And it's not just Matthew. And it's not just in so-called Christians groups, either. When a friend asked Brother Stephen if he supported the murder of Matthew, he said no and argued that what he said couldn't possibly be misconstrued to justify murder. I think he's wrong. Words are powerful.
Words can heal, and words can harm.
Saying the right thing to a friend in crisis can save that person. Our culture downplays the effect that words can have. Well, in a way, actions do speak louder. If I tell you that I love you, and beat you, then my talk is cheap. But it doesn't follow that what we say doesn't matter.