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Matthew 12:37

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Matthew 12:37 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Matthew 12:37 — American Standard Version

Context — Matthew 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
34Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
38Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee.
39But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet:
40for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For by thy words thou shalt be justified, etc.] Theophylact seems to take these words to be a passage of Scripture cited by Christ, in proof of what he had said, but does not point to any; nor is any such Scripture to be found. They are rather proverbial expressions, in common use among the Jews; or refer to the usual methods of proceeding in courts of judicature, upon the acknowledgments and confessions of persons. “Says Resh Lakish f754, such an one and such an one, they justify; and such an one and such an one, they condemn. R. Eliezer replies, ynwlp hkdzg ˆhyrbdm, “by their words such an one and such an one are justified”.” The gloss upon it is, “upon hearing the difference there is…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“By thy words thou shalt be justified ... - That is, “words” are the indication of the true principles of the heart; by “words” the heart shall be known, as the tree is by its fruit. If they are true, proper, chaste, instructive, pious, they will prove that the heart is right. If false, envious, malignant, and impious, they will prove that the heart is wrong, and will therefore be among the causes of condemnation. It is not meant that words will be the only thing that will condemn man, but that they will be an important part of the things for which he shall be condemned. See James 3:3-12. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“For by thy words (as well as thy tempers and works) thou shalt then be either acquitted or condemned. Your words as well as actions shall he produced in evidence for or against you, to prove whether you was a true believer or not. And according to that evidence you will either be acquitted or condemned in the great day. Matthew 12:38”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“For by: Pro 13:3 justified: Jam 2:21-25 Matthew 12:38”
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Related study paths

Read Matthew 12 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification