Biting Your Tongue

James 3:1-12 (ESV)

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.  [2] For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.  [3] If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.  [4] Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.  [5] So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!  [6] And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.  [7] For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,  [8] but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  [9] With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.  [10] From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.  [11] Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?  [12] Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

I. Controlling Our Tongue (3:1-2)

He raises the bar in regard to the teacher.  He says that he should be a perfect man in regard to controlling his tongue.  What does this word perfect mean?  It has in mind Christian maturity and sanctification.  If a person has control over their tongue they have control over their whole body. 

(cf. 2 Tim. 4:3-4).

A teacher of Scripture whether they are teaching, preaching, or counseling, must carefully weigh his words against Scripture and resist his opinions.

II. The Power of Our Tongue (3:3-5)

A. It’s Like a Small Bit (3:3)

B. It’s Like a Small Rudder (3:4)

C. It’s Like a Small Flame (3:5)

Here literally James says, “What great achievements the tongue can claim.”

III. The Danger of Our Tongue (3:6-8)

A.     It’s Like a Constant Fire (3:6)                     

The Lake of Fire will burn forever.  James compares that to the tongue.  Great care must be taken when handling an open flame.  One careless move and it will ignite something else. 

There is an account in the NT when Peter’s tongue was set on fire by hell.

After Jesus revealed to His disciples that He was the Christ, the Son of God, Jesus told them that He must go to Jerusalem and die and after three days He would be raised from the dead. Peter sharply rebuked Jesus about any idea of death. Peter’s words became an instrument of Satan. (Matthew 16:21-23).

B. It’s Like an Untamed Viper (3:7-8)

James declares the tongue to be a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

IV. The Inconsistency of Our Tongue (3:9-12)

Jesus touches on this same truth. (Matthew 12:33-37).

James finishes with four examples of just how unbelievable this truth is.  It makes no sense that our mouths should curse men made in the image of God. 

A. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?

B. Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives,

C. Can a grapevine produce figs?

D. Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Our words have power.

Our mouths are an asset or a liability.

Our tongue is a tattle tale…it accurately reveals our heart.

As our natures become more and more attuned to Christ our speech will reflect our growth.  This growth will only take place as we fellowship and spend time with Christ through reading his Word and prayer and being around other growing Believers.