Matthew 12:35-37 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But 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.

If you take verse 36 all by itself and allow it to speak into your experience, you just might find you have a problem. If every word I speak is going to be held against me, I am in serious trouble. There is nothing iffy about this statement, it is a declarative, this will come into being on our day of judgement. What’s to be done about it? I cannot take back those words.

Refocus rather on the preceding verse and then the following verse, rather than verse 36 alone. Take it in context. Always look for context. That will save you much grief.

First look to the condition of your heart. Do you now have a new heart condition? Has your stony heart been replaced by a heart of flesh? Ezekiel 26:36 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. This speaks to being born again, John 3:5. If you have been born again, this settles the first issue.

Verse 37 speaks to two conditions upon which only one can exist after the day of judgement. You will either be justified, or condemned. Justification is what we are seeking as a result after all the words of our mouth have been judged. Nothing that is handed down in sentencing is more important than to be justified. Justified keeps you out of the fiery pit, no matter what else happens.

Deuteronomy 25:1-2 If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked. And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number.

The justified will receive punishment for their words that is not unto death, being sent to that fiery pit.

Proverbs 1:32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

1 Corinthians 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

I do not know of anyone who enjoys being called simple. Simple as the world uses the term implies mental defect. Every simple person I have ever met has been gentle, kind, loving and generous. There is within them no deceit, no guile, no malice, no bitterness, and no selfishness.

Oh, that I were simple.

The contrast of these two opening verses is in the condition of the heart and not a force of will nor ability. I truly believe that God grants grace to those who are truly simple as the world defines them. I believe God will accept them just as they are because they might never come to an age of accountability. In truth, accountability is at the core of salvation.

Matthew 12:35-37 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But 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.

Romans 14:11-13 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.

The simple have never tripped me.