Church Fathers Commentary Matthew 12:36-37

"And 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 (ASV)

St. John Chrysostom: The Lord follows up what He had said before by stirring their fears, showing that those who have sinned in this way will receive the most extreme punishment: I say to you, that every idle word that people speak, they will give an account for it on the day of judgment.

St. Jerome: The meaning is this: If every idle word that does not edify the hearers is not without danger to the one who speaks it, and if each person will give an account for their words on the day of judgment, how much more will you—who have spoken falsely against the works of the Holy Spirit by saying that I cast out demons through Beelzebub—give an account for your false charge?

St. John Chrysostom: He did not say, “which you have spoken,” but instead makes His teaching universally applicable to the whole human race, thereby also making His words less harsh to those who heard them. An “idle word” means one that is false or that falsely accuses someone. Some, indeed, say that it includes all frivolous talk, anything that stirs up immoderate laughter, or shameful and immodest words.

St. Gregory the Great: Or it is a word that lacks either its own integrity or a reason of just necessity.¹

St. Jerome: It is a word spoken without benefit to either the speaker or the hearer, as if, setting aside important matters, we were to speak of frivolous trifles or tell old fables. For whoever engages in buffoonish jests to create laughter, or says anything shameful, will be held guilty not of an idle word, but of a sinful one.

Remigius of Auxerre: The words that follow here depend on those that came before: By your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. There is no doubt that every person will be condemned for the evil words they speak, but no one will be justified for their good words unless they come from their inmost heart and from a sincere purpose.

St. John Chrysostom: Notice that this judgment is not a burdensome one. The Judge will pass sentence not according to what anyone else has said about you, but according to what you yourself have said. Therefore, those who are accused have no need to fear, but those who accuse do. For the accused are not charged with the evil things spoken about them, but the accusers are charged with the evil things they themselves have spoken.

1. Hom. in Ev., vi