TEXT: James 3:1-12

SUBJECT: Exposition of James #6: Watch Your Tongue

If you took a class in homiletics, you'd learn a good sermon begins with a doctrine and proceeds to an application. Had James taken that course, however, he would have flunked it. For this little sermon does the opposite: it begins with an application and works its way back to the doctrine from which it is drawn. The application is found in vv.1-2; the doctrine in vv.3-12.

The subject is the tongue and its abuse. James has mentioned it before--twice--in 1:19,26. He'll have more to say about it later. But here, he develops it in considerable detail.

He begins with the application, vv.1-2: "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive the stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body".

The people to whom James wrote were Jewish believers in Christ. Among the Jews no one was more honored than the rabbi. When converted, they transferred this prestige to their Christian teachers. This is good; Paul says we're to "esteem them very highly in love for their works' sake". But it, like other good things, may be abused. Because the teaching ministry is so prized in the church, it attracts men who are not Divinely called to it. James has something to tell these erring men.

What does he think of them? He calls them "My brethren". In other words, he recognizes their common heritage; these men are children of God and our Lord's younger brothers. They no less belong to the family of heaven than he does. Hence, they are objects of his love, not his contempt. He doesn't think of them as wicked usurpers of the Holy Pulpit, but as honest believers who have mistaken their calling.

He urges the uncalled brethren to "not become teachers" or to resign the work for which they're not equipped. There is no shame is quitting the office which they're not qualified to discharge. Dishonor clings only to the man who won't "face facts" and find his proper place in the Body of Christ.

As a disincentive, he reminds them of the teaching ministry's downside. Two factors come into play: "We shall receive a stricter judgment". Teachers are held to a higher standard than others. They must think and speak more clearly; they must live consistently with what they teach. If the Word exposes its hearers, how much more its teachers?

Its other negative lies in its very nature. Men teach with their tongues. And nothing is harder to control than the human tongue. In other words, unless you're willing and able to bridle your tongue, you have no business teaching the Word. The teaching ministry, therefore, is reserved for "perfect" men. Not "perfect" as in sinless, but as in mature and self-controlled.

This is the specific application; James wants no one to teach the Word until and unless he controls his tongue--both in the pulpit and out of it. His speech must be "blameless".

This "bridled tongue", however, is not the exclusive possession of teachers. It is God's will for every believer. In 1:26, he equates it with saving religion. In sum, the faith that doesn't control your speech, doesn't save your soul!

Having drawn the application, James goes on to develop the doctrine, first by presenting two vivid illustrations vv.3-5a: "Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.."

The tongue is small; but its size is deceiving. This tiny organ wields enormous power. Something like that of:

A bit. A horse is a strong animal, often weighing more than 1,000 pounds. Yet it is easily subdued by an object weighing but a few ounces, a bit. Small things are powerful.

A rudder. Loaded with tons of cargo and many passengers, a ship can sail through fierce storms to reach distant ports. But even the mightiest vessel is controlled by a small rudder. Small things are powerful.

Similarly, a little tongue can boast great things. In so doing, it exerts a tremendous power over the minds of those who hear it. The Proverb goes so far as to say: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue".

The tongue is not only powerful, but unruly, and therefore, dangerous, vv.5b-8: "See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no one can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison".

James is piling simile upon simile. The tongue is like a spark that sets the forest ablaze! The fire it creates is not of this earth; it's hell-fire. What does this bring to mind? Two thoughts: (1) Evil words are of Satan; when we use them, we're doing his bidding; and (2) The fires we start with our words are unquenchable.

The tongue is "a world of iniquity". The world's every sin is connected to the tongue. Fornication often begins with a flirtatious word; murders often occur in response to a angry word; Unbelief is promoted by a heretical word; and so on.

The tongue "defiles the whole body". Evil words excite the lust, the hatred, the bigotry, the self-pity, and the pride that so abuse the body.

The tongue is harder to control than the wild animals. Lions, tigers, killer whales, and other beasts, ferocious by nature, have been tamed. But not the tongue! It remains as wild as ever.

It is "full of deadly poison". Think of how gossip affects the way you think of others; think of the evil rumors you have believed without checking into their accuracy; think of the people you have avoided, disliked, abhorred even, because of what others have told you about them! Your soul was poisoned by an evil word. The toxins have gotten into your bloodstream; they don't come out as easily.

The tongue is not only powerful, unruly, and dangerous, but inconsistent, vv.9-12: "With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus, no spring can bear both salt water and fresh".

The tongue is capable of doing good; it can be used for "blessing our God and Father". This is why He gave us the ability to speak. But it is too often put to a less noble purpose: to "curse men". What's so bad about that? This: Men are made in the image of God. Because man bears the Divine image, murder is more than a breach of social ethics; it is a sin against God (see Genesis 9:6). If God is offended when innocent blood is shed, He is also provoked when souls are hurt by our wicked conversation.

Its inconsistency is unique. It is not found in springs, trees, or vines, but only in the tongue.

Because of the tongue's great power and unruliness, we must keep a constant watch over it. How?

Firstly, you must think about what you're saying. Many foolish and hurtful words are spoken--not out of malice--but out of thoughtlessness. "The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil", says Proverbs 15:28.

Secondly, you must pray for the Lord's supervision of your words. "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the doors of my lips" Psalm 141:3 has it.

Thirdly, you must fill your mind with good, wholesome, and Christlike thoughts. "Out of the abundance of the heart a man speaks".

Fourthly, you must learn to respect the power and unruliness of your words. The reason we're so prone to shoot off our mouths is because we don't foresee the damage they can do. Yet, if we think about them as we should, as potential weapons, we'd be more careful in how we used them.

Fifthly, you must meditate on the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. How did He speak? You go and do likewise. May God bridle and bless our tongues, for Christ's sake. Amen.