Anchor My Faith

Careless Words

Scripture: Matthew 12:36-37

In the previous lesson we struggled with coming to an understanding of what the day of judgment meant. There was not agreement among commentators and so the best I could do was to look at a variety of verses on judgment. In this lesson we will look at the topic of careless words.

^{Mt 12:36} I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, ³⁷ for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” 

The fact that these “careless words” can either justify us or condemn us, would indicate that they are not necessarily evil words. Since the scribes and Pharisees had just blasphemed Jesus, we are inclined to see these careless words as being evil words but not necessarily. The point Jesus is making is that we must be careful in what we say because on the day of judgment we will come before God and will have to give an account for every word we have spoken. Those words will either justify us (show us to be righteous) or condemn us (will show us to be evil).

Words are powerful things and can cause much to happen. In the beginning, God spoke, and everything came into being (Genesis 1). In Proverbs 18:21, Solomon wrote: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” The words we speak to one another can build up a person (enhance their life) or can tear a person down (hinder their life). As a witness in a jury trial, our words could set a person free or possibly condemn a person to death. Jesus spoke words and changed water into wine, healed people, raise the dead, provided food for two great multitudes of people and calmed powerful storms. We speak words in conversation or in teaching or preaching that change lives. I must take care of the words I write in these lessons as I will be held responsible for anything false or any improper influence.

Words are also important because they expose what is in our heart. They are the outward evidence of inward character. In Matthew 12:34, Jesus says: “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Paul warns us about this in Ephesians 4:29 ESV: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” What Paul says is not easy to do because James tells us that “no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). In the sanctification process, as we work out our salvation, we must continue to yield the members of our body, including our tongue, to the control of the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

At the time of judgment, the words that we have spoken will be the outward evidence of our inward character. David was concerned about his tongue and said, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” (Psalm 141:3 ESV). With a guard in place and the Lord keeping watch, the heart needs God’s work so that it will produce proper words in the first place.