12:36Matthew 12:36

Every idle, careless, empty and useless word that men speak must be answered for to God in the day of judgment, and by words men will be justified and by words condemned.Ms 73, 1897, par. 1+2 It was spoken to priests, rulers and Pharisees after Jesus healed a blind and dumb possessed man, as the conclusion of His rebuke that a divided kingdom cannot stand, that casting out devils by the Spirit of God proves the kingdom of God is come, and that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, the good man bringing good from good treasure and the evil man evil from evil treasure.DA 321.3+1 Words are closely connected to the heart and reveal what is stored within, so conversation is an index of character by which character can be quite accurately estimated.ST Mar 8, 1883+2 Every word, act, thought, motive and purpose is witnessed by God, Christ and angels and recorded with exactness in the books of heaven, to be reviewed in the day of judgment when words testify either to justification or condemnation.Ms 45, 1909, par. 18+4 Speech is therefore a precious talent and sacred trust entrusted by God to be consecrated, sanctified and ever used in His service to honor Him, proclaim truth and help others, with the tongue kept under the Holy Spirit as a power for good rather than evil.Ms 21, 1899, par. 14–15+4

Jesus spoke these words to priests, rulers and Pharisees just after He healed a man possessed with a devil who was blind and dumb, when the people wondered whether He was the Son of David and the Pharisees charged that He cast out devils by Beelzebub the prince of devils.DA 321.3+1 The charge was a repetition of the claim that He casts out devils through the prince of devils, and the verse belongs to His plain warning that attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan cuts men off from the fountain of blessing.DA 321.3+1 It stands as the conclusion of His rebuke that a divided kingdom cannot stand, that His casting out devils by the Spirit of God proves the kingdom of God is come, that he who is not with Him is against Him, and that blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven in this world nor the world to come.DA 321.3+1 It concludes also His teaching that the tree is known by its fruit, because out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, the good man bringing forth good things from good treasure and the evil man evil things from evil treasure.DA 321.3+1

Words spoken against Jesus Himself through failure to discern His divine character may be forgiven, because through the Holy Spirit men may be brought to see their error and repent, and whatever the sin, if the soul repents and believes the guilt is washed away in the blood of Christ.DA 321.3 But he who wilfully rejects the Spirit and declares His work to be from Satan cuts off the channel by which God works upon the heart and places himself where repentance and faith cannot come to him, so that when the Spirit is finally rejected there is no more that God can do for the soul.DA 321.3 The warning is closely connected to the warning about the sin against the Holy Spirit, for idle and evil words indicate what is in the heart, since out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.DA 323.1 Words are more than an indication of character; they react upon character, and men are influenced by their own words.DA 323.1

Under a momentary impulse prompted by Satan men utter jealousy or evil surmising that they do not really believe, but the expression reacts on the thoughts and deceives them until they come to believe as true what was spoken at Satan's instigation.DA 323.1 Having once expressed an opinion or decision, pride keeps them from retracting it, and trying to prove themselves right brings them to believe they are right.DA 323.1 It is dangerous to utter a word of doubt and dangerous to question and criticize divine light, for the habit of careless and irreverent criticism reacts on the character by fostering irreverence and unbelief, and many following it go on unconscious of danger until they are ready to criticize and reject the work of the Holy Spirit.DA 323.1 When a man's heart is not under the subduing power of the Holy Spirit through separation from God and no living connection with God, Satan's attributes are revealed in oppression of fellow men and in the desire of one institution to control all others, sending forth an influence contrary to truth and justice and righteousness.Lt 57, 1895, par. 8 This course does despite to the Holy Spirit and indulges the same spirit as Korah, Dathan, and Abiram and as the Jews in the days of Christ, and it continues even after warnings from God have come again and again, revealing the spirit governing the heart for which people will answer in the judgment.Lt 57, 1895, par. 8+2

The same reckoning for words cautions against treating nonessential matters as vital points and making them the basis of controversy through self-seeking.SPBC 139.3–4 It is cited in connection with religious controversies in which people strive for supremacy over matters that are not vital but have been treated as important.Lt 38, 1896, par. 23–26 The plain sense is that every idle, careless, empty and useless word men speak must be answered for to God in the day of judgment, and by words men will be justified and by words condemned.Ms 73, 1897, par. 1+4 This reckoning for words belongs to the whole duty of man to fear God and keep His commandments, because God will bring every work into judgment with every secret thing, whether good or evil.Ms 45, 1909, par. 18 Ignoring the plain truths of God's word does not remove their force; those truths will testify against and condemn those who disregard them, as part of the strict standard of Scripture that Christian teaching cannot soften.ST Mar 8, 1883+1

It was addressed to the evil Pharisees and Sadducees who as false teachers poisoned religious principles by exalting manufactured precepts, traditions and man-made commandments above the law of God.Ms 73, 1897, par. 14–16 Every idle word reveals the malignity of the heart, with words serving as an index of character that will justify or condemn and testify against the speaker.Ms 73, 1897, par. 14–16 It teaches carefulness and modesty in employment of speech because speech is a talent of great power for good when used aright and equally great power for evil when poisonous, so that when abused evil things proceed from the heart and words become either a savor of life unto life or of death unto death.Ms 73, 1897, par. 14–16 Words reveal what is stored in the heart and help determine a person's character, with vulgar speech showing an evil, unpurified heart.Lt 9, 1892, par. 48–57+1

Idle words include jesting, joking, reckless, cheap, vain, foolish, trifling, commonplace and frivolous talk, low degrading nonsense, evil and silly talk, clown-like levity, extravagant jesting, turning serious subjects into sport and ridicule, hard speeches falling like hail, dishonesty, exaggeration, untruthfulness, gossip and backbiting.Lt 47, 1897, par. 3+4 Such talk dishonors Christ, grieves the Holy Spirit, weakens faith, piety, power and spiritual growth, and hinders the message.Lt 47, 1897, par. 3+1 Improper conversation weakens faith and spiritual power, injures spirituality, gives happiness to no one, and gives discordant notes that taste of vice and revelry.Lt 47, 1897, par. 3+1 Words index the state of the heart and express the character of the thoughts, so character can be quite accurately estimated by conversation, and sound truthful words have the right ring, while idle words are signs that the heart is defiled and needs to be cleansed.Lt 2, 1895, par. 15–18 Where the heart is purified and made fit for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the tongue is sacrificed to the glory of God.Lt 2, 1895, par. 15–18

Idle words need not be swearing; they are unprofitable words that do not help, bless or edify anyone, including evil thinking put into speech.21MR 31.1–3+1 They include evil criticism of God's messengers and their words, sentiments that sow evil in hearers and are reproduced in other minds, confusing the senses, injuring the influence of workers, and causing doubt about the words spoken by the Lord's ambassadors.21MR 31.1–3+1 Such speech brings condemnation rather than blessing, and words that obstruct a fellow Christian and words of criticism and fault-finding are accountable to God and should not be spoken.21MR 31.1–3+1 Thoughtless, unkind words, suspicions, and false reports can grow as they are repeated, causing injustice and discord, and faultfinding words spoken against God's servants are recorded in a book that will be opened before God and the angels.STGC 43.2–3+2

Idle words include words of doubt, darkness, discouragement and unbelief, harsh, passionate, angry, impatient, fretful, censorious, discordant, scathing, ill-advised, unsanctified, accusing, lying, murmuring, contentious, selfish and bigoted speech, tale-bearing, strife of tongues and running with discoveries of things that never existed.Ms 66, 1895, par. 4–5+4 Even one word of doubt, darkness, or discouragement plants a seed in other minds that germinates and grows into a bitter harvest that no human power can kill and only God can remove, producing discouragement and unbelief in both speaker and hearers.Ms 66, 1895, par. 4–5+1 Hasty, angry words that stir up strife are recorded in heaven and bring judgment, receiving the same punishment as profane speech, and angry, harsh, disrespectful, and threatening words grieve Christ, bring the speaker into condemnation, wound the speaker's soul, and can become a stumbling block to others.Ms 127, 1901, par. 37–39+1 Harsh, passionate, angry, and trifling speech grieves Jesus and harms both speaker and hearer, having no place in a Christian home or in heaven, and harsh, unkind words spoken to those already burdened with difficulties and sorrows will be answered for in the day of judgment.ST Feb 17, 1904+1

The accountability covers written words as well as spoken words, with every communication registered in heaven with its results.ST Nov 20, 1884 Idle mischievous words include extravagant jesting letters and turning serious subjects into sport and ridicule, with a copy imprinted on the books above together with its results, bringing shame on those who produced them.ST Nov 20, 1884 Men and women must render an account to God for the influence they daily exert, for the impressions they make and the effect they have on those with whom they associate, including silly laughter and trifling conversation and any influence that draws the mind away from God into vanity and folly.RH May 31, 1870+1 Those whose position and example affect others bear greater guilt when they fail to regulate conduct by the Bible standard, and social conduct should be so ordered that no one is wounded or injured and the conscience remains void of offense toward God and man.RH May 31, 1870 The warning applies also to attributes of character possessed, to thoughts brought under Christ's control, to time and influence, and even to every word men might have spoken to save souls but did not speak, for souls starving for the bread of life will perish if God's chosen ones are unfaithful to their trust.ST Aug 2, 1899+3

Every word, act, thought, motive and purpose is seen and heard by God, Christ and angels, even words uttered in the bedchamber and deeds done in private places, and is recorded with exactness in the books of heaven by appointed messengers as a daily likeness kept for eternity.Ms 174, 1897, par. 37–39+4 Words and actions form character and show whether the treasure of the heart is good or evil, and even what is hidden from others is written down and will be exposed.Ms 174, 1897, par. 37–39+1 This life is the time of preparation for examination of purity of thought and unselfishness of action, while angels watch the development of character and weigh moral worth.MYP 391.3+1 The heavenly record faithfully preserves character, words and deeds as an exact representation, including trivial and sneering words spoken by those who reject the call of mercy.ST Nov 8, 1905+1

The record preserves not only words, deeds, conduct and work but also wrong words, vain, frivolous and false words, deceptive acts with their hidden motives, secret sins, hidden purposes and motives, neglected warnings, wasted moments, unused opportunities, selfishness, neglected duties to others, forgetfulness of the Saviour's claims, and the influence of choices, so that nothing in conduct is outside that review and the full moral character of young and old is revealed.GC 481.2+4 Forgotten actions still bear testimony, and words bear witness either to justify or to condemn.GC88 486.3–487.1+1

In the day of judgment each person's work and conduct is reviewed before God, Christ examines the record when He comes to a person's name, and every work is brought into judgment with every secret thing whether good or evil, which is the whole duty to fear God and keep His commandments.Ms 45, 1909, par. 18+1 Words are part of the record of human sin and testify either to justification or condemnation, helping determine destiny and eternal retribution according to works.GC 481.2+2 Every word and action of life is brought clearly before the mind, revealing guilt and leaving the sinner self-condemned before God.4T 384.2–385.1

Every word must be met again unless washed away by Christ's blood, for the record of passionate, harmful speech can be cleared through sincere repentance before God, confession of sin and faith in the merit of the crucified and living Saviour, with silence and prayer instead of angry speech when tempted.RCOC 43.2–3+1 Harsh words as well as deeds must be answered for, with actions and the spirit that prompted them revealed and the harm of selfish or unjust treatment made plain, including turning souls from the right path, calling for harshness to be removed and Christ to be represented in treatment of others.RCOC 43.2–3 Words that criticize God's servants and sow contention must be repented of and confessed and evil speaking put away, for unrepented evil remains registered against the guilty in the books of heaven and those who persist in contention will be excluded from the city of God.Ms 95, 1906, par. 53–55+2

Knowing that every word and deed will meet the judgment would keep many from speaking and acting as they do and lead them to speak fewer careless words and leave undone deeds that cannot bear the review.ST Nov 8, 1905+1 Thoughtless, unkind words, evil suspicions and false reports grow as they are repeated and enlarged into injustice and discord, and their full harvest, with every thought, word and action brought into account, will be known only at the last great day.8T 83.2–3+1

Speech is bound to the heart by a very close and intimate tie, revealing what is stored within, so that conversation serves as an index by which character can be estimated with near certainty and by which people are justified or condemned.ST Mar 8, 1883+4 The careless word discloses the heart's condition and helps fix character, while the idle word exposes the malignity inside and must be met in the day of judgment.Lt 9, 1892, par. 48–57+2 This accountability was pressed upon evil Pharisees and Sadducees as false teachers who poisoned religious principle by exalting manufactured precepts, traditions, and man-made commandments above God's law, showing why speech must be employed with carefulness and modesty as a talent of great power for good when rightly used and for evil when poisonous, becoming either a savor of life unto life or of death unto death.Ms 73, 1897, par. 14–16

Good treasure stored within brings forth good words and evil treasure brings forth evil words, so that what fills the heart appears in words and works.Ms 2, 1868, par. 25–27+2 Vulgar, careless, and poorly chosen speech shows an evil, unpurified heart in need of cleansing and thorough conversion, whereas truthful, good, helpful speech flows from a changed heart and sows toward eternal life.Ms 2, 1868, par. 25–27+4 Every word is a seed whose harvest follows what is sown, and evil words reveal a person under Satan's control.Ms 36, 1891, par. 20–22

Jesus reads the hearts, minds, and thoughts of every person and knows the thoughts and underlying tendencies behind words, even hearing words uttered in the bedchamber and seeing every action, with a Witness tracing every word and act good or evil.Ms 174, 1897, par. 37–39+2 Bitterness and concealed enmity eventually appear in speech and actions and are written in the book, so outwardly righteous words that conceal an unchanged heart are worthless.Ms 133, 1906, par. 1–2 Words and deeds reveal the spirit cherished, and even the thoughts of the heart are known to Christ.Ms 11, 1888, par. 17–19+2

When Christ abides in the soul, careless cheap words will not be spoken.Lt 151, 1897, par. 13 If Christ rules the heart, words will reveal the beauty, purity, and fragrance of a character molded by His will, but if under the guidance of the enemy of all good, words will echo his sentiments.ST Apr 5, 1905 In this way words show whether Christ or evil guides the heart and whether Christ dwells within, and God will require an account of this gift of speech.ST Nov 28, 1911+2 Impatient, scathing, and ill-advised words grieve the Holy Spirit, while speech with Christ's gentleness and truth in love shows His meekness rather than a self-centered harsh spirit.RH Apr 9, 1901

Words show whether a person in word, spirit, and action resembles Christ, for to be Christian is to be Christlike.Ms 45, 1894, par. 2 Foolish talk, jesting, joking, evil or unkind words, falsehood, and speech contrary to truth deny Christ and show that He is not within.ST Feb 26, 1894+1 Honest, true, kind, Christlike speech and a tone free from bitterness and malice, not making light of distress, show a character transformed by Christ, with the Spirit of Christ shaping even the tone.3T 331.3–332.1+2 The tongue testifies of the principles that characterize the life and is the sure test of what power controls the heart, so it is always to be kept under the control of the Holy Spirit and judged by what proceeds from the lips.Ms 45, 1894, par. 2

Peevishness when others do not grasp one's ideas and plans, scathing remarks, and impatience when provoked prove the Holy Spirit does not abide in the heart, grieve Him away, and produce attributes that are Satanic rather than divine.1MR 369.3–370.1 God's servants must at all times speak with the meekness and gentleness of Christ and show by word, action, and daily life that they are sons of God, members of the royal family and children of the heavenly King, which is of more value than all learning, wisdom, and high attainments.1MR 369.3–370.1 Any other course of speech and action is dishonesty to the family of God and will certainly cause separation from it in the judgment.1MR 369.3–370.1

A man who says one thing and does the opposite, who is careless of words and influence and speaks whatever he feels without considering its effect, brings out the evil things lurking in his heart.Ms 1a, 1890, par. 40–41 Such speech profanes God and men, leads hearers either to regard sin lightly or to lose confidence in the ministry, and disqualifies a man from the sacred office of caring for the flock of God.Ms 1a, 1890, par. 40–41 A minister of Christ must therefore be circumspect, sound in principle, of good repute, and Christlike in influence, because unfaithfulness in office and harm done by words and example stand registered unless put away by repentance and confession.Ms 1a, 1890, par. 40–41

Thoughts give birth to words, and words turn back upon thoughts to govern mind, soul, body, will and character, for spoken words strengthen the feelings that prompted them and bring the speaker under their power, while hasty passion warps the judgment.Lt 16a, 1895, par. 15–16+4 Words are therefore more than a sign of character, since men are shaped by their own utterances and character can be read with near certainty in conversation.Lt 2, 1895, par. 15–18+2 Where the heart is purified for the indwelling of the Spirit the tongue is yielded to God's glory, but jesting and cheap talk open the soul to Satan's working.Lt 2, 1895, par. 15–18

Under impulse prompted by Satan men utter jealousy or evil surmising they do not really believe, yet the expression reacts upon thought and deceives them until they come to believe as true what was spoken at his instigation.DA 323.1 Having once expressed an opinion or decision, pride holds them from retracting it, and striving to prove themselves right brings them at last to believe they are right.DA 323.1 It is dangerous to utter a word of doubt and dangerous to question and criticize divine light, for the habit of careless irreverent criticism reacts upon character by fostering irreverence and unbelief until many go on unconscious of danger till they are ready to criticize and reject the work of the Holy Spirit.DA 323.1

Even one word of doubt, darkness or discouragement is forbidden, because such a word plants a seed in other minds that germinates and grows into a bitter harvest no human power can kill and only God can remove.Ms 66, 1895, par. 4–5+1 Speech of doubt sows discouragement and unbelief in speaker and hearers alike, hinders the message of grace and counteracts the Spirit's influence upon spiritual life.Ms 66, 1895, par. 4–5+2 Every word is a seed that germinates and bears good or bad fruit according to its character, and the harvest unfailingly follows what is sown.Ms 36, 1891, par. 20–22+2 Converted persons speak words that help others and sow toward eternal life, while passionate words and exaggeration sow a bad crop which no one will care to garner, and words that lead souls to trust falsehood return upon the teacher in lost souls as the harvest of his sowing.Ms 36, 1891, par. 20–22+2

A man's own words affect his character but act still more powerfully upon others, for even a thoughtless, light or trifling word can turn a soul in the wrong direction and decide choices with eternal consequences.GW92 415.2–416.1+2 Ministers' careless conversation weakens confidence in them as Christ's representatives and lessens the power of their teaching, and teachers' words and deeds shape pupils whose influence they must answer for when their work is reviewed before God.GW92 415.2–416.1+2 Words can do great good by soothing others and helping the erring return to righteousness, or great evil by misleading and by smearing character with false statements, yet repentance, self-denial and the Spirit's work enable different speech, restoration where possible, and the use of speech to save.Lt 283, 1904, par. 18–19+1 Careless speech strengthens unbelief and harms speaker and hearer, wounding the soul more deeply than blows wound the body, becoming a stumbling block and grieving Christ and the Holy Spirit.5T 286.2+3 Impatient, scathing, ill-advised words poison others, chafe them and stir them to rebellion, while harsh, passionate, angry and threatening speech heard by God, Christ and angels brings condemnation and breeds conflict and estrangement.ST Feb 17, 1904+3

Thoughtless unkind words, suspicions and false reports grow as they are repeated and enlarged, causing injustice and discord and weakening faith, courage and hope.STGC 43.2–3+3 Words of jealousy, unjust criticism, murmuring and slander are accountable acts before God, and their full harvest will be known only at the last great day when every thought, word and action is brought into judgment.STGC 43.2–3+3

Speech is a precious and valuable talent entrusted by God as a sacred trust and a good gift, to be consecrated to Him without withholding any part, sanctified, elevated and ennobled, thanked for, and ever used in His service to honor God, to proclaim the gospel of Christ, to communicate truth as opportunity offers, to help others, to pray and praise and to tell of redeeming love.Ms 21, 1899, par. 14–15+4 Men and women are borrowers and stewards accountable to God for this gift and for every physical, mental and moral faculty entrusted to them to be surrendered for His name's glory and increased by use.Ms 21, 1899, par. 14–15+1 The voice abused by harsh, impure, faultfinding and harmful words is a grievous abuse of trust, and all useless speech will be answered for in the day of judgment with words bringing justification or condemnation.Ms 21, 1899, par. 14–15+1 The glory of Christ is to appear in His children after the pattern of Christ, who presented pure unadulterated principles, did no sin, spoke no guile, let holy ennobling truths constantly flow from His lips with pathos that touched the heart, never let truth languish, and with holy wrath and true greatness exposed hypocrisy, artful intrigue and dishonest practices and cleansed the temple as He desires to cleanse hearts from fraud.ST Apr 5, 1905 Words reveal whether Christ or the enemy guides the heart, and God will require an account of how this gift is used.ST Apr 5, 1905+2

In the day of final accounts the tongue will be found to have been a power for good or a power for evil.ST Nov 20, 1884 The talent of speech is to be improved to win souls to Christ, to exalt the plan of redemption and magnify its Author, to speak words of comfort to the discouraged and desponding, and to speak kind and pleasant words like a refreshing drink to those thirsting for sympathy and love.ST Nov 20, 1884 Conversation is to be honest and apt for God's work, not centered on personal disappointments and trials but on the love of Jesus and the better heavenly home, using sound speech that cannot be condemned so that it ministers grace and knowledge to the hearer.ST Nov 20, 1884 Speech should be truthful, wise and pure, confessing Christ in both words and deeds, speaking with Christ's gentleness and speaking truth in love, expressing His meekness rather than a self-centered harsh spirit and showing by words and lives that speakers are God's children.Lt 283, 1904, par. 16–17+1 Tender serious words about salvation serve as witness for Christ, while careless frivolous trivial speech harms souls and contradicts professed faith, and impatient scathing ill-advised words grieve the Holy Spirit and can poison others, chafe them and stir them to rebellion.RH Apr 9, 1901+1 When faults are seen believers are not to judge or speak evil of others but to seek the person's good and offer words that strengthen and help, for by words they will be justified or condemned.RH Jul 27, 1911

Remembering that every idle, careless, empty word must be answered for to God in the day of judgment restrains speech and makes words few and well chosen.CH 445.3+4 Remembering Christ's suffering for sinners and God's watchful presence strengthens that restraint, joined with guarding the mind and with meditation on God, because words are recorded along with conduct and work.CH 445.3+2 Words and actions form character and show whether the treasure of the heart is good or evil, and Jesus reads hearts, minds and thoughts, hears every word even in the bedchamber and sees every action, with a Witness tracing every word and act good or evil.Ms 174, 1897, par. 37–39 Since all depend on God for food, life and health, to dishonor and insult Him to His face brings His judgment, so the Lord must be kept ever before the mind and honored.Ms 174, 1897, par. 37–39 The gift of speech is to be used in words that are clean, pure, simple yet elevated, with cheerful happiness without gloom or sadness and with sobriety in harmony with faith, behaving like gentlemen and Christians, guarding the tongue from running at random and speaking only words that can be met without shame.CH 445.3+1

This requires not joining merriment that dishonors Christ but reproving it, watching over one another for good, praying with one another, opening the heart to Christ, acting on Christian principles in all concerns of life, being sincere Christians at all times and places, and manifesting Christ by the spirit revealed in words.Lt 2, 1895, par. 15–18 It requires being sober and watching unto prayer, refraining the tongue from evil and guile, eschewing evil, doing good, seeking peace, and being holy in all manner of conversation.Lt 2, 1895, par. 15–18 Jesting, joking, reckless, cheap, vain and foolish talk dishonors Christ, indexes a defiled heart needing cleansing, and places a person where Satan can gain access to play for the soul.Lt 2, 1895, par. 15–18

God gave the tongue and the power of speech as a merciful gift for which men are accountable, to glorify Him with the mouth by speaking in favor of Him and His truth and by overcoming by the word of testimony through the blood of the Lamb, not by expecting to overcome by the blood alone without personal effort.5MR 424.1–425.1 This applies especially when commandment keepers come together, where each should have something to say for God, speaking of His glory and power in short pointed testimonies and prayers instead of sitting still and silent or wasting precious time.5MR 424.1–425.1 Those who do so are remembered by God, blessed, refreshed, and edify and strengthen the weak and discouraged.5MR 424.1–425.1

Where the heart is purified and made fit for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit the tongue is sacrificed to the glory of God, with lips touched with cleansing fire and with a live coal from the altar.Lt 2, 1895, par. 15–18+2 Such lips answer the call with Here am I, send me, and stand pointing souls to the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.RH May 29, 1900 Then words are no longer cheap and meaningless because Christ speaks through them.RH May 29, 1900 Even one word of doubt, darkness or discouragement is forbidden, because it plants a seed in other minds that germinates and grows into a bitter harvest that no human power can kill and only God can remove, so a heavenly atmosphere is to surround the soul with holiness in all speech.Ms 66, 1895, par. 4–5 Silence that withholds words that might have saved starving souls perishing for the bread of life brings guilt in the day of judgment when men give account for every word they might have spoken to save souls but did not speak.RH May 29, 1900

Falsehood and accusations are to be answered with Scripture as Thus saith the Lord rather than human wisdom or counterattacks, with words governed by God's Word and truth spoken from a heart storing His Word.Lt 20, 1895, par. 9–10 Wrongful accusations are not to be met with retaliation, because an unwise reply loses a victory that patience, forbearance and self-control would gain, and the Lord hears every unwise word.Lt 2, 1903, par. 5–7 Christians must guard words and thoughts, reject selfishness and guile, and endure wrong without harshness or threatening as Christ did, for the judgment weighs a person by fruit of life not profession.Ms 13a, 1891, par. 26–30 Even words spoken while contending for the faith are recorded in heaven, so believers must not retaliate when people ridicule sacred things but speak and act to reflect Christ.Ms 182, 1905, par. 13

In the home every word should be guarded to reflect Christ under God's control, with gracious generous words replacing evil speech that breeds conflict and estrangement.ST Feb 17, 1904 Harsh, passionate, angry and trifling speech grieves Jesus and harms both speaker and hearer, and has no place in a Christian home or in heaven.ST Feb 17, 1904+1 Idle, unkind or evil words and neglect of prayer separate from Christ and bring loneliness and sadness, while those who truly seek His presence may trust He will stay with them.COS 35.7 An angry word hurts the speaker and must be repented of, for repentance is necessary to enter heaven when Jesus comes, and children must discipline themselves in speech.Ms 101, 1906, par. 8 A husband is accountable for words and actions that cruelly wound his wife and may endanger her soul, with her soul's blood required at his hand, and parents must answer to God for every word to wife and children, especially words prompted by Satan that provoke to anger, wound souls and endanger them.Lt 109, 1893, par. 13–18+1 Father and mother must allow no word of impatience to escape their lips, for breaking out upon children does not help govern them, and words spoken in the family will be met again in the kingdom of glory, so children should hear only words parents will be glad they spoke when in glory, treating them tenderly and teaching and training them for faithful service to God and eternal life.Lt 105, 1893, par. 24–25+1

The warning lays eternal responsibility on workers in God's cause, for every word good or evil must be met again in the judgment.STBk 93.1+2 Entering the ministry requires a deep sense of its sacredness and careful selecting of men, putting away unconverted, unthankful, unholy conduct, lustful practices, ambition, selfishness, superiority, fretful managing and harmful influence that bring reproach.STM2 20.1 Ministers' words and teachings that lead people to trust falsehood bear consequences, with the speaker seeing the lost souls affected as a harvest of what was sown, and the truth spoken will judge hearers while the manner of delivery can affect reception or rejection.4SP 471.3+1 Physicians must answer for neglecting to teach health of body and soul and must keep strict purity in language with every word and action guarded, and those in board and committee meetings, teachers, restaurant workers and all in sacred work share this accountability.STBk 93.1+1 Every prompting of the Holy Spirit leading men to goodness and to God is noted in the books of heaven, and the worker through whom the Lord brings light will be commended in the day of God, with angels working with those whose guarded words carry a happy light and repose in Christ.STBk 93.1+2

The principle extends to honoring God's claim over the whole being and to time, influence, talents, strength and opportunities used or neglected, for people are not their own and must render an account for words of the mouth and for time and influence as well.SA 45.3+2 Because time is very short not a moment is to be lost but work done for eternity with the Holy Spirit of Jesus and clear spiritual eyesight to approve excellent things and shun every false path Satan has laid, using God-given strength to His glory in supporting family and helping the cause rather than idling time away.Lt 58, 1892, par. 7+1 Business dealings are to reflect Christ without harsh discourteous speech, words in courtship as well as actions are to be fit for holy angels to witness and record, guided by God's glory and pure sanctified affection.18MR 300.1–301.1 Flattering seductive words encouraging unlawful attention are part of sinful conduct for which account must be given, and those who listen help give it room to continue, while refusing sexual excess honors God's claim over health and life.SA 45.3+1 Those who have received rich experience and light but ignore it, and those who use influence to uphold deception against truth and righteousness, will have a serious account to settle with Him.Lt 341, 1905, par. 5–7

Ignoring plain truths does not remove their force, for those truths will testify against and condemn those who disregard them.ST Mar 8, 1883 Light, appeals and warnings received bring responsibility, and when rejected they will stand against men in judgment and condemn those who live in vanity, levity and pride.MYP 146.1–2 Unless reproof is candidly considered and heeded, an account will stand against the actors in matters warned about which they will not wish to meet in the day of judgment, so the working of the Holy Spirit is needed not for an hour or a few days but throughout daily life and for every day of life.Lt 130, 1899, par. 11

The judgment weighs fruit of life not profession, calling for an enlightened conscience, a tongue honoring God and blessing others, and speech developed like other talents lest it diminish.4T 244.1+2 Pure principles lead to right words and acts that benefit others and reflect principles governing the heart.Lt 185, 1903, par. 5 God sees and hears and keeps a faithful record of words, spirit and actions that lead away from the kingdom, and separation from God can make the tongue a source of sin and condemnation with souls lost through its influence.4T 244.1 As the end nears vanities must be weeded out and habits of wrong speech decidedly changed, with vanity, pride, envy, selfishness, falsehood and deception showing in speech put away through careful self-examination, resolve and soul purification unto the divine likeness, with Christ within as a well of water springing up unto everlasting life.Lt 19, 1894, par. 17–19+3 Every word is a seed germinating to good or bad fruit, encouraging the feeling that prompted it and acting still more powerfully on others, so exaggeration and passionate words sow a bad crop no one will care to garner, while repentance, self-denial and the Spirit's work enable different speech, restoration where possible, and use of speech to save rather than mislead or smear character by false statements.Ms 11a, 1895, par. 9+1

The reckoning for idle words belongs to the whole duty of man to fear God and keep His commandments, for every idle word spoken must be accounted for in the day of judgment and by words men are justified and by words condemned.Ms 45, 1909, par. 18 This is because God will bring every work into judgment with every secret thing, whether good or evil.Ms 45, 1909, par. 18 Idle conversation itself is subject to that judgment, including time spent in idle talk, amusement, or needless display.TBC1872 18.1

Accountability extends even to speech and supports a strict standard of conduct grounded in Scripture.4SP 178.1–179.1 People must answer to God at the judgment for every idle word they speak, setting a biblical standard of accountability that Christian teaching cannot soften.GC88 259.3–260.1 To require such seriousness is no stricter than Scripture itself.GC88 259.3–260.1 Careful speech is therefore part of the strict standard of Scripture.4SP 178.1–179.1+1

Words have eternal consequences and will be considered in the final judgment.COL 336.3 The truth spoken by ministers and teachers will judge those who hear it, and the manner of its delivery can affect whether they receive or reject it.COL 336.3 Words are recorded and will form part of the account given in the day of judgment, for the Word of God will judge every person's work.Lt 27, 1893, par. 1–2 A faithful witness records words, spirit, and actions that lead people away from God's kingdom.Lt 27, 1893, par. 1–2