YOU ARE WHAT YOU SPEAK!
The word: מְצוֹרָע Metzora means: מוֹצִיא רַע i.e., he brings “out” the evil, and his punishment is Midda K'neged Midda; i.e., he is taken “out” of the city. Tzora'as is painful and it smells. (Chazal). Hashem gives us a clear picture of what a sin actually is. Chazal speak about Bilam and Yoshkeh, and how they are burning in smelly filth. We get to see the “true colors” of what an evil deed can do. כִּי יֵצֶר לֵב הָאָדָם רַע מִנְּעֻרָיו. A person is born with a Yetzer Hara, and it isn’t really our fault that we have evil in us. However, we have to hold it in, and not let it out: בְּגִלוּי in the open.
When we keep speaking positively even though we may have negative feelings inside, then we are true Tzaddikim who overcome our Tevah (nature). When you keep speaking “good”, then you become a good person. There are two stories in Tanach about Dovid HaMelech and his son Adoniyahu. They were both waiting for news, and when they saw someone running to them, Dovid remarked (about Achimatz ben Tzadok) “Since he is a good man, therefore he will give good news”.
Dovid was right. Achimatz only told him the good part; i.e., that he won the war. He left out the bad part, that Avshalom was dead. (By the way, Achimatz was the son of Tzadok, the Cohen Gadol, and the Kehuna Gedola will forever be in the hands of Tzadok and his descendants. Indeed, positive people come out ahead). Adoniyahu said a similar remark; he saw someone running towards him, and he said: “This is an: אִישׁ חַיִל and will report good news.”
So the person who is: מוֹצִיא רַע brings “out” evil (by speaking Lashon Hara) becomes an evil person, and is sent out of Yerushalayim. You are what you speak! Shlomo HaMelech said: אִישׁ לְפִי מְהַלְלוֹ (Mishlei 27:21) a person according to his praise, i.e., you can tell a person by what he praises and by what he is Machshiv. Even if you are a critical type of person, your mouth can change you. הַחִיצוֹנִיוּת מְעוֹרֶרֶת אֶת הַפְנִימִיוּת (Mesilas Yesharim, Perek 7) Actions can affect your feelings. Keep talking positive.
