Peter Barnes | Matthew 12:36-37
SERMON NOTES
JUDGMENT BY OUR WORDS
James 3:1-12; Matthew 12:36-37
– ‘words are bullets’. J. C. Ryle: ‘There are few of our Lord’s sayings which are so heart-searching as this.’ Ambrose of Milan: ‘Let there be a door on your mouth so that it can be shut when necessary.’ Thomas Manton: ‘Most of man’s sins are in his words.’
1. God will judge every word we utter.
– 12:36; ‘careless’ is actually ‘workless’
– our own words will judge us (Luke 19:22)
– the ‘you’ is plural
2. Our words will justify or condemn us.
– 12:37; ‘you’ is singular; Prov.18:21
– Matt.12:24 versus Rom.10:9
3. We must guard our words.
– James 3:2
– Ps.141:3 (put off); Col.4:6 (put on)
– silence in the judgment! (Matt.22:12)