Last week we went over the first commandment that the malach (angel) of repentance told Hermas, and this week we will look at the first part of the second command which is to avoid evil speaking, and YAHWEH willing next week we will go over the second part of the command which is about giving to the poor, this way no one will be overwhelmed with too much information at one time.
He said to me, “Be simple and guileless (innocent without deception), and you will be as the children who know not the wickedness that ruins the life of men. First, then, speak EVIL OF NO ONE, nor listen with pleasure to anyone who speaks evil of another. But if you listen, you will partake of the sin of him who speaks evil, if you believe the slander which you hear; for believing it, you will also have something to say against your brother. Thus, then, will you be guilty of the sin of him who slanders. For slander is evil and an unsteady demon. It never abides in peace, but always remains in discord. Keep yourself from it, and you will always be at peace with all. Put on a (kadushah) set-apartness in which there is no wicked cause of offense, but all deeds that are equable and joyful.”
The world can easily speak evil about others on social media platforms for the world to see. Then do it in private by way of phone calls, and text messages, and about 99% of the time when slander is presented, people accept it as truth without having any evidence. Slander is also called evil speaking in the scriptures and is defined as the action or crime of making a FALSE spoken statement or false report that is damaging to a person’s reputation. Also accusing someone of being guilty without evidence or witnesses. The hearer hears the information and then jumps to conclusions by believing the false report that is damaging to someone’s character and then they too will spread the false report, making them just as guilty for believing it whether they spread it or not.
By you listening to it and accepting it as factual makes you just as guilty as if you said it yourself. Scripture tells us that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established. Make sure you have evidence and witnesses concerning a matter before immediately jumping on someone’s side and accept what is being said as factual without investigating the matter. An example of this:
Deuteronomy 13:12-14
“When you shall HEAR, in one of your cities which YAHWEH your ELOHIM gives you to dwell in, one saying, certain wicked men have gone out from among you, and have led astray the inhabitants of their cities, saying, “Let us go and serve other mighty ones, whom you have not known; THEN YOU SHALL INQUIRE, AND MAKE SEARCH, AND ASK DILIGENTLY; and behold, IF THE THING IS TRUE, that such an abomination has been done among you; you shall surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword…”
The point is that YAHWEH said diligently ask and inquire to see if the report they heard was true, not accept it as factual first and go destroy them, that would be making them guilty before investigating a matter. How many times have you pronounced someone guilty based off a report of “he said she said?”
Deuteronomy 19:15
“A single witness shall not rise up against a man for any offense, or for any crime, in whatever offense or crime he may commit; on the testimony of two witnesses, or on the testimony of three witnesses, shall a charge be established.”
Mathew 18:16
“And if he does not listen to you, take with you one or two others, because of the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word shall be established.”
1 Timothy 5:19
“Against an elder do not receive a accusation/complaint except at the mouth of two or three witnesses.”
This would explain why YAHWEH hates false witnesses, because your word is expected to be truthful:
Exodus 20:16
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
Proverbs 24:28
“Be not a false witness against your neighbor; and do not deceive him with your lips.”
Proverbs 12:22
“Lying lips are an abomination to YAHWEH; but those who deal truly are His delight.”
Beware of Slander scriptures
Mathew 12:36-37
“And I say to you that for every idle WORD men speak, they shall give an account of it in the Day of Judgment. For by your WORDS you shall be declared righteous, and by your WORDS you shall be declared unrighteous.”
James 4:11 (Hebrew Besorah/gospel)
“Do not go about SLANDERING among yourselves, for whosoever goes about as a slanderer against his brother, is a slander against the Torah, and if you do so, you do not establish the Torah.”
Psalms 101:5 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)
“If someone SLANDERS another in SECRET, I will cut him off.”
Testament of Joseph 1:6
“I was alone, and ELOHIM comforted me. I was sick and YAHWEH visited me. I was in prison, and my ELOHIM showed favor to me. I was in bonds, and He released me. I was SLANDERED, and He pleaded my cause. I was bitterly spoken against by the Egyptians, and He delivered me. I was envied by my fellow-slaves and he exalted me.”
Sirach 27:22-23
“He that winks with the eyes works evil; and he that knows him will depart from him. When you are present, he will speak sweetly and will admire your words: but in the end he will twist his mouth and SLANDER YOUR SAYINGS.”
James 3:3-10
“Look, we put bits in the mouths of horses, for them to obey us, and we turn their body. Look at the ships too: although they are so big and are driven by strong winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot intends. So too the tongue is a little member, yet boasts greatly. See how a little fire kindles a great forest! And the tongue is a fire, the world of unrighteousness. Like a forest among our members the tongue is placed, the one defiling the ENTIRE BODY, and lighting on fire the course of generations, rolling from the beginning and in the end is lit on fire itself. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man is able to tame the tongue. It is unruly evil, filled with deadly poison. With it we bless our ELOHIM and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of ELOHIM. Out of the same mouth proceed blessings and cursing.”
Proverbs 11:9
“The defiled one destroys his neighbor with his mouth, but the righteous is delivered by knowledge.”
Backbiting
Is defined by Oxford languages as malicious talk about someone who is not present and is linked to slander.
1 Peter 2:1
“Therefore, cease all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and jealousy and BACKBITING. And be like very small children; and crave the Word…”
Sirach 28:14-16
“A backbiting tongue has disquieted many and driven them from nation to nation: it has pulled down strong cities and overthrown the houses of great men. A backbiting tongue has cast out virtuous women and deprived them of their labors. Whoever listens to it shall never find rest and never dwell quietly.”
Romans 1:30 (Aramaic English New Testament)
“And backbiting and slander; and being haters of ELOHIM, scoffers, proud, vain-esteem, devisers of evil things, destitute of reason, disregardful of parents. And to whom a covenant is nothing, neither affection, nor peace, and in whom is no compassion. These, while they know the judgment of ELOHIM, that He condemns those to death who perpetrate such things, are not only does of them, but the companions of such as do them.”
Gossiping words
Gossip is defined as a person who habitually spreads intimate (personal) or private rumors or facts, also trivial chatty talk or writing. We know this is someone who is talking about someone else and most of the time it’s based off of a rumor, which others will accept as factual information. People whisper these words because they don’t want others to hear what they are saying because they would never be able to see it to the person in question.
1 Timothy 5:13
“Moreover, they learn to be idle, going about from house to house, and not only idle but also GOSSIPS and busybodies, speaking what is IMPROPER.”
Sirach 19:6-10
“And he who hates gossip shall have less evil. Do not repeat to another that which is told to you, and you shall not suffer harm. Whether to friend or enemy, do not speak of another’s life; and if you may without offense, do not reveal them. For if he hears and sees you, so in time to come he shall hate you. If you have a word, let it die with you…”
Wisdom 1:11
“Therefore beware of grumbling, which is useless, and keep your tongue from secrecy. For no secret word is without evil, and a lying mouth destroys the being.”
Ezekiel 22:9 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)
“In you, people GOSSIP to the point of inciting bloodshed; in you are those who go to eat on the mountains; in you, they commit lewd acts. In you, they commit incest; in you, they force themselves on women during their menstrual impurity.”
As we see gossip is mentioned in the same breath as all these other abominations. At the end of the day, speak evil of no one.
Sirach 5:12-15
“Esteem and shame is in speech; and the tongue of man is his downfall. Do not be a whisper, and do not lie in wait with your tongue; for foul shame is upon the thief, and an evil condemnation upon the double-tongued. Do not be ignorant of any matter, small or great.”
2 Timothy 3:3 (Aramaic English New Testament)
“But know this: That in the latter days hard times will come: and men will be lovers of themselves and lovers of money, boasters, proud, revilers, unyielding towards their own people, deniers of mercy, wicked, unloving, addicted to irreconcilable MALICIOUS GOSSIPS, ferocious, haters of the good, treacherous, rash, inflated, attached to the pleasure more than to the love of ELOHIM, having a form of respect for ELOHIM but wide from the power of ELOHIM.”
Titus 3:1-2
“And admonish them to be submissive and obedient to princes and powerful leaders; and that they are ready for every good work; and that they speak ill of NO MAN; that they will not be argumentative, but mild; and that in everything they manifest generously towards all men.”
The malach of repentance confirms a brief message I did on this months ago, but if you can refrain from speaking evil against others, then you will live unto ELOHIM! And next week, YAHWEH willing, we will go over the second part of this commandment that is required as well.
As always may our Father YAHWEH bless you in YESHUA’s Name!