Psalm 101:5 Whoever privately slanders his neighbor, him will I cut off: him that has an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. Mr. Spurgeon used to say that if all men's sins were divided into two bundles, halt of them would be sins of the tongue. And if any one thinks that is a preacher's exaggeration, let him read what is written in the Book of Proverbs and the Psalms on the matter, and he will find that the preacher has good authority for his strong words. The sins of the tongue, who can number them? The mischief of the tale-bearer, who can measure it? When St. Paul commands aged women that they be not slanderers," the word he uses means, literally, " devils"; it is the word which has given us our adjective "diabolical"; and verily there is no temper that is so wholly un-Christian and anti-Christian, that so well deserves the ugly name of "devilish," as the temper of the slanderer and the back-biter. The Apostle James is, if possible, more emphatic still: "If any man thinketh himself to be religious," he says, "while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man's religion is vain." But on the other hand, "If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also." It is said that St. had engraved upon his table these words: "There is no place at this table for any one who loves scandal." Shall not we make a like resolve, speak no slander — no, nor listen to it? For, if for every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account in the day of judgment, where shall the slanderer and the back-biter appear? (George Jackson, M.A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. |
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