Every Idle Word

The Tongue

Jesus names something worth taking with genuine seriousness here, every idle word, comprehensive scope, worth holding as this whole first movement’s own culminating, sobering claim, not merely dramatic or intentionally cruel words accountable, but even idle, seemingly careless ones, genuinely, eventually accounted for.

This closes the first movement of this book with this needed, comprehensive weight. By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned, worth holding as genuine motivation for the discipline this book’s second movement will actually explore, not legalistic anxiety, but honest, sober seriousness.

This closes the loop this whole first movement has traced. Untamable by mere effort, small fire producing vast consequence, death and life in its power, blessing and cursing from the same mouth, piercing swords, deliberately whet weapons, fuel for ongoing strife, whispered separation, lying and discord.

As this movement closes, receive this comprehensive accountability as genuine, sober motivation, not paralyzing anxiety, but honest weight worth carrying into this book’s second movement, where the actual, practical discipline of guarding this untamed tongue will begin to be genuinely, practically explored.