Matthieu 12:36

36 Je vous le dis: au jour du jugement, les hommes rendront compte de toute parole vaine qu'ils auront proférée.

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 Races de vipères, comment pourriez-vous dire de bonnes choses, méchants comme vous l'êtes? Car c'est de l'abondance du coeur que la bouche parle.

35 L'homme bon tire de bonnes choses de son bon trésor, et l'homme méchant tire de mauvaises choses de son mauvais trésor.

36 Je vous le dis: au jour du jugement, les hommes rendront compte de toute parole vaine qu'ils auront proférée.

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

38 Alors quelques-uns des scribes et des pharisiens prirent la parole, et dirent: Maître, nous voudrions te voir faire un miracle.