Matthew 12:36

36 I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak. ^[a]

Matthew 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.

Matthew 12:36 In-Context

34 Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.

35 A good man produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil man produces evil things from his storeroom of evil.

36 I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak.

37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You."

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit will speak