During a confrontation with Jesus, some of the most zealous religious “leaders” of those times accused the Carpenter of casting out demons by the power of the Great Demon.

Jesus clarified the logical ludicrousness of their accusation—“No house divided against itself can stand.” (Whatever else happens, you can be sure that Satan isn’t going to go around fighting against his own minions.) He then declared that they had committed the only unpardonable sin. There is no greater blasphemy than attributing the power of God to the Devil. In essence, it is looking at God and calling Him “Satan.”

Honestly, few concepts or passages in the Bible have been more twisted and [deliberately?] misunderstood. But… let’s leave that alone for a while. What I really want to focus on in this perhaps unusually serious and pedantic reflection is what Jesus says at the conclusion of this episode. (Recorded in Matthew 12:22-37.)

³⁴ O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

³⁵ A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

³⁶ But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

³⁷ For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. (KJV)

Don’t you love it when the Prince of Peace calls someone a bunch of snakes?! Not really trying to win friends is He? But definitely influencing people! (Yeah, that’s a Dale Carnegie reference…) And then, another priceless observation: “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

Mean people say mean things. Vulgar people say vulgar things. Hateful people say hateful things. Why? Because that’s what is in their heart. And… blasphemous people say blasphemous things. And, fortunately, that also goes the other way. Loving people? Forgiving people? Respectful people? Righteous people? Gentle people? I bet you can guess what kind of things these folks say.

So, when you hear someone spewing racism, prejudice, harshness, hatred, bigotry, violence, vengeance, whatever. That’s not a smoke screen; it’s just the water testifying about the fountain. What’s in the heart is what comes out of the mouth.

The next thing that has been stirring my mind lately is from Verse 36: we are going to have to answer for “every idle word.” The NIV renders that “every empty word.” I like the clarity of the NIV but I like the expression of the KJV on that phrase. I think both translations refer to “things said without adequate thought or consideration.”

You know, like when the brain is in idle but the mouth keeps running? Words that are empty of proper reflection?

This bunch of snakes had just spoken out of jealousy, resentment, and stubborn refusal to accept the clear testimony of what had just happened. Jesus had exorcised a demon that had kept a man from being able to see or speak. Everyone there witnessed an obvious miracle of deliverance, compassion, and divine power. The man both saw and spoke! While others marveled at the grace and power of the Son of God, this bunch of flint-hearted zealots reacted with insult. Without really thinking logically, fairly, and honestly. They uttered “idle words.”

And Jesus said, “This shall not pass!” (Okay, I’m paraphrasing here…) He said this kind of blasphemy will not be forgiven now nor in the Next Life. Very few of us need to worry even slightly about committing the Unpardonable Sin. But those idle words? Hmm…

Reckon that could even apply to anti-social media? Oooowww… excuse me folks, I’ve got to go delete some comments…