JUDGED BY EVERY IDLE WORD Matthew 12:36-37

I will attempt to clarify this issue as best I can. But, as you may have already noticed some of the great commentators of church history have disagreed with each other. I do not claim to be wiser than those great men of God. However, you will find that my view takes a third position to the two more commonly held.

It is not unusual in Biblical studies to take a position on a topic in defense of one’s long held position. In other words, when we read something which may have the ability to alter our long standing belief, we tend to read that passage with bias, interpreting it in light of those current beliefs. I cannot say that any of the scholars we might have read has done this. But, we should be careful not to do so.

A basic method in Biblical studies is to ascertain first the meaning of the text and then its context before looking for the meaning of the word or phrase in question. So, let’s approach “idle words” in that same fashion. Many studies on this issue begin by defining argoz and rhema. However, I would contend that one cannot properly define a word or phrase until one understands how it is intended to be used in its current context. Just consider the English word well with its several possible uses. It should be abundantly clear that one cannot define that simple word until it is placed within a particular context.

So first, we will ask what the text is saying. And then, what the context is saying. Before we look at the words in question we need to backup just a bit and see the intent and direction of the preceding conversation. The phrase, “idle words” was not written as a stand-alone comment but rather it was the culmination of an extensive discourse.

v.2 The Pharisee’s criticized the disciples for picking and eating the corn on the Sabbath. v.3-6 Jesus corrects their view. And he notes their lack of spirituality in not realizing who was standing right there with them. v.7-8 Jesus points out their lack of Biblical understanding and application of spiritual truths. v.9-10 The Pharisees show an intense desire to adhere to the Law of God as a means of attacking Jesus. v.11-13  Jesus again corrects them in showing the intent of the law rather than its mechanically correct outward expression. v.14-21  Now the Pharisees plot to bring Jesus down. There is no attempt to discover who he might truly be, but only his demise. The Spirit of God worked mightily in him as prophecy said would He would. It is then that we are brought to the current passage (our context) in question. Here too, we must look at the overall picture first. v.22 Jesus cast out a demon. v.24 The Pharisees attributed his miracle to Satan. v.25-32 Jesus establishes a clear separation between good and evil, between the Divine and the Unholy, clarifying they cannot co-exist. v.33-35 Jesus states that a tree is either good or bad. Our works are produced within us, long before they become our actions. v.36-37 Every word we say in life will be our judge. More than the edifices we might build or the sermons we may preach, our words (our conversation) will one day serve as our judge.

The Pharisees believed their actions, with their strict adherence to the Law, would vindicate them. However, Jesus is pointing out here that our words reveal the true condition of our heart and form a just basis for the interpretation of our character (Mat_12:36-37). Our daily casual conversations express who we really are. It is not a question of being careful which words we choose for our conversation, although that can be important as well. Rather, in this passage we are to understand that those innocent conversations, those quiet moments of jest or frivolity, are revelations into our hearts. We will answer for all of life. The Pharisees were focused on keeping the laws ("which is the great commandment...?"), dotting the i's and crossing the 't's" during all religious moments in life. But, we must understand that in those private moments, those which seem to be done in isolation, conversations seemingly so benign are just as condemning as murder, adultary or lying because they reveal the true nature of our hearts. Look again now at the passage in question:

Matthew 12:33-38 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit. (v.34) Offspring of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (v.35) A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings out good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings out evil things. (v.36) But I say to you that every idle word, whatever men may speak, they shall give account of it in the day of judgment. (v.37) For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned. (v.38) Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we want to see a sign from you.”

Jesus’ focus is on the “tree” as it represents the individual i.e., the Pharisee, the disciple or the average believer at that time. What the “tree” produces is the result of the type of tree, good or bad. The Pharisees were focused on the product, or the fruit, instead of the tree (person) itself. Their analysis of their day may have been, “Did I do the right number of prayers? Did I make sufficient sacrifices? Were my tithes precisely calculated?” But, Jesus is saying those things do not really matter if they are done with an unchanged heart, a heart that had not been born again. And, that will be revealed in the secret moments of life because the mouth will ultimately be fueled by what is in the heart, “…out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

A second concern would be in how this applies to judgement. As pertaining to the saved, we have been judged in Christ already. Although, we will face the Bema Seat (I Cor. 3:10ff) and account for our lives here. Our eternal state is already judged, it is our works which will be examined. What we have done for Christ, our faithfulness or our shame will be revealed. But, for us the debt of sin (eternal separation from God) is already paid. However, “idle words” or conversations we thought were meaningless, benign or of no real consequence may be the very evidence to prove our love of God or our guilt and shame as we stand before Him. Those quiet moments may reveal our love and dedication to Christ or our lukewarm natures. Jesus is telling his audience to examine their heart, the cause of the actions in life. If the tree is rotten the fruit will be too, no matter what it looks like on the outside. What do our quiet moments or our secret conversations reveal about our heart? When our mouth speaks what is in our hearts, what does it say? I believe those quiet conversations will resound on judgment day as loudly as our actions.

However, for the unsaved, who have refused to accept the payment Jesus made for them, every “idle word” will be brought in as further evidence of guilt. Though they may say, “…in that day, Lord! Lord! Did we not prophesy in Your name, and through Your name throw out demons, and through Your name do many wonderful works?” (Matt. 7:22). Or, “Didn’t we work hard? Didn’t we accomplish great things?” I believe our passage is saying that God will be able to go back and show the wickedness of a man’s unsaved heart by the simple daily conversations he had year after year over the backyard fence or at the counter sipping coffee with his friends (Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?) A man’s own words would be sufficient to condemn him to eternity in hell. We are not condemned for our failure to comply with Divine mandates. We are condemned because we are a fallen race (Romans 3:10-23; 5:8-21). And, although our fallen nature with original sin is what condemns us, the very expressions of our own hearts in daily conversation would be sufficient to seal our fate if we are not born-again. What we say everyday expresses who we are, and whose we are.

SINLESS PERFECTION

SINLESS PERFECTION

        The question, "is sinless perfection possible " cannot be answered with a direct Biblical quote stating that every human being can live life without ever committing a sin. Nor, can we find a statement claiming sin is absolutely inevitable for the child of God. However, it is evident through myriad examples, provisions, exhortations and commands that we do indeed continue to sin after we are saved, or born again.
        It is clearly stated in Scripture that we are expected to live above sin, 1Peter 1:16 “because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." It is only the foolishness of the modern preacher and an apparent desire to keep the pews full that lends excuse and provision for living in the flesh, and the acceptance of mediocre Christianity. The phrase “Don’t worry, we are all only human” has become far too common in today’s churches. It seems in our generation there is little concern for the separated life, a life characterized by daily godly living, a life that abhors sin. However, we cannot allow our frustrations to mold our doctrine.
        One of my personal favorites, if one passage can be more endearing than another, is Ephesians 1:4-14. Paul opens this passage with, “According as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love….” God’s choice from the very foundation of the world was that each one of us, His children, would one day stand before Him without sin, holy and completely without blame. Certainly, it would stand to reason then, that God wants those same children today to live above sin in their daily lives. And Paul follows this statement in Ephesians 5:27 with, “that He might present it to Himself as the glorious church, without spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that it should be holy and without blemish.” And one may think that this seals the argument. Nothing more needs to be stated. We are expected to live holy lives. And to this point I must agree until one examines this a bit more carefully.
        The book of Ephesians is replete with examples of our ineptitude and God’s provision. Above we cited chapter one and verse four. Now, continue reading from verse five. God’s choice to have us stand before Him without sin was accomplished in his work of adoption (v.5) placing us into His family by (v.6) the sacrificial work (v.7) of Jesus Christ. Which brings glory to God (and not to ourselves, 2:9) for His great wisdom and power. All of which was accomplished long ago, though He is only now revealing it (v.8-10) to us in its entirety, for His own pleasure and in accordance with His own will, that all things should be done, and completed, and headed up, in and by, Jesus Christ. So complete is the work of redemption that God already (v.11-14) made us heirs with Christ, made us to be the cause of His glory and sealed us with His Holy Spirit. All of this was done so that (5:27) He could present us to Himself as a spotless Church, one without sin or blemish of any type. God already made us spotless, sinless, and without blemish.
        Yet, the same Apostle that penned the words above also wrote Ephesians 2:10 making the point that we can only work in a manner which is pleasing to God today because we have been created in Christ. Because of our new birth we now have the ability, with the Holy Spirit living in us, to serve God, to do good works. However, by the time we get to chapter 4 Paul is “beseeching” the church, true believers, to stop sinning, live in love and unity, and stop the divisions. In fact, he states that we, as a church (v.14-15) have been given the tools to bring the saints to maturity until the return of Christ. Why? Because the church will always need these gifts in a fallen creation. To the church (v.17-18) he says to stop walking in vanity, don’t allow your understanding to be darkened, don’t allow yourself to be alienated from a proper relationship with God, like those in the world still do. These are daily efforts and struggles. Every day that we walk with Christ we can become closer and closer to God. But as long as sin is in this world and we live in a sin cursed fleshly body we can expect occasional failures which is why we have 1 John 2:1 “My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 
        In Romans 7:14-25 it would be a serious error to believe Paul is speaking of his unregenerate past. He is addressing born again believers, not the unsaved. His comparison is current. He begins by looking back at the Law and how it was used to direct us toward Christ. And then, he personalizes his statements beginning in verse 15. In verse one he begins to present the issue of living under the law as the Jews had done all of their lives. He relates it to the marriage relationship in verses 2-6. Verse seven then asks, what is the conclusion? Is the Law sinful? “No.” Paul states that it simply points out our sin, and in concert with life and our own actions, confirms the sinners guilt. 
        In verse 14 he makes a transitional statement. He says the Law does not cause us to sin. It is simply a spiritual instrument of God. The fallen flesh that each of us is currently inhabiting is the problem. His following analogy (7:21-23) is an account of his personal experience, “I find then a law: when I will to do the right, evil is present with me. (v.22) For I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man; (v.23) but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin being in my members.” Paul, and all Christians since, had a battle with sin. His cry (v.24) was so much like our own, “Who can help me? Who can free me from this sin cursed body?” Thankfully, the cry of frustration is immediately followed (v.25) by a grateful heart as Paul thanks God. The Law could only bring guilt and shame at our constant failures. It could not break the bond of sin and death. But, in Christ the gospel brings forgiveness, grace and mercy, placing us in right standing before the Father so that even though sin is still there, it has been paid for, it cannot separate us from God. We are secure in Christ.
        His conclusion? As long as he is bound to this flesh, in his heart and mind he wills to fulfill every command of God. But, the flesh is prone to sin even though the spirit has been redeemed. The flesh will one day be redeemed as well. But the body has not yet been redeemed. Paul states in I Corinthians 15:50-54 “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (v.51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (v.52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (v.53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (v.54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” Today we live in the flesh but it too will be redeemed soon.
        Every effort should be made to live above sin. Departing from sin should be the heart cry of every believer. However, it is dangerous for believers to think they can become sinless in a sinful body, living in a sinful world. The constant failure will tend toward depression and a deep sense of defeat. God knows we sill sin (Hebrews 12:5-12) and tells us that, although our sin can affect our family relationship with Him, He is always there to direct us back to Himself.