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Jesus' Teaching on Name-Calling and Insulting Others

Jesus' teachings, particularly in the Sermon on the Mount, address the gravity of insulting others, equating certain forms of verbal abuse with the sin of murder. In Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus expands on the commandment "You shall not murder" by stating, "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire." This passage indicates a progression of severity in verbal offenses, from anger to outright insult, culminating in the use of a derogatory term like "fool" [3].

The concept of "evil-speaking" is broadly condemned in scripture, with prohibitions found in Titus 3:2 and James 4:11 [2]. Such behavior is considered abhorrent (Psalm 15:3; Proverbs 18:6-7) and contrary to Christian character [2]. The Apostle James also warns against blaspheming "the honorable name by which you are called" (James 2:7) [1]. Slander, a related concept, is explicitly called an abomination to God in Proverbs 6:16, 19 and is forbidden in Exodus 23:1 and Ephesians 4:31 [4]. This includes various forms of negative speech such as whispering, backbiting, evil surmising, tale-bearing, babbling, tattling, defaming, and bearing false witness [4]. These verbal transgressions are understood to originate from an "evil heart" (Matthew 15:19; Luke 6:45) [4].

Jesus' teaching on not judging others (Matthew 7:1) is also relevant. While he did not prohibit clear opposition to sin, he condemned "hypocritical judgment that denigrated another person" [12, 7]. Such judgment often involves "rigorous scrutiny of trivial matters" [12]. God alone possesses the right to judge (James 4:11-12), and those who condemn others will be judged by the same standard [7, 12]. Exhortation, when done out of love to warn others of sin, differs from judgment, which stems from pride [7].

The New Testament also highlights instances where Jesus himself was subjected to insults and scorn. He was called "Jesus of Nazareth" by way of reproach (Matthew 2:23), a name later embraced by his followers despite its derisive origin (Acts 4:10) [8]. The sufferings of Christ, including scorn and mockery, were predicted in the Old Testament (Psalm 22:6-8; Isaiah 53:3) and endured by him (Matthew 9:24; 27:29) [5]. Similarly, saints are said to endure mockery for their faith and faithfulness in declaring God's word (Hebrews 11:36; Jeremiah 20:7-8) [5].

The act of blasphemy, speaking evil of God, is a severe offense (Psalm 74:18; Isaiah 52:5) [6]. Jesus was accused of blasphemy for claiming to be the Son of God (Matthew 26:65) [6]. Those who deny his Messiahship are also said to blaspheme him (John 10:36) [6]. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, as described in Matthew 12:31-32, is understood by some as a "continued and obstinate rejection of the gospel" [6]. The book of Revelation describes the beast opening its mouth in blasphemy against God, his name, and his dwelling (Revelation 13:6) [11]. This includes actions like sitting as God, allowing worship, claiming infallibility, and promoting idolatrous practices [11].

Conversely, Christians are called to bless those who persecute them, which includes praying for them (Romans 12:14) [9]. John Chrysostom emphasizes that this is the "language of Christ’s disciple," in contrast to the "devil’s" [10]. He points to Moses as an example, who, even when God was angry with the Israelites, interceded for them, saying, "If thou wilt forgive them their trespass, forgive it; else blot out me also" (Exodus 32:32) [10]. This act of not despising those who had shown aversion to him is presented as an imitation of God's character [10].

Sources

  1. James “Don’t they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called? -- James 2:7”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Evil-speaking — Is expressly forbidden (Titus 3:2; James 4:11), and severe punishments are denounced against it (1 Cor. 5:11; 6:10). It is spoken of also with abhorrence (Ps. 15:3; Prov. 18:6, 7), and is foreign to the whole Christian character and the example of Christ.”
  3. Matthew “Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. -- Matthew 5:19”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Slander — An abomination to God -- Pr 6:16,19. Forbidden -- Ex 23:1; Eph 4:31; Jas 4:11. Includes Whispering. -- Ro 1:29; 2Co 12:20. Backbiting. -- Ro 1:30; 2Co 12:20. Evil surmising. -- 1Ti 6:4. Tale-bearing. -- Le 19:16. Babbling. -- Ec 10:11. Tattling. -- 1Ti 5:13. Evil speaking. -- Ps 41:5; 109:20. Defaming. -- Jer 20:10; 1Co 4:13. Bearing false witness. -- Ex 20:16; De 5:20; Lu 3:14. Judging charitably. -- Jas 4:11,12. Raising false reports. -- Ex 23:1. Repeating matters. -- Pr 17:9. Is a deceitful work -- Ps 52:2. Comes from the evil heart -- Mt 15:19; Lu 6:45.”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scorning and Mocking — The sufferings of Christ by, predicted -- Ps 22:6-8; Isa 53:3; Lu 18:32. Christ endured -- Mt 9:24; 27:29. Saints endure, on account of Being children of God. -- Ge 21:9; Ga 4:29. Their uprightness. -- Job 12:4. Their faith. -- Heb 11:36. Their faithfulness in declaring the word of God. -- Jer 20:7,8. Their zeal for God's house. -- Ne 2:19. The wicked indulge in, against The second coming of Christ. -- 2Pe 3:3,4. The gifts of the Spirit. -- Ac 2:13. God's threatening. -- Isa 5:19; Jer 17:15. God's ministers. -- 2Ch 36:16. God's ordinances. -- L”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Blasphemy — In the sense of speaking evil of God this word is found in Ps. 74:18; Isa. 52:5; Rom. 2:24; Rev. 13:1, 6; 16:9, 11, 21. It denotes also any kind of calumny, or evil-speaking, or abuse (1 Kings 21:10; Acts 13:45; 18:6, etc.). Our Lord was accused of blasphemy when he claimed to be the Son of God (Matt. 26:65; comp. Matt. 9:3; Mark 2:7). They who deny his Messiahship blaspheme Jesus (Luke 22:65; John 10:36). Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (Matt. 12:31, 32; Mark 3:28, 29; Luke 12:10) is regarded by some as a continued and obstinate rejection of the gospel,”
  7. Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 6:37: 6:37-42 Do not judge others: Jesus condemned hypocritical judgment that denigrated another person. Those who condemn others will be judged by that same standard. God requires his people to love others by warning them of the dangers of sin (Gal 6:1; Heb 3:13). Exhortation is an act of love; judgment is an act of pride.”
  8. Mark (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Mark 16:6: Jesus of Nazareth - The Jews had given this name to Christ by way of reproach, Mat 2:23; but as it was under this name that he was crucified, Joh 19:19, the angel here, and the apostles after, have given him the same name, Act 4:10, etc. Names which the world, in derision, fixes all the followers of God, often become the general appellatives of religious bodies: thus Quakers, Puritans, Pietists, and Methodists, have in their respective times been the nicknames, given in derision by the world, to those who separated themselves from its corruptions. Our Lord, by continu”
  9. Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 12:14: Bless them which persecute you,.... It is the lot of God's, people in this world to be persecuted by the men of it, in some shape or another, either by words or deeds; either by reviling and reproaching them, and speaking all manner of evil of them; or by hindering them the free exercise of religious worship, by confiscation of their goods, imprisonment of their persons, by violently torturing their bodies, and taking away their lives; under all which circumstances they are taught to bless them; that is, to pray for them, that God would show them their evil, give r”
  10. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: is the language of Christ’s disciple, as the other is of the devil’s. This makes men honorable and glorious, as the other doth shameful and ridiculous. It is on this ground we feel admiration for Moses, because even when God said, “Let Me alone, that I may destroy them in Mine anger,” ( Exod. xxxii. 10 ) he could not bear to despise those who had so often shown aversion to him, but said, “If thou wilt forgive them their trespass, forgive it; else blot out me also.” ( ibid. 32 .) This was owing to his being a friend of God, and a copyer of Him. And le”
  11. Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 13:6: And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God,.... By sitting as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God; by suffering himself to be called by the name of God, God on earth, Lord God the pope, and to be worshipped as God; and by assuming infallibility, giving out that he cannot err, which only belongs to the God of truth; and by his idolatrous practices commanded by him, as the worshipping of idols of gold, silver, wood, and stone, which is in Scripture called blaspheming God, Isa 65:7; see Dan 11:36. To blaspheme his name; his authority, by ”
  12. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 7:1: 7:1 Mercy is a dominant theme in Jesus’ teaching and practice (9:9-13; 12:1-7), but not at the expense of clear opposition to sin (see 18:15-20; 23:13-33). At the same time, Jesus calls for people to stop oppressively controlling others in the name of pastoral concern. The judgment Jesus prohibits often involves rigorous scrutiny of trivial matters (see 23:23-24). God alone has the right to judge (see Jas 4:11-12). • you will not be judged: This might refer to God’s judgment at the end of history (see Matt 5:7). God measures us by our treatment of others (see 6:12”
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