Idle Words

‎The saying of the Pharisees gives us to understand what is meant by an “idle” word—not an idle word in the literal English sense of a meaningless word said in an idle purposeless mood, but a word spoken unwisely and with a meaning detrimental to the honour or truth or majesty of God. Such may be spoken through ignorance or “of malice aforethought.”‎Such may be spoken through ignorance or “of malice aforethought.” In either case it is an offence, though more an offence in the latter case than the former. It is an offence to which men are peculiarly liable in this age.
Roberts, R. (1997). Nazareth Revisted