What Is Meant by Being Judged by Idle Words?

“What is meant by being judged by idle words?” a reader ponders. “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37 NKJV). Both the words “idle” and “word” in this text have negative connotations. Jesus was not talking about utterances that are either positive or neutral, but rather He spoke about negative or evil speech. See that there are only two categories under consideration—words that justify or words that condemn. Compare Matthew 12:36-37 with Ephesians 5:4, which reads, “neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.” Once more, there are two categories of words—words that justify or words that condemn.