Matthew 12:36-37 - Men will have to give account on the day of judgment

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

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.

"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for 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

Commentary

We are a people of words. We think in words. When we expand our vocabulary we expand our understanding. So it shouldn't seem odd that part of God's judgment will be the very words that we have used. Hitler used words to move a nation toward war; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used words to inspire a nation toward reconciliation. What we say is very important. Words are so important that the apostle John called Jesus the Word of God that became flesh. Therefore we need to value and weigh the words that we speak.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

Malachi 3:17-18 - "They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty

"They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

"They will be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, "on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him." So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.

Malachi 3:17-18

Commentary

Malachi spoke as a prophet to God's people during a time when their national identity was being restored. The Jewish exiles had returned from Babylon to Israel, Ezra saw temple worship restored, and Nehemiah had rebuilt Jerusalem. Malachi is telling the people of God that the knowledge of God was again being restored. Even when the people of God seemed to be vanquished, God showed himself faithful again. The grass withers and the flower fades, but the Word of our God will last forever.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC