Matthieu 12:36

36 Or, je vous dis que les hommes rendront compte, au jour du jugement, de toute parole vaine qu'ils auront dite;

Matthieu 12:36 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 12:36

But I say unto you
This form of speaking is used, the more strongly to asseverate the truth of what is after said; and the rather, because men are apt to indulge a liberty with their tongues; fancying no great crime is committed, when only words are spoken, and no facts done;

that every idle word that a man shall speak, they shall give account
thereof in the day of judgment.
By an "idle word" is meant, what the Jews call, (hlq hxyv) , "light conversation", and (ljb rbd) , "vain discourse", as the Hebrew Gospel of Munster reads it here; frothy language, unprofitable talk, which, though it does not directly hurt God or man, yet is of no use to speaker or hearer; and yet even this, in the last general and awful judgment, if not forgiven, and repented of, must be accounted for; and much more such horrid blasphemies the Pharisees had vented against Christ, and the Spirit of Christ. The Jews ^F4 have a saying pretty much like this,

``That even (hlq hxyv le) , "for any light conversation", which passes between a man and his wife, he shall "be brought to judgment".''

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 R. Jonah apud L. Capell. in loc.

Matthieu 12:36 In-Context

34 Race de vipères! comment pourriez-vous dire de bonnes choses, étant méchants? car c'est de l'abondance du cœur que la bouche parle.

35 L'homme de bien tire de bonnes choses du bon trésor de son cour; mais le méchant tire de mauvaises choses du mauvais trésor de son cour.

36 Or, je vous dis que les hommes rendront compte, au jour du jugement, de toute parole vaine qu'ils auront dite;

37 Car tu seras justifié par tes paroles, et par tes paroles tu seras condamné.

38 Alors quelques-uns des scribes et des pharisiens lui dirent: Maître, nous voudrions te voir faire quelque miracle.