
    • A word of solution
    • A word of guidance
    • A word of teaching
    • A word of rebuke if it is said with love

    Gentleness

    • A spiritual person never uses harsh words, but gentle ones because gentleness is one of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit
    • The Lord Jesus when He talked to the Samaritan Woman
      • Although she is very sinful, the Lord says to her: "You have well said, 'I have no husband', for you have had five husbands and the one whom you now have is not your husband.'"
      • See His gentleness even in using the word husband... none of those five were technically a "husband" but He did not choose to use a harsh word.
    • Instead of hurting people, try to win them
    • St Paul, when he went to Athens, he saw the city is full of idols... how did he address them?
      • "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious..."
    Timing

    "Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    Lest you also be like him.
    Answer a fool according to his folly,
    Lest he be wise in his own eyes." (Proverbs 26:4-5)

    See these two verses... they seem to be exact opposites of each other! Do not answer a fool according to his folly... answer a fool according to his folly.

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