Words Better Left Unsaid

“And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.” Matthew 12:36 NLT

There is not a person who has ever lived who has not regretted something they said. In the heat of the moment negative words fly from the best of us. It comes from our human nature, but more specifically from our sinful nature. But for the Christian, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us through circumstances that raise our tempers. James, through the Holy Spirit wrote, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” (Ja.1:19 nlt) This is only possible through the Holy Spirit as we walk by the Spirit. (Gal5:16) Still, there are slip ups with negative and careless words proceeding from our mouths when we least expect it.

Jesus’ words in the above verse should be a deep concern for all Christians. It is true Jesus is addressing the Pharisees here, but His words go way beyond the hypocritical speech of the Pharisees to us today in our daily conversations. Jesus fast forwards to judgment day and the accounting that will be accessed upon each and every one of us. The word ‘idle’ in this verse is defined as, ‘thoughtless or profitless.’ That’s a far cry from angry, provoking, deceiving, and intentionally driven hateful words.

What then is Jesus’ point for our accounting for every idle, thoughtless, and profitless word? The Wycliffe Bible Commentary explains it this way, “On the day of judgment the Lord will consider every man’s life in its entirety, even every idle word (not necessarily evil) coming from the overflow of his heart.” When we consider that Almighty God who is the Divine Judge and is aware of everything about our lives, our thoughts, our actions, our intentions, and our words, let there be no words better left unsaid.