Matthew 12
Going on from that place, He went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. Matthew 12:9-14 NIV
The Pharisees thought that their man-made laws were more important than having compassion on people. They were so focused on following all of the laws that they did not notice that they had lost sight of God’s main directive: to love and help others. Jesus was trying to remind them that they were on the wrong track. God does not care how many laws or rules you follow, unless you are doing it with the right motive: love for God and love for people.
“You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” Matthew 12:34-35 NIV
Jesus reminds us that what we say reveals what is in our hearts and minds. If we permit wrong thoughts to dwell in our hearts and minds, we will ultimately speak them. You can’t solve this problem by cleaning up your speech. You must allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with new attitudes and motives. You must also fill your mind with Scripture; then your speech will be cleansed at its source.
“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.” Matthew 12:36 NIV
Choose your words carefully because you will have to account for the idle and thoughtless things you say. Every word that you say is very important. Remember, words carry creative or destructive power depending on what type of words you choose to say.