Colossians 4:6

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.

'LET' -Which infers we have complete control over this.

'YOUR SPEECH' -Hence: (a) What we say in the presence of non-Christians is just as important as how we may act (Matthew 12:36). (b) God takes our speech very seriously (James 1:26). (c) An incredible amount of good or harm can be done with the tongue (James 3:5; Proverbs 18:21 'Death and life are in the power of the tongue.')

'BE ALWAYS' -We can't afford to "let up" in what comes out of our mouths. This also would suggest, in all places and at all times.

'Note "always", that is, both in addressing. group or in talking to the neighbor, both when conversing with an equal or when replying to someone in authority, to rich and poor alike...When gracious speech becomes their habit they will not use improper language when suddenly confronted with. difficult situation...' (Hendriksen p. 183)

'It is easy to be affable and gracious on certain occasions, but to speak with sweetness and gentleness when opposed or misrepresented or wronged is. severe test of character..' (Erdman p. 109)

'WITH GRACE' -5485. charis khar'-ece; from 5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): -acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace(-ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank(-s, -worthy).

-'with winsomeness' (Wms); 'Always put your message attractively' (Gspd); 'Let your conversation be always gracious' (NEB)

Hence our speech is to be free from: (1) Being absorbed in ourselves. (2) Vindictiveness and bitterness (Ephesians 4:31). Hendriksen notes that the best description of gracious speech, is given by Paul himself, 'speaking the truth in love' (Ephesians 4:15).

'SEASONED WITH SALT' -

Points to Note:

1. Carefully note that God is helping us not to misunderstand what He is saying here. The phrase "seasoned with salt", informs us that "with grace" doesn't merely mean "witty or clever speech", or speech which is nothing more than charm or sentimentality. Our speech is to have some real substance to it.

2. Barclay notes, 'it is all too true that Christianity in the minds of many is connected with. kind of sanctimonious dullness and an outlook in which laughter is almost. heresy...The Christian must commend his message with the charm and the wit which were in Jesus himself.' (p. 168)

3. 'with an edge of liveliness' (Knox); 'Always put your message attractively, and yet pointedly. (Gspd); 'Speak pleasantly to them, but never sentimentally' (Phi).

4. 'Both in Greek and Latin authors, "salt" was used to express the pungency and wittiness of speech.' (Vincent p. 510) The applications would be: (1) Our speech is to be free from corrupt language or obscenity (salt is. preservative) (Ephesians 4:29; Ephesians 5:4). (2) Our speech is to have. wholesome influence, rather than being the type of language that is just about one step away from sin. (3) When we talk about God, Jesus Christ, The Church, our salvation, the Bible, etc...Our speech should be attractive, winning, positive, uplifting, enthusiastic, i.e. speech that is compelling, that the hearer desires another taste. Speech that is hard not to listen to. (4) Speech that gets the point across, perfectly clear.

5. Hendriksen comments, 'Speech flavored with salt is, accordingly, not empty or insipid, but thought-provoking and worth-while. It is not. waste of time...' (p. 184)

'THAT' -This is the aim and goal of such speech. This is the reason we need to practice and habitually work on using language that is winning, solid, gracious, etc...

'YE' -Every Christian needs to practice these things, because every Christian has contact with non-Christians.

'MAY KNOW HOW YE OUGHT TO ANSWER EACH ONE' -'understanding how to give to every man. fitting answer' (Con); 'learn how to answer any question put to you' (Mof); 'study how best to talk to each person you meet' (NEB).

Points to Note:

1. The same type of thought is presented in 1 Peter 3:15. God expects Christians to be prepared to field the various questions that they are confronted with, in. winning and attractive way. He doesn't want His people to look like fools, or mindless robots.

2. Carefully note that questions are asked of the Christian from different motives (ignorance, pride, contempt, scorn, confusion, sincerity)...We face all sorts of people, from various backgrounds in our daily lives. Eadie notes, 'But each was to be answered as was becoming--according to the contents, the spirit, and the object of his question--answered so that he might at once receive enlightenment and impression, be charmed out of his hostility, reasoned out of his misunderstanding, guided out of his difficulty, awakened out of his indifference, and won over to the new religion under the solemn persuasion that it was foolish to trifle any longer with Christianity, and dangerous any more to oppose the claims of. Divine revelation..' (p. 278)

3. The Colossians were being confronted with an array of false teachings, ranging from intellectually sounding human philosophy, to Judaizing teachers, to dogmatic ascetics. In dealing with followers, or those being duped by each group, the Colossians needed to have their wits about them.

4. Some regard, needs to be taken into consideration concerning the background or situation your inquirer is coming from.

5. This should remind us that just because we are Christians doesn't mean that God is going to fight all our battles for us. We need to be prepared, and God isn't going to save the bacon of the Christian who goes into. study completely unprepared or who carelessly tries to field. question "from the hip". Christians who don't do their research or get their facts right, will get whipped in. debate!