Verse 36
36. Every idle word Every worthless and unworthy word. The term idle means not merely unimportant or insignificant; but implies that there is some positive evil in the word, something on account of which it were better omitted.
It is not meant by this that all the prattle of the mother to her child, or of children among themselves, or all the pleasantries of social life, are in themselves evil; to be condemned because they do not tend to some special religious, pecuniary, or scientific end. It may indeed be said they do tend to a right and natural end. They give play to the pleasant and cheerful emotions, which are a part of rightful human happiness. They develop the faculties, and physiologically quicken the vital circulation, and are necessary to health both of body and of mind. Only beware that they are regulated by good sense, decency, and moderation; for, let it be remembered, they are all to pass God’s judgment trial, to be condemned if evil, and thereby to condemn us.
Be the first to react on this!
