How can one practically live by Christ’s words in Matthew 12:36–37?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

The passage you are referring to is one of the most sobering in the Holy Gospel:

"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)

To "survive" these words practically from a Coptic Orthodox perspective, we must transition from a state of fear to a state of Phobou Theou (the Fear of God), which is the beginning of wisdom. Here is how you can apply this practically:

1. Understand what an "Idle Word" is

In the Greek and Coptic understanding, an "idle word" is something that is spiritually "unworking" or useless. It refers to gossip, slander (which the Fathers call the "death of the soul"), mocking, or words spoken to deceive. St. Cyril of Alexandria explains that Christ is warning us that our speech reveals the "treasure" of our hearts. If the heart is full of grace, the words will be; if it is full of malice, the words will be idle or harmful.

2. The Practical Remedy: Silence

The Great Desert Fathers, such as St. Arsenius, frequently said: "I have often repented of having spoken, but never of having been silent."

• The Three Gates: Before speaking, ask: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
• If you find it difficult to control your tongue, follow the advice of the Agpeya in the Hymn of the Ninth Hour, asking God to set a guard over your mouth and a door of enclosure for your lips.

3. Repentance Reverses the Judgment

The beauty of the Orthodox faith is that the "account" we must give for our words can be settled now through the Mystery of Repentance and Confession.

• When you speak an idle or hurtful word, do not wait. Immediately pray: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
• In the Mystery of Confession, when the priest prays the Absolution, those words are "blotted out." As St. John Chrysostom says, God does not try a person twice for the same sin if they have truly repented.

4. Transform Idle Words into Fruitful Words

The best way to stop saying bad things is to fill your mouth with good things.

• The Jesus Prayer: Instead of "small talk" or "idle talk," train your tongue to say: "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.".
• Praise: Use your voice for the hymns of the Church. Our cantors, such as Moalem Ibrahim Ayad or Moalem George Mikhail, teach us that the tongue was created to be a "lyre" for the Holy Spirit. If you are busy praising God, you have no time for idle words.

5. Remembering the Weight of Speech

Remember that words have the power to create or destroy. We are made in the image of the Logos (the Word). Therefore, our words are not "just air"; they are a reflection of our spiritual state.

Do not be paralyzed by this verse. Use it as a motivation to treat your speech as a sacred gift. If you fall and speak idly, rise quickly through repentance. God is a loving Father who desires your salvation more than He desires to count your mistakes.