“If you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all.” This is a great adage to remind children of the importance of learning how to hold their tongues, but should it be taken as Gospel?
Yes, the Proverbs are full of such observation as Pro 11:12 “a man of understanding holds his peace” and Pro 11:13 “he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.” Pro 21:23 “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.”
And in Eph 4:29 it says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Jas 1:19 says, “…let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak…” and Col 4:6 says “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt…”
Now you would assume by all of this that the adage above would be applicable as Gospel, but let’s take a look at a few other passages.
Do you know who said these things?
“Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things?…” Mat 12:34
“…one of you is a devil…” John 6:70
“…you have not known [the Father], but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you….” John 8:55
“You are of your father the devil….” John 8:44
“Hypocrite!” (Said to the ruler of a synagogue.) Luk 13:15
Would it surprise you to know it was Jesus who said all these things?
Can you imagine someone saying to Jesus, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”? How do you think Jesus might have responded? I think He might have answered with something like what He said to one of His disciples, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Mat 16:23
Pro 25:12 says, “Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear.”
Jesus did not say what He said to harm, rather He spoke the truth in order to make a point to those He said it about and to those He said it to.
When the rocks speak 