Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 12:37
Verse 37. By thy words thou shalt be justified] That is, the whole tenor of thy conversation will be an evidence for or against thee, in the great day. How many are there who count words for nothing! and yet eternity often depends on them. Lord, put a watch before the door of my lips! is a prayer proper for all men.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 37. For by thy words thou shalt be justified , etc.] Theophylact seems to take these words to be a passage of Scripture cited by Christ, in proof of what he had said, but does not point to any; nor is any such Scripture to be found. They are rather proverbial expressions, in common use among the Jews; or refer to the usual methods of proceeding in courts of judicature, upon the acknowledgments and confessions of persons. Says Resh Lakish f754 , such an one and such an one, they justify; and such an one and such an one, they condemn. R. Eliezer replies, ynwlp hkdzg hyrbdm , by their words such an one and such an one are justified.
The gloss upon it is, upon hearing the difference there is between them, and between their words, they are justified.
Our Lords meaning is, that not only works and actions, but words of all sorts, will come into account in the day of judgment, and will be evidences for, or against a man, to acquit or condemn him: and by thy words thou shalt be condemned : according to these, the sentence of justification, or of condemnation, will be pronounced; as these will appear to be evidences for, or against a mans being in a state of grace and righteousness: thus for instance, a man that has spoken for Christ, and has freely confessed that all his hope of justification before God, and acceptance with him, is solely upon the account of the righteousness of Christ imputed; such a man will be declared a justified man according to the tenor of his own words: on the other hand, a man that has spoken hard speeches against Christ, and his righteousness; declaring he has no dependence on it, expects no justification by it; he will be convinced of these ungodly sayings, and out of his own mouth will be condemned. Some have thought, that Christ here strikes at a notion which obtained among the Jews, that little or no account would be taken of a mans words in the day of judgment; provided his life and actions were good, and regular; but whatever were the sentiments of the Pharisees, or of any of Christs present hearers, it is certain, that it is the opinion of Jewish writers, that words, as well as actions, will be accounted for hereafter: they say f755 , When a man dies, he lifts up his eyes and sees two come to him, and write before him all that he has done in this world, hymwp m qypad hm lkw , and all that has proceeded out of his mouth, alk l[ anyd byhyw , and he gives an account for all; and a little after, ylm wnya lk , all the words of a man in this world, are prepared before him, and not one of them lost; and in the hour he goes to his grave, they are all set before him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 33-37 - Men's language discovers what country they are of, likewise what manne of spirit they are of. The heart is the fountain, words are the streams. A troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring, must send fort muddy and unpleasant streams. Nothing but the salt of grace, cast int the spring, will heal the waters, season the speech, and purify the corrupt communication. An evil man has an evil treasure in his heart and out of it brings forth evil things. Lusts and corruptions, dwellin and reigning in the heart, are an evil treasure, out of which the sinner brings forth bad words and actions, to dishonour God, and hur others. Let us keep constant watch over ourselves, that we may spea words agreeable to the Christian character.
Greek Textus Receptus
εκ 1537 PREP γαρ 1063 CONJ των 3588 T-GPM λογων 3056 N-GPM σου 4675 P-2GS δικαιωθηση 1344 5701 V-FPI-2S και 2532 CONJ εκ 1537 PREP των 3588 T-GPM λογων 3056 N-GPM σου 4675 P-2GS καταδικασθηση 2613 5701 V-FPI-2S
