Spiritual Strength For Each Day
“But Jesus held his peace” (Matthew 26:63).
The high priests and elders sought false witness against Jesus. But Jesus held His peace. When Christians are together, it is often the case that they go home troubled because, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin” (Proverbs 10:19). God takes the sins of the tongue seriously, not only “loose talking” but also “holy” slander. How unmerciful the tongue is! Whole churches are ruined by it and hearts are broken. God hears what we say. One of the most devastating results of slander is that the Lord no longer hears our prayers. Then it is written over our lives, “But Jesus held his peace.” Regular reading of the Bible makes us put our hands on our mouths and keeps us from touching other or the Lord’s anointed servants. “But Jesus held his peace.” This silence annoyed Caiaphas and made Pilate afraid. In this way, Jesus’ silence was a mighty answer to Pilate’s question. Perhaps you speak a lot with the Lord, but He is silent. Why is He silent? Is it not because He is silently waiting for you to do something? Perhaps you are praying, for instance, “Lord, take this sin from me.” But that is vain. You must lay aside sin. Say a wholehearted “no” to everything that is sinful, and then a victorious rejoicing will break out in your heart.
