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.
