Colossians 4:6 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

Let your speech be alway with grace: because discourse is the tenderest part of our converse with men, especially those without, and ought to be managed with the greatest circumspection, upon occasions in every fit season, in imitation of Christ, who entertained those that did converse with him with gracious words, Luke 4:22, you should endeavour so to speak when called, that the hearers may conceive your discourse doth proceed from a gracious spirit, or grace in the heart, Colossians 3:16, teaching your mouth, Proverbs 15:23,24, with meekness of wisdom, James 3:13, using knowledge aright, Proverbs 15:2, being in its tendency gracious, Ecclesiastes 10:12; not ungrateful, (as tinctured with gall or venom), but ministering grace to the hearers, Ephesians 4:29. Seasoned with salt; even as meat duly powdered with salt \Matthew 5:13\ becomes acceptable to the discerning palate, so to the ear that trieth speech, fitly spoken words \Proverbs 25:11\ are of a grateful savour, cleansed from corruption, Job 33:3 Mark 9:50. That ye may know how ye ought to answer every man; to this purpose chiefly in the main points of Christianity, that in a gospel becoming manner, you may be able to give a reason of the hope that is in you (to those that ask you) with meekness and fear, Matthew 7:6 1 Peter 3:15, courteousness and sincerity, Ephesians 4:25, free from those evils of speech he had before enjoined them in this Epistle to put away, Colossians 3:8.

Colossians 4:6

6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.