Matthew 12:36 (WEB)
I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
Fathers and councils · 26
Irenaeus of Lyons
“It really seems to me, that, with a view to such opinions, the Lord expressed Himself thus: “For every idle word that men speak, they shall give account on the day of judgment.”” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 36. [The serious spirit of this remark lends force to it as exposition.]
Read the whole comment“And therefore the Lord says, “As to every idle word that men have spoken, they shall render an account for it in the day of judgment.”” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 36.
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Ambrose of Milan
“If, according to the decree of heavenly truth, we have to give account of every idle word which we have spoken, and if every servant will incur no small blame when his lord returns, who, either like a timid money-lender or covetous owner, has hidden in the earth the…” — editor's note: S. Matt. xii. 36.
Read the whole comment“Truly, if each one shall give account for an idle word, how much more for words of impurity and shame?” — editor's note: S. Matt. xii. 36.
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Augustine of Hippo
“And although she, having been “made alive” in Christ even before she was freed from the flesh had so lived as to praise Thy name both by her faith and conversation, yet dare I not say that from the time Thou didst regenerate her by baptism, no word went forth from her mouth against Thy precepts.” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 36.
Read the whole comment“And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself shall be brought to desolation;” and so on, down to the words, “By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 23–37.
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Athanasius of Alexandria
“For every one of us shall give account in the Day of judgment of the things which he has done in this life.” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 36.
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Gregory the Great
“By the witness of the Gospel thou knowest that divine severity accuses us for idle talk, and demands a strict account of an unprofitable word (Matth. xii. 36).” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“Hence the Truth in person admonishes us, saying, Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment (Matth. xii. 36).” — the author cites it
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John Chrysostom
““But I say unto you,” this is His word, “that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 36.
Read the whole comment“And on them that laugh he pronounces a woe, and everywhere He removes the beginning and the seeds of evil, and saith we have to give an account of an idle word.” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 36.
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Gregory of Nazianzus
- Gregory of Nazianzus, Letters Letter 101Letters on the Apollinarian Controversy
“…to such men, and divides the noble body of the Church, he shall bear his judgment, whoever he may be, and shall give account to God in the day of judgment.” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 36.
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Jerome
“No man need pride himself in the day of judgment on merely physical chastity, for then shall men give account for every idle word, and the reviling of a brother shall be counted as the sin of murder.” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 36.
Read the whole comment“…mind that is given to Christ shews the same earnestness in things of small as of great importance, knowing that it must render an account of every idle word.” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 36.
Read the whole comment“We may with more right weep for ourselves that we stand daily in conflict with our sins, that we are stained with vices, that we receive wounds, and that we must give account for every idle word.” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 36.
Read the whole comment“And you shall by no means come out thence till you have paid the uttermost farthing, that is, till you have expiated your most trifling sins; for we shall give account of every idle word in the day of judgment.” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 36.
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Basil the Great
“They, however, who have patched up this new tragedy of blasphemy seem to have lost all belief in the Lord, Who has declared that we must give account at the day of judgment even for an idle word.” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 36.
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Tertullian
“Again, it is said that “impeachment awaits us for every vain and needless word.”” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 36. Tertullian has rendered ἀργόν by “vani et supervacui.”
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Cyprian of Carthage
“For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”” — editor's note: Matt. xii. 36, 37.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Lord follows up what He had said before by moving their fears, shewing that they that have thus sinned shall receive the most extreme punishment, “I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
And the meaning is; If every idle word which does not edify the hearers is not without danger to him that speaks it, and if each man shall render an account of his words in the day of judgment, how much more shall…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
He said not ‘which ye have spoken,’ but makes His teaching of universal application to the whole race of mankind, and at the same time His words less grievous to them that heard them. By an “idle word” is meant one…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or such as lacks either rightness in itself, or reasons of just necessity;
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
being spoken without the profit of either the speaker or hearer; as if laying aside weighty matters we should speak of frivolous trifles, or relate old fables. For he that deals in buffoon jests to create laughter,…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
The words which here follow depend on those that went before; “By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” There is no doubt but that every man shall he condemned for his evil…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
See that this sentence is not a burdensome one. The Judge will pass sentence not according to what any other has said concerning you, but according to what you have yourself spoken. They that are accused then have no…
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Cross-references · 36
Cited together in On Patience Chapter 8.
Cited together in Concerning Virgins I.1.
Cited together in Concerning Virgins I.1.
Cited together in On Patience Chapter 8.
Cited together in Concerning Virgins I.1.
Cited together in Concerning Virgins I.1.
Cited together in Epistles, Books I–VIII I.24.
Cited together in Epistles, Books I–VIII I.24.
Cited together in Epistles, Books I–VIII I.24.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews III.14.
Cited together in Against Heresies II.19.
Cited together in Against Heresies II.19.
Cited together in Defence Against the Arians I.2.
Cited together in Against Heresies II.19.
Cited together in Against Heresies II.19.
Cited together in Epistles, Books I–VIII I.24.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews III.14.
Cited together in Against Heresies II.19.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews III.14.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews III.14.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews III.14.
Cited together in Concerning Virgins I.1.
Cited together in Concerning Virgins I.1.
Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy I.2.
Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy I.2.
Cited together in Letters Letter 51.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews III.14.
Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy I.2.
Cited together in Concerning Virgins I.1.
Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy I.2.
Cited together in Letters Letter 51.
Cited together in Letters Letter 51.
Cited together in Epistles, Books I–VIII I.24.
Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy I.2.
Cited together in On the Duties of the Clergy I.2.
Cited together in Epistles, Books I–VIII I.24.