If talk is cheap, words must be a dime a dozen. But not according to Jesus.
In one sense, the Lord reminds us there is accountability for the words we use. Do we use idle or useless words? Jesus has a word for that. In a world full of Twitter rants, comment sections, and hot takes, we'd do well to reflect more on what we say. Even throwaway comments can wound or heal long after we forget them.
Now, Jesus isn't demanding flawlessness or perfect speech. But he is connecting our speech to relationship and faithfulness. Careless words reveal the deeper currents of our heart.
When Jesus said we will have to answer for every useless word, he was speaking to a group of Pharisees. They had just said he was performing miracles by the authority of Beelzebul. In particular, he had just healed someone who was blind and unable to speak. Imagine the power of his words after meeting Jesus. And then the religious leaders use their words to discredit what God was doing through him. In other words, they weren't able or willing to see what God was doing.
Their speech against Jesus was a window into their heart. So, the accountability Jesus refers to isn't about vocabulary or surveillance. It's about spiritual formation.
Instead of just saying, "Watch your mouth," a better, more full way of connecting to what Jesus says is to say, "Watch your heart and your mouth will follow."
In that way, knowing that we'll answer for our words isn't meant to scare us, but to awaken us up to the reality of God with us. The question is not did you slip up. We all will. The more faithful question is, are you becoming more loving?
Stay blessed...john | 
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