But I tell you that for every empty word that people speak, they will give an account on the day of judgment.
Jesus warns about the value of speech and its consequences. By “idle word,” he means words that are meaningless, lacking a good purpose, or that harm others—whether through lying, slander, hatred, or simply emptiness. Such words reflect the condition of a person’s heart and can have a negative effect both on the person and on those around them. This saying reminds us that our words, however small or insignificant they may seem, have spiritual significance. They are recorded by God and must be taken into account on the day of judgment. Jesus emphasizes that every word carries responsibility, and a person must be thoughtful and accountable for what they say. This is a call to deep self-examination: do our words build up and comfort, or, on the contrary, do they tear down and harm? He also warns that on the day of judgment each person will be held accountable not only for deeds, but also for words.