Jesting
In Ephesians chapter 5, Paul, in speaking of the church, compels the church at Ephesus to walk in love (vs. 2). In doing so, these dear children would be followers of God (vs.1). Christ is named as the example, who gave Himself for us as an offering and sacrifice (vs.2). In distinct opposition to this thought is an egregious list of sinful behavior and thought patterns Paul lists under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Most of these sinful behaviors are familiar to Christians; however, there is one in particular listed in the fourth verse that may not be as familiar. Notice this list in verses 3-5.
“But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”
In this list, we find the word ‘jesting.’ The term jesting, as we see in this verse, is coupled with the phrase foolish talking and filthiness.
Filthiness would fall in the category of speaking obscene, indecent conversation. For most Christians, this is not particularly an issue. However, there are Christians who struggle with changing their speech from cursing and shameful conversation. We learn from the book of James that the “tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” From this, we understand that we must ask the Lord for help to change our speech. I believe that if someone is saved and asks the Lord to change their speech, He certainly will. People who have this particular sin in their lives must also be responsible and remove themselves from allowing such worthless speech to enter their ears. This may mean cutting out certain television shows, online feeds, or social media. Christians should not allow Satan to gain a stronghold in their minds, so we must guard the gates. Some may work in job places where that kind of speech is common. Oftentimes, a request for others not to speak in that manner in their presence may be what is needed.
Foolish speech and jesting, however, are found more among believers than filthiness of speech. Foolish talking could be defined as idle chat, silly talk, and speech that is not for edification. I believe we often forget that, “that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment;” (Matthew 12:36) Foolish speech is speech without godly purpose. Consider what is found in the book of Proverbs 15:7, “The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.”
Jesting comes under the guise of humor. Perhaps no greater thing grieves my heart more than to hear Christians joking (jesting) about sin. People jest about having pride as a way of coping with that sin. People jest about the husband and wife relationship to cope with sinfulness in our attitudes toward one another. People will even “jokingly” speak about people using jesting as a way to say how they really feel. Jesting, my friend makes a mockery of God’s holiness. When God’s people laugh at sin (or turn sinful behavior into a joke), they are laughing at the cross of Calvary, for it was there our Savior became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). It is hard to imagine that God’s people would come to a place where they laugh at the very reason the Savior was nailed to the cross. The Lord has a sense of humor and has made us with the capacity to laugh and find humor in things, but no sin is a laughing matter to God. Neither should sin be a laughing matter to us as well.
The term “jesting” conveys the idea of quick wit and sarcastic speech (literally a compound word, -well and -turned). We see, though, here in our text verse, in Ephesians 5:4, that jesting comes from not walking in love; it comes from walking in the flesh. In verse 3, Paul states that fornication, all uncleanness, or covetousness ought not to be named even once among God’s people. Still, the sentence continues, neither should filthiness, foolish talking, or jesting. Friends, if we find humor in sinful activity or joke about God’s standards, there is something wrong with our attitude concerning sin and our fellowship with the Lord. Let us carefully think about what we are ‘joking’ about and what we laugh at so we may please the Lord in all that we do!