Matthew 12:36-37

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-37

The blasphemy of the Pharisees. I. ITS CAUSE . 1 . The demoniac. The poor man was blind and dumb, and that not from natural causes, but by the cruel agency of an evil spirit. Like the dumb man ( Matthew 9:32 ), he was brought to Christ. He was helpless; he could not see his way; he could not express his wants. The Lord healed him at once; he both spake and saw. We must do our part to bring the helpless to the Lord. There are many, alas! whose eyes the God of this world has... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-37

The bathos of detracting blasphemy. In introduction, note the unity of this passage of sixteen verses. While the linking of one portion of the accounts contained in the Gospels to another is very often exceedingly evident, and that, link by link, a oneness of a different and complete kind marks this marvellous episode. Observe also upon the fact that the criticism of all the ages from the earliest Christian writings of the centuries has fastened upon these verses with no mistaken instinct.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-37

Casting out devils, and blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. The opposition of the Pharisees on this occasion much less excusable than when charging the Lord with sabbath-breaking. Contrasts with honest amazement of the people, exclaiming," Is not this," etc.? Pharisees felt evidence of miracle as much as common people, but refused to follow their own convictions. Make what they know to be a flimsy and insufficient explanation. Our Lord makes a threefold reply. 1 . It is absurd to suppose... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:25-37

Our Lord shows the monstrous character of their accusation, and urges the need of a complete change at heart. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:33-37

You wonder that I make so much of words; words are not trivialities, but are really the legitimate and normal fruit of the heart, and therefore by them each man will be judged. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:33-37

The heart in the tongue. The subject of the Pharisees' blasphemy is continued in these verses. From them we learn— I. THAT THE LICENCE OF THE TONGUE IS A PREGNANT EVIL . 1 . It is fruitful in robbery. 2 . It is prolific in murder. 3 . It is emphatically diabolical. II. THAT THE CONQUEST OF THE TONGUE IS A WORTHY AMBITION . 1 . Words are the vehicles of thought. 2 . By words thought stirs worlds. 3 . What an engine... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:36

But ( δέ ); and (Revised Version). The adversative particle hints at the contrast of Matthew 12:35 to their ordinary ideas about the importance of words. I say unto you, That every idle ( ἀργόν ); i.e. effecting nothing, morally useless; 2 Peter 1:8 (cf. καταργεῖ , Luke 13:7 ). Word ( ῥῆμα ); see verse 37, note. That men shall speak, they shall give account thereof ( ἀποδώσουσι λόγον : cf. 1 Peter 4:5 ) in the day of judgment ( Matthew 10:15 ,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:36-37

Matthew only. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:37

For by ( ἐκ )—referring to, as it were, the source of the verdict— thy words ( τῶν λόγοι σου ); thy , individualizing. Ob-nerve the change from ῥῆμα ( Matthew 12:36 ), which might in itself refer to the utterance of a madman, or to a parrot-like quotation. But by here using λόγοι our Lord shows that he is thinking of utterances of the reason. sentences spoken with a knowledge of their meaning, and forming parts of what are virtually, though not literally,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 12:36

But I say unto you ... - Christ closes this address to his malignant and wicked hearers by a solemn declaration that for these things God would bring them into judgment. Therefore. They who had spoken so malignantly against him, could not escape.Idle word - This literally means a vain, thoughtless, useless word; a word that accomplishes no good. Here it means, evidently, “wicked, injurious, false, malicious, for such” were the words which they had spoken. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-37

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-37

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-37

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:25-37

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:33-37

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:33-37

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:36

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:36-37

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:37

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 12:36

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