In this lesson we explain what it means to speak evil of as well as show Biblical examples of it. Slides & audio can be found together at www.cmcoc.org Sermon by: Brian Birdow

1. Speak evil of no one!
Sermon text: Titus 3:1-2
Sermon by: Brian Birdow

2. Objective of Lesson
1.To explain what “speak evil
means”
2.To show a biblical example of
speaking evil.
3.To show when we need to keep
quiet.

3. Speak evil of or Malign defined
• To speak evil or Malign (Gk. blasphemeo)
— to speak in a disrespectful way that
demeans.
• To speak evil against someone in such a way
as to harm or injure his or her reputation.
• Slander — the action or crime of making a
false spoken statement damaging to a
person's reputation.

4. A biblical example of speaking evil
NUMBERS 12

5. Moses, Miriam, & Aaron
• Numbers 12:1 —Notice Miriam is
mentioned first, could she be the ring
leader?
• Miriam takes the lead here; “The feminine
singular verb that initiates the chapter (lit.,
‘and she spoke,’ v.1) and the placement
of her name before that of Aaron indicate
that Miriam is the principal in the attack
against Moses.”

6. Moses, Miriam, & Aaron
• Numbers 12:1 Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against
Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married
(for he had married a Cushite woman);
• They are upset with Moses for marrying a Cushite or
Ethopian woman. The woman has no control over her birth
or ethnicity!
• Maybe this is not the whole issue either because of verse
two.
• Numbers 12:2 and they said “Has the Lord indeed spoken
only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us as
well?” And the Lord heard it.

7. Moses, Miriam, & Aaron
• Numbers 12:11 Then Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my
lord, I beg you, do not account this sin to us, in
which we have acted foolishly and in which we have
sinned.
• Aaron begs Moses to intercede on their behalf —
Note the US.
• Aaron’s appeal to Moses acknowledges the
superiority of Moses’ role as intercessor and
highlights Aaron’s own inability to intercede in this
case.

8. Wisdom speaks
When to keep quiet

9. Speak evil of no one!
• Don’t open your mouth in the heat of anger
• Proverbs 14:17 — A quick-tempered man
acts foolishly, And a man of evil devices is
hated.
• When don’t have all of the facts
• Proverbs 18:13 He who gives an answer
before he hears, It is folly and shame to him.

10. Speak evil of no one!
• Don’t speak unless you have verified the story!
• Deuteronomy 17:6 On the evidence of two
witnesses or three witnesses, he who is to die
shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death
on the evidence of one witness.
• Don’t joke about sin, fools refuse to admit
wrong!
• Proverbs 14:9 Fools mock at sin, But among the
upright there is good will.

11. Speak evil of no one!
• When you are tempted to flatter a wicked
person
• Proverbs 24:23-26 …turn with me please…
• Keep quiet if you will later be ashamed of
your words!
• Proverbs 8:8 All the utterances of my mouth
are in righteousness; There is nothing
crooked or perverted in them.

12. Summary
• Jude 9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed
with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did
not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but
said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
• We have got to learn to let the Lord fight our battles!
We pray for them, we wait on the LORD! Vengeance is
HIS!

13. Summary
• 1 Corinthians 4:11-13 To this present hour we
are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly
clothed, and are roughly treated, and are
homeless; and we toil, working with our own
hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we
are persecuted, we endure; when we are
slandered, we try to console (conciliate); we
have become as the scum of the world, the
dregs of all things, even until now.