Idle Words (Part 3 of 3)

Our words either commend us or condemn us!  What are your words saying about you?

September 22, 2020

"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words, thou shalt be condemned."

Matthew 12:36-37

Part 3

Yesterday:
“That every idle word that men shall speak.”
The words we say when we do not think are important!  “Idle words” are lazy words.  They are the words we use when we don’t think about what we are saying; we are just babbling.

Today:
“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak,

“They shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
Our words are not amoral nothings that do not count, one way or the other!  Jesus will remember what is in our hearts and what comes from our lips.  From the “good heart” comes “good words,” and from the evil heart comes evil words” (Matthew 12:35).

“Jesus replies, “It was not nothing, and at the great day will not be treated as nothing: Words, as the index of the heart, however idle they may seem, will be taken account of, whether good or bad, in estimating character in the day of judgment”[1] (JFB).

“For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words, thou shalt be condemned.”
We will be judged by our words!

Our, “‘Words’ are reckoned as ‘deeds’”[2] (Bullinger).

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Our “words” and our “works” show what is in our hearts.  We are what we are, and we do what we do because of our hearts.  Do we trust in God, then our words and works will express that?

“For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

When we continuously speak good and right words (godly words), our hearts’ contents are shown.

“He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction” (Proverbs 13:3).

Believers, what do our words tell of our hearts?  Of all people on the earth, we are the ones who ought to take the most care with what we say.  We need to think before we speak.  We need God’s wisdom and words so that we can speak gracious words.

 

Quote:  “Study universal holiness of life.  Your whole usefulness depends on this, for your sermons last but an hour or two: your life preaches all week.  If Satan can only make a covetous minister a lover of praise, of pleasure, of good eating, he has ruined your ministry.  Give yourself to prayer, and get your texts, your thoughts, your words, from God”[3] (Robert Murray McCheyne).

 

 

 

[1] Jamison, Fausset, and Brown.  Jamison-Fausset-Brown’s Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] E.W. Bullinger, The Companion Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[3] McCheyne’s quote Downloaded: Monday, August 17, 2020.  From: https://www.christianquotes.info/top-quotes/17-amazing-quotes-power-words/.