Sinful words

The Fifth Commandment forbids hurting people with our words (Matthew 5:21-22). As “stupid” is a pejorative word, telling someone that what he or she made looks stupid has great potential in hurting that person.

The Bible does instruct us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). At the same time, the Bible directs us: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). That means we will speak the truth in love tactfully.

Jesus teaches us that the words we speak are important (Matthew 12:36-37). With that in mind, King David’s words form a good prayer for us: “Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3).