Transcript of Sabbath Meeting - 04/28/00

To sanctify is to set apart for Yahweh's use.

And that is what we need to learn to do.

This message is one way we can grow toward that end.

Good evening, Shabbat Shalom brethren.

In this message I'm going to discuss GOSSIP AND RELATIONSHIPS

Psalms 34 Is a very encouraging Psalm:

1 I will bless Yahweh at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul shall make its boast in Yahweh; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

3 Oh, magnify Yahweh with me, And let us exalt His name together.

4 I sought Yahweh, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.

5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed.

6 This poor man cried out, and Yahweh heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of Yahweh encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that Yahweh is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

9 Oh, fear Yahweh, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.

10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing.

11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.

12 WHO IS THE MAN WHO DESIRES LIFE, And loves many days, that he may see good?

Anyone interested?? He's going to tell us how.

13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit.

14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of Yahweh are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.

16 The face of Yahweh is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and Yahweh hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.

18 Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But Yahweh delivers him out of them all.

20 He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.

21 Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.

22 Yahweh redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

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Have you heard statements like these?

"Well, It's only the truth!"

"If they don't want to be talked about then they shouldn't do it."

"If you don't have anything nice to say about people ....come sit here by me." (That's a joke, I think)

How many times do we have to hear this?

When you have a problem with something someone has done or is doing YOU GO TO THAT PERSON AND TALK ABOUT IT. YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT IT WITH ANYONE ELSE.

There may be an exception: if you are uncertain about the situation you may talk to your parent or your spouse.

If you do that, try not to mention names. We should discern difference between counseling about a situation and gossip.

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Leviticus 19:16 'You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am Yahweh.

Psalms 5:8 Lead me, O Yahweh, in Your righteousness.

Because of my enemies; make Your way straight before my face.

9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is destruction; Their throat is an open tomb; They flatter with their tongue.

Do I feel like my throat is an open tomb? Of course not!

But . . . what does Yahweh say?

Here are a lot of powerful scriptures to think about when things seem to be going wrong in our relationships.

I don't have much comment but the scriptures stand well on their own.

I'm going to put them up pretty fast because I want to get to some Torah lessons. Just read THE UPPER CASE PARTS if you are not a speed-reader. Don't get behind.

One reason to give them all is to show how very many scriptures there are on this subject.

AGAIN I'm going to put them up pretty fast because I want to get to some Torah lessons. Just read THE UPPER CASE PARTS if you are not a speed-reader. Don't get behind.

One reason to give them all is to show how very many scriptures there are on this subject.

Here goes:

Psalms 12:3 May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, And the tongue that speaks proud things,

Psalms 12:4 Who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail; OUR LIPS ARE OUR OWN; WHO IS SOVEREIGN OVER US?"

Psalms 50:16 But to the wicked ELOHIM SAYS: "What right have you to declare My statutes, or take My covenant in your mouth,

17 Seeing you hate instruction and cast My words behind you?

18 When you saw a thief, you consented with him, and have been a partaker with adulterers.

19 YOU GIVE YOUR MOUTH TO EVIL, and your tongue frames deceit.

20 You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son.

Proverbs 11:11 By the blessing of the upright THE CITY is exalted, but it IS OVERTHROWN BY THE MOUTH OF THE WICKED.

12 He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his peace.

13 A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of A FAITHFUL SPIRIT CONCEALS a matter.

14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

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Proverbs 18:6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for blows.

7 A FOOL'S MOUTH IS HIS DESTRUCTION, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

8 The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, and they go down into the inmost body.

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Proverbs 20:19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.

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Proverbs 26:17 He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,

19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, "I was only joking!"

20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.

21 As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

22 The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, and they go down into the inmost body.

23 Fervent lips with a wicked heart are like earthenware covere

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Proverbs 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but a fool's wrath is heavier than both of them.

4 Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, but who is able to stand before jealousy?

5 OPEN REBUKE IS BETTER THAN LOVE CAREFULLY CONCEALED.

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

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Ezekiel 22:9 "In you are men who slander to cause bloodshed;. . . .

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2 Thessalonians 3:11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are BUSYBODIES.

12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Master Yahshua the Messiah that they WORK IN QUIETNESS AND EAT THEIR OWN BREAD.

13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.

14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.

15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

16 Now may the Master of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. Yahweh be with you all.

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1 Timothy 5:11 But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against the Messiah, they desire to marry,

12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith.

13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also GOSSIPS AND BUSYBODIES, SAYING THINGS WHICH THEY OUGHT NOT.

14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

15 For some have already turned aside after Satan.

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1 Peter 4:14 If you are reproached for the name of the Messiah, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of Elohim rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or AS A BUSYBODY IN OTHER PEOPLE'S MATTERS.

16 Yet if anyone suffers as a believer, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify Yahweh in this matter.

17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of Yahweh; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the good news message of

18 Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the impious and the sinner appear?"

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of Yahweh commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

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Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.

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Proverbs 17:27 He who has knowledge spares his words,

And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

28 EVEN A FOOL IS COUNTED WISE WHEN HE HOLDS HIS PEACE;

When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

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Proverbs 29:20 Do you see a man hasty in his words?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

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Proverbs 18:2 A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.

3 When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; And with dishonor comes reproach.

4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.

5 It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

6 A fool's lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows.

7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.

8 The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost bod

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Proverbs 18:23 The poor man uses entreaties, But the rich answers roughly.

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Ecclesiastes 3:7 A time to tear, And a time to sew; A TIME TO KEEP SILENCE, And a time to speak;

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1 Corinthians 14:34 Let your women keep silent in the congregations, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.

35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in the congregation.

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James 1:26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and DOES NOT BRIDLE HIS TONGUE but deceives his own heart, THIS ONE'S RELIGION IS USELESS.

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James 3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

3 Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.

4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.

5 Even so THE TONGUE IS A LITTLE MEMBER AND BOASTS GREAT THINGS. See how great a forest a little fire kindles

6 And THE TONGUE IS A FIRE, A WORLD OF INIQUITY. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.

8 But NO MAN CAN TAME THE TONGUE. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With it we bless our Elohim and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of Elohim.

10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to

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Psalms 12:1 Help, Yahweh, for the righteous man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.

2 They speak idly everyone with his neighbor; With flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

3 May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, And the tongue that speaks proud things,

4 Who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail; Our lips are our own; Who is Sovereign over us?"

5 "For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I WILL ARISE," says Yahweh; "I will set him in the safety for which he yearns."

6 THE WORDS OF YAHWEH ARE PURE WORDS, Like silve

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Yahshua opened not his mouth against them

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Acts 8:32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

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Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

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NOW I'LL SLOW DOWN

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Proverbs 18:19 A BROTHER OFFENDED IS HARDER TO WIN THAN A STRONG CITY,

And contentions are like the bars of a castle.

20 A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth,

From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.

21 DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

This looks like the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Proverbs 10:18 Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, And whoever spreads slander is a fool.

It is important not to hide any hatred. We should be discussing it with the other person and solving the problem. If it can't be solved then maybe we need to just forgive, love, and stay away if possible.

19 IN THE MULTITUDE OF WORDS SIN IS NOT LACKING, But he who restrains his lips is wise.

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; The heart of the wicked is worth little.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom.

Proverbs 21:23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

24 A proud and haughty man; "Scoffer" is his name; He acts with arrogant pride.

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GUARD YOUR TONGUE !

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Let's look at a few passages from Yahweh's law and see HOW we must control our tongue from speaking evil.

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I want first to make it clear that the so-called law of Moses IS ACTUALLY the Law of Yahweh. And I'm not talking about only the ten commandments. As most of you know, the Torah, the law, the Books of Moses, is the first five books of your Bible.

That is Yahweh's Law, and a righteous person who wants to please Yahweh will strive to obey everything in that law that can be obeyed today.

These next two verses show the identity of the two terms:

Luke 2:22 Now when the days of her purification according to the LAW OF MOSES were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to Yahweh 23 (as it is written in the LAW OF YAHWEH, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to Yahweh.")

Now let's look at some of these commands which pertain to speaking evil:

Exodus 23:1 "You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

Leviticus 19:16 'You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am Yahweh.

Deuteronomy 24:8 "Take heed concerning the plague of leprosy, that you carefully observe and do according to all that the priests, the Levites, shall teach you; just as I commanded them, so you shall be careful to do.

9 "Remember what Yahweh your Elohim did to Miriam on the way when you came out of Egypt.

You can read about Miriam's bad talking in Exo 12.

Leviticus 19:14 'You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your Elohim: I am Yahweh.

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Cursing someone in Yahweh's name is the first serious problem. We must never do that.

Next: This is certainly not to say that you may curse him who can hear or cause a seeing man to stumble. Consider also the spiritual application....

If your evil speaking causes another to sin then this is putting a stumbling block before him.

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Leviticus 22:32 "You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel. I am Yahweh who sanctifies you,

Leviticus 25:17 'Therefore you shall not oppress one another, but you shall fear your Elohim; for I am Yahweh your Elohim.

Deuteronomy 8:11 "Beware that you do not forget Yahweh your Elohim by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today,

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How can I speak evil against someone else while bearing in mind how much lower than Yahweh I am? How can I understand that I am a sinner before Yahweh and still criticize another?

I think I can only do it if I put Yahweh out of my mind for the time.

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Exodus 23:7 "Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked.

Leviticus 19:12 'And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your Elohim: I am Yahweh.

Exodus 20:16 "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

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Most new covenant believers do not swear at all but Yahshua pointed out that our speech must be accurate.

Let you ‘yes' be yes and your ‘no' be no. Lying about someone would violate the commandment

Leviticus 19:17 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. YOU SHALL SURELY REBUKE YOUR NEIGHBOR, AND NOT BEAR SIN BECAUSE OF HIM.

Leviticus 19:18 'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am Yahweh.

If you tell something bad that a person did to you then you are taking vengeance and bearing a grudge. These scriptures command us to forget the wrong and put it out of our mind.

Deuteronomy 19:15 "One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.

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This scripture forbids us to accept an accusation against someone which we heard from only one person. LISTENING TO GOSSIP violates this scripture.

Exodus 22:22 "You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child.

23 "If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry;

24 "and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

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If we speak evil about a widow or orphan we violate this scripture. It could be very dangerous for us.

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Numbers 35:33 'So you shall not pollute the land where you are; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it.

This scripture says that if someone is hurting another person by speaking evil about them you may not encourage them by listening, nodding or agreeing with them.

We must not support someone who is gossiping.

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Leviticus 19:18 'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF: I am Yahweh.

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We must be just as considerate of the DIGNITY of others as we are of our own. By speaking or listening to talk about his faults it shows that we do not love him enough.

Leviticus 19:15 'You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. IN RIGHTEOUSNESS YOU SHALL JUDGE YOUR NEIGHBOR.

We are required to give everyone THE BENEFIT OF ANY DOUBT in a situation. Try to imagine how the behavior could have been righteous or less blameful and assume that must be the case.

Leviticus 25:35 'If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then YOU SHALL HELP HIM, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you.

If you speak badly about someone and they suffer loss because of it you have violated this command.

Leviticus 19:17 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. YOU SHALL SURELY REBUKE YOUR NEIGHBOR, and not bear sin because of him.

This scripture makes it mandatory for a believer to correct another believer who is speaking badly about someone. If the speaker is not a believer then we can walk away but if it is a believer then we must stop him from sinning at once.

DO THIS FOR ONE ANOTHER!

Let it become a known fact that YAHWEH'S PEOPLE DO NOT HURT ONE ANOTHER.

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Yahshua said in Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

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BE SALT for your brother!

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Salt is one of the ways Yahweh sanctions for purifying things.

We are to be salt. But if we have lost our ability to purify things then what good are we?

Does salt hurt when it is applied? Yes, it might; but it is our duty to lovingly correct our brethren.

If someone corrects you then thank then for it and never hold it against them. Even though it hurts.

The assembly needs this in order to grow into the perfect bride for Yahshua when he comes again.

You are not being nice by letting someone hurt others.

Being nice is protecting them from sinning.

If you are in a group then you can ask to change the topic of conversation or just quietly leave the group.

When someone leaves a group be alert for wrong speaking. Are you doing it? Is someone else? Should I leave too?

Leviticus 19:32 'You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your Elohim: I am Yahweh.

Our respect for an older person or for an elder in the assembly should prevent us from speaking ill of them. Paul says 1 Timothy 5:19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.

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Titus 3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to SPEAK EVIL OF NO ONE, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Yahshua the Messiah our Savior,

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It is acceptable to ask questions and even to respectfully argue a point with which you disagree. If an older person is speaking heresy, then it is acceptable to contradict him.

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Exodus 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which Yahweh your Elohim is giving you.

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Honoring your parents includes never speaking ill about them.

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Deuteronomy 10:20 "You shall FEAR YAHWEH your Elohim; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name.

Since Yahweh hears every word we speak, we show our scorn for him when we violate His commands concerning how we may speak. Yahshua also says:

Matthew 12:35 "A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

Deuteronomy 6:7 "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Taking the time away from talking about or studying Yahweh's word to speak about someone else's errors is a disobedience of this command.

Deuteronomy 28:9 "Yahweh will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of Yahweh your Elohim and WALK IN HIS WAYS.

Deuteronomy 27:24 'Cursed is the one who attacks his neighbor secretly.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see Yahweh.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of Yahweh.

Matthew 5:19 "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

It is OK to relate a story where someone does something wrong but without making it possible to guess who the person is. That has to be a secret. Such stories should only be told for a good purpose such as teaching our children.

It is also OK to discuss a commonly known negative truth about someone. For instance the President's sins are common knowledge and may be discussed.

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CONCLUSION

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Psalms 39:1 I said, "I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue;

I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While THE WICKED are before me."

2 I was mute with silence, I held my peace even from good; And my sorrow was stirred up.

3 My heart was hot within me; While I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:

4 "Yahweh, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am.

5 Indeed, You have made my days as a handsbreadth, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah

6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.

7 "And now, Sovereign, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions; Do not make me the reproach of the foolish.

9 I was mute, I did not open my mouth, Because it was You who did it.

May Yahweh bless you as you learn to speak only as He desires, bringing every thought into subjection to Him.

HalleluYAH!