Two Word Dictionary

“But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” (Mt 5:37 AV)

What is Jesus trying to teach us here.  Is He saying to only use two words: yes or no?  How would that work?  How could we accomplish anything?  With only two words spoken, there would be no word of God let alone the ability to convey ideas.  So, what is the principle.  One is that speech should be honest.  We should say it like we mean it.  If it is a yes, then let us say yes.  If it is a no, then let it be no.  In other words, our speech should be sincere and without hypocrisy.  But there is another way one can look at this.  That is, the appropriateness and brevity of speech.  In other words, if it does not need to be said, then don’t say it.

There is an episode of a popular sit-com that is all about the faux pas.  This phrase comes from the French meaning false step.  It is a verbal expression that may have some truth to it, but it is said in an inappropriate manner.  Sometimes it is a statement that is a bit too truthful.  Or, perhaps lacks proper timing or tact.  So it was with this episode.  It started out as a statement that accidentally and ignorantly cast a presumed aspersion on a third party without the knowledge of the speaker.  As the speaker and his family tried to fix it, it only got worse.  One faux pas after another only served to deteriorate the situation.  It got to the point that two of the family members who were proud speakers of faux pas actually were the most appropriate.  This is the meaning of our verse.

The tongue, according to James, is the hardest member to tame.  If we can control the tongue, then we can control the entire body.  I believe this.  Living in a culture that makes and art from of tact, I quickly realized just how absent of tact I was.  It was a deep pleasure for me to sit in quiet and listen as folks interacted with one another.  It was like listening to a finely toned and practiced orchestra.  Each word was measured against its effect on the hearer.  Each statement was slow in coming and thought out well in advance.  This culture knew how to keep their yea their yea and their nay their nay.  In fact, to this day I am still envious at their command of communication.  We could all learn the appropriateness of well thought out communication and saying only that which needs to be said.