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He that hideth hatred [with] lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, [is] a fool. (Proverbs 10:18 KJV)

“THE DANGERS OF DIOTREPHES:Malicious slander of true believers”

A person’s words reveal a lot. What a person says about another, reveals even more. When words are wicked and used to unjustly accuse others; we must be aware those words are not coming out of our own mouths. Diotrephes had such a problem as we see in 3 John 1:10. What he was saying about John the Apostle and other believers definitely revealed what was truly in his heart:

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are [the things] which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. (Matthew 15:18-20)

φλυαρέω phlyareō/phluareō means that Diotrephes was making silly accusations that were false against John and others. Now you may possibly think, “this applies to Diotrephes because he was seeking the pre-eminence.” You’re right, but does it only apply when seeking to be first? Note the application seen with young widows who had nothing to do in 1 Timothy 5:13. In the KJV, phluareō is translated as plate. This means to overflow with talk. How many times have you overflowed your conversation about a leader that may have done you wrong? Out of anger you may have slandered a brother because he angered you. We have the capability of falling into the sin Diotrephes fell into if we are not careful in how we use our words.

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:31-32)

Diotrephes should have put away his desire to be first, then he ay have not been so quick to speak evil against John and the brethren. The danger of speaking slander against one another is rooted in our attitude. Check your motives, examine your attitude, and really watch what you say about another person. No matter how true you think it is, the scriptures validate what is true. You can say I am doing something wrong, the scriptures all around better support it. I say this in a time when many are speaking evil against teachers because they believe they are not true. The scripture clearly shows you the attitude and practices of false teacher; because your pastor holds to amillenialism doesn’t make him false teacher. Be careful what you say out of your mouth because you disagree with him. Don’t play the Diotrephes, if you know what a I mean.

As you examine the dangers of Diotrephes’ slander against the believers, keep these texts of scripture in mind:

Thou shalt not go up and down [as] a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I [am] the LORD. (Leviticus 19:16)

A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:19)

Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. (Ecclesiastes 10:11)

For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, [say they], and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, [saying], Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him. (Jeremiah 20:10)

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (Matthew 12:36)

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. (Luke 6:45)

For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: (1 Peter 3:10)