Gossip is a sin against G-d. G-d clearly condemns gossip in the Bible. Gossip is also a sin against the person 
who is the subject of the gossip. It is a malicious action that hurts G-d’s reputation. It is clearly gossip 
when the person talked about is not included. There is no possible remedy without the person present to clarify, refute, or resolve the issue causing concern. 

Gossip is a sin against a third party, the person with whom it is shared. It places an unfair burden on that 
person. It also contaminates the relationship and impression with the person who is the object of the gossip. 

The person who listens to the gossiper is also guilty of sin. Without a conduit, gossip cannot be spread. By 
listening to the gossiper, one passively encourages the sinful activity. 

Gossip is sometimes presented in pretentious righteous context. It is said, “We need to be in prayer for 
Brother Joe, because ... (the gossip).” The oddity is that they never seem to get around to praying together 
for that person! 

1. How serious is the sin of gossip, anyway? 

Rom. 1:28-32 
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a 
depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

2. How should we react to gossip and other sins in the fellowship? 

2 Corinthians 12:20-21 
For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

Proverbs 20:19 
A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.

2 Timothy 3:5 
having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

3. How can we proactively stop gossipers? 

Matthew 18:15-17
"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to 
you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every 
matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell 
it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax 
collector.

Ephesians 5:11
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

A gossiper in the synagogue is poisonous to the fellowship. Gossip is the devil’s scheming medium to spread 
mistrust, disrespect, deception, slander and discord. His goal is to cause division and strife, distract the 
synagogue from its mission, and eventually disgrace the witness of Messiah and His great love. 

It is every Believer’s responsibility to stop gossip by refusing to listen to it. Ask the gossiper if they 
have followed Yeshua’s guidelines in Matthew 18:15-17.