“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
JUDGEMENT: EVERY IDLE WORD SPOKEN
If anything should drive the believer to his knees, it is Matthew 12:36. Who hasn’t spoken an “idle word?” Who hasn’t said something that he wishes he could have taken back? How many times has someone said something that–AT THAT MOMENT–seemed cute, funny or witty?
Idle words: all of them.
And all reasons for a righteous God to judge according to His Word.
WHAT IS AN IDLE WORD?
This literally means a vain, thoughtless, useless word, that accomplishes no good. Here it means, evidently, “wicked, injurious, false, malicious, for such” were the words which they had spoken.
–Albert Barnes, Notes on the Whole Bible, Matthew 12Every idle word] rhma argon, a word that does nothing, that neither ministers grace nor instruction to them who hear it.
—Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Matthew 12This is a strong admonition to guard what is spoken. “Idle” words are not necessarily those casual and insignificant sayings indulged in the course of social fellowship, nor such words as may be calculated to bring a smile to care-worn faces, but rather, they are the words that betray a bias of the soul against God and expose the evil heart of the sinner.
—Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible, Matthew 12
William Burkitt had the most to say about “idle words” in his Expository Notes and Practical Observations on the New Testament:
I say unto you; I, that have always been in my Father’s bosom, and fully know his mind; I, that am constituted Judge of quick and dead, and understand the rule of judgment; I, even I, do assure you that every word that has no tendency to promote the glory of God, or some way the good of others, will fall under censure at the great day, without an intervening repentance.
Note here, That there are two sorts of words for which we must be judged; sinful words, and idle words.
Sinful words are blasphemous words, censorious words, lying and slandering words.
Idle words are such as savour nothing of wisdom and piety; that have no tendency to make men either wiser or better: how light soever men make of their words now, yet in God’s balance another day they will be found to weigh very heavy.
What a bridle should this text be to extravagant tongues! Let your speech be always seasoned with salt Colossians 4:6, that is, with wisdom, &c., for our words may mischief others a long time after they are spoken.
How many years may a frothy or a filthy word, a profane scoff, an atheistical jest, stick in the minds of them that hear it, after the tongue that spake it is dead!
A word spoken is physically transient, but morally permanent.
—Burkitt’s Expository Notes, Matthew 12
Revelation 20 talks about the “books” which will be opened when judgment takes place. I imagine quite a large book might hold just the “idle words” spoken!
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
—Revelation 20:12
Yes, this is for the Great White Throne judgement. But believers too will be judged for “every idle word.”
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
—James 3:6
The devil calls those idle words by a variety of names: making small talk, rattling his cage, getting their attention, just joking, having some fun with someone, can’t you take a joke?
Blah blah blah and yada yada yada: many times, you’ve forgotten five minutes after you say something.
But God won’t forget one blah or one yada. And one day, the reader will be reminded of “every idle word” spoken.
In other words: Be careful what you say!
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
—James 3:8
RELATED ARTICLES
- Every Idle Word
- Do You Know if You are Going to Heaven? Be Sure!
- Every Idle Word
- Every Idle Word
- LINCOLN MEMORIAL: Another American Idol
- The Word of Righteousness
- SELLING SIN BY ANOTHER NAME: The American Dream
- Separating from the World: END TIMES SURVIVAL
by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
image: pakorn, FreeDigitalPhotos.net/ETPR
© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-14. © Mondo Frazier, DBKP and End Times Prophecy Report, 2007-14. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Link Disclaimer: inclusion of links to other blogs/websites is not necessarily an endorsement of all content posted in those blogs/websites.
Related articles
End Times Prophecy Report 
thank you!
LikeLike