========================================================================
  PHARISEES ARE VERY CARELESS IN THEIR SPEECH
  by Zac Poonen
========================================================================

Summary: Careless speech can have serious consequences, including
condemnation at the final judgement, and can even prevent healing and
forgiveness.

Topics: "Repentance", "Forgiveness"
Scripture References: Matthew 12:32

------------------------------------------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zac Poonen delivers a powerful sermon on the consequences of speaking
hurtful words and passing judgment on others carelessly, using the
Pharisees' criticism of Jesus as an example. He emphasizes the
importance of seeking forgiveness both horizontally from the person
offended and vertically from God, highlighting the need for repentance
to receive God's forgiveness. Poonen warns about the condemnation we may
face for the words we speak, stressing the significance of heartfelt
apologies and seeking forgiveness to experience healing and restoration.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENT
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Pharisees said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the
ruler of the demons" (Matthew 12:24).

Pharisees speak rude and hurtful words about others carelessly and pass
judgement on others in their speech. Imagine calling the Son of God, the
"head of the demons"!

How did Jesus respond to that evil criticism by the Pharisees? Jesus
replied saying,

You have spoken against me, an ordinary man. You are forgiven. But make
sure you don't speak against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:32).

Jesus forgave those Pharisees (as a Man). But God in heaven did not
forgive them.

When we sin against anyone, there are two elements to such a sin -

a horizontal element - against the other person; and

a vertical element - against God.

That person must forgive you; and God must also forgive you, if your sin
is to be blotted out. But before God forgives anyone, that person has to
repent first. So even if a human being forgives you the horizontal
element of your sin, you will still face the judgement of God for the
vertical element, until you repent and ask for His forgiveness. If one
of those Pharisees had gone to Jesus later and said, "Lord I am sorry
for calling you Beelzebul. Please forgive me", and then asked God to
forgive him, then only would his sin have been blotted out, not
otherwise. Jesus warned us that we would be condemned by the words we
spoke, at the final judgement (Matthew 12:37).

Do you have a sickness that is not being healed, despite all your
prayers and medical treatment? Is it possible that you have disobeyed
God's command in Psalm 105:15 "Do not touch my anointed, and don't do
any harm to my prophets?" Have you spoken something carelessly about a
godly brother? Maybe that is why your sickness is not being healed.
Perhaps you have carelessly judged men who are ten thousand times holier
than you are and who have done ten thousand times more for God than you
have done. Repentance and an apology to that person alone will bring
your healing.

========================================================================
Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/zac-poonen/pharisees-are-very-careless-in-their-speech/
========================================================================