Lesson: James 3:1-12
Golden Text: “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be” (James 3:10).
INTRODUCTION. Can you name the muscle in your body that receives more exercise and demonstrates less control than any other muscle? It only weighs two ounces. Just open your mouth and say “Ahh!” There it is; your tongue. There is no other member of our body that can be used for greater good and for more evil at the same time than the tongue. One moment we use the tongue to encourage people, then turn right around and use it to cut them to pieces. In James chapter 1 we are told that one of the key signs of a believer is a person who can bridle his tongue (see James 1:26). In chapter 3 from which our lesson comes, James returns to the subject of the tongue providing several examples to teach about it, and the importance of controlling it.
BACKGROUND FOR THE LESSON. The apostle James, who was the brother of our Lord Jesus, did not become a believer in Christ until after Jesus’ resurrection (see John 7:5; I Corinthians 15:7). He later became the head of the church at Jerusalem (see Acts chapters 12 and 15 as well as Galatians chapters 1and 2). As the leader of the church in Jerusalem, James addressed this letter to Jewish Christians who were scattered abroad as a result of persecution. However, no doubt he received word that many of his readers were having problems which included angry conversation and a lack of clarity about the right way of living as a disciple of Jesus. In the previous lesson, James dealt with the importance of faith and works or good deeds: how they must go together. In this week’s lesson, James focuses on the gift of speech and how it can be used for both good and evil and how our speech needs to be controlled. One way that our speech can be used for good is through teaching. It’s appropriate that James begins the text with an admonition to his readers who teach, for if anyone needs to control what he says, it would be one who instructs others.
III. SINS OF
SPEAKING (Luke 6:1-5)
A. The danger for
teachers (James 3:1).
James began here with a warning to aspiring
teachers. He wrote “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall
receive the greater condemnation.” The word translated “masters” in this verse is
translated “teachers” in other passages (see Acts 13:1; I Corinthians 12:28;
Ephesians 4:11). In former times, teachers were sometimes called
“masters” or schoolmasters. The phrase
“My
brethren, be not many masters” can
also be rendered “Let not many of you become teachers.” Some may
take this to mean that teachers should be few in number, but James was trying to
stress the seriousness of teaching. Due to pride, many of James’
readers sought recognition as teachers of spiritual truth not realizing the
responsibility that went with it. Teaching was a highly valued and
respected profession in Jewish culture, and many Jewish Christians wanted to
become teachers. Whether serving as a church leader, youth worker,
or Sunday school teacher, everyone should take the teaching of the Word very
seriously. This is because as James said, teachers “shall
receive the greater condemnation.” Simply put,
this means that teachers will be judged more strictly that those who
don’t teach. Sadly, many teachers fail to realize how important
they are to the work of the Lord. Note:
Although by interpretation, James
was addressing those who wanted to teach spiritual truths, we can also apply his
words to any teachers. Through words teachers have great influence
over others, shaping lives toward good or evil. Therefore, they
are accountable for measuring their words and controlling their tongues.
All teachers should approach the task of teaching with the highest and
holiest motives and efforts. Devoting oneself to adequate
preparation for teaching is essential for quality instruction that is worthy of
our Lord. And whether we are teachers in schools or churches, as
Christians we must make sure we prepare properly because we represent Christ no
matter who we are teaching. One may ask why
will the judgment on teachers be greater? Well, Jesus taught the
principle of the final judgment that “unto whomsoever much is given, of him
shall be much required” (see Luke 12:48). So, no one
should be overly eager to teach because the mistakes of a teacher will affect
many. B. The struggle for all of us (James 3:2). In this verse James continued to say “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” Like James, we must admit that “in many things we offend all.” In other words, we all “offend” or stumble in many ways. We all often fall short of God’s expectations (see Romans 3:23) for we are frail creatures indeed. Thankfully, God takes this into account (see Psalms 103:12-14). James said that “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man.” The word “perfect” here means to be complete or mature, not sinless. James was saying that anyone who never stumbles or says the wrong things is mature and is “able also to bridle the whole body.” If we could somehow learn to bridle, or control the tongue, we could actually control the whole body and its actions. The point James is making is that the tongue is the most difficult member of the body to control. Gaining victory over the tongue is the mark of a person who is “a perfect man,” or spiritually mature in all areas of life. People who are blameless in every other aspect of life, but whose testimonies are ruined because of their tongues are not yet complete or mature. Of course, none of us have reached that level of maturity yet. We all have trouble controlling our speech.
IV. ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE TONGUE’S POWER (James 3:3-6)
A. Bridling speech (James 3:3). James goes on to say “Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.” Though small, the tongue is powerful. To illustrate this, James used two examples. First, he spoke of the “bits” we put in a horse’s mouth to control its movements. Like the tongue, the bit is small, the horse is large yet the horse’s “whole body” is controlled by the bit.
B. Overcoming momentum (James 3:4). James’ second example involves a ship’s rudder (an oar-like movable device at the rear of a ship to direct its course). He said “Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.” The point here is that ships, though very large, can be driven by “fierce (strong) winds” that threaten to drive them off course and wreck them. But the ships can be controlled and turned around by a “very small helm (or rudder).” Through this, the “governor” or pilot of the ship is able to steer it wherever he “listeth” or wants to go.
C. Careless speech (James 3:5-6).
1. (vs. 5). In this verse James gives the point of the two illustrations. He wrote “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” When we consider the whole human body, the tongue is only a “little member” or organ. Just as the bit and the rudder have influence out of proportion to their size, so also does the tongue. It has great power, and often “boasteth great things.” In this verse, the phrase “boasteth great things” means that the tongue has much power and influence. It has great power, sometimes boasting of great things and sometimes causing great damage. To illustrate this, James called to mind a forest fire. As we know, a forest fire can be ignited from just a tiny spark. Hundreds of square miles can burn up before the fire is finally brought under control. So, the tongue can start fires out of proportion to its size. Note: Too many people allow their tongues to be the spark that inflames great passion and anger. Just a word can begin a fistfight or cause relatives to be at odds with each other for years. Churches have been split because of unruly tongues. Young Rehoboam lost half his kingdom because of his tongue (see I Kings 12:10-16). The uncontrollable tongue can do terrible damage. Satan uses the tongue to divide people and pit them against one another. Idle and hateful words are damaging because they spread destruction quickly, and no one can stop the results once the words are spoken. We should not be careless in what we say, thinking that we can apologize later, because even if we do, the scars remain. A few words spoken in anger can destroy a relationship that took years to build (see Proverbs 15:1). Before we speak, we should remember that words are like fire---you can neither control nor reverse the damage they can do.
2. (vs. 6). James continued to say “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” As fire destroys, so does the tongue. It is a “world of iniquity.” In other words, the tongue is a world of evil when considered among the other parts of the body. Since all that the evil world consists of (see I John 2:16), greed, idolatry, filth, lust, blasphemy, bitterness, pride, and deceit is embodied in the uncontrolled tongue, it “defileth the whole body.” As one small member, the tongue can defile the entire person. James also said that the tongue “setteth on fire the course of nature” meaning that the tongue is destructive to the whole cycle of a person’s life, both personal and social. The last phrase “and it is set on fire of hell” reveals the ultimate source of this destructiveness---“hell.” Note: The term “hell” in the Greek is “Gehenna” a place in the Valley of Hinnom where in ancient times it was used for human sacrifice (II Chronicles 33:6; Jeremiah 7:31), and later the garbage dump of Jerusalem where the fires burned continuously illustrating to the Jews unending judgment upon the wicked. Jesus used it to picture the place of eternal torment, where Satan and his minions will be punished (see Mark 9:48; Revelation 20:10). James saw the sins of the tongue as satanically incited.
D. The untamable tongue (James 3:7-8).
1. (vs. 7). In this verse James says “For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind.” In the beginning, God gave mankind authority over creation (see Genesis 1:28). Human beings are the only creatures intellectually capable of subduing nature. As a result, James says that “every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed” and has been tamed by man. The term “tamed” does not mean domesticated. It means to be brought under control.
2. (vs. 8). James goes on to say “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Man has shown that he can tame wild animals, but he can’t tame or control his own tongue. James said “the tongue can no man tame.” This is because the tongue is “an unruly (or restless) evil” like a wild animal constantly pacing and never satisfied. The tongue is also described as “full of deadly poison” like the poisonous fangs of a snake. The words that we carelessly speak can do immense and irreparable damage to people and relationships. Note: James is correct in his assessment that no man can tame the tongue. However, if this is true, why should we even bother trying to control our tongues? Well, even if we may not achieve perfect control of or tongues, we can still learn enough control to reduce the damage our words can do. It is better to fight a fire than to go around setting new ones! Remember that we are not fighting the tongue’s fire in our own strength. The Holy Spirit will give us increasing power to monitor and control what we say, so that when we are offended or harmed, the Spirit will remind us of God’s love and we won’t react in a hateful manner. When we are criticized, the Holy Spirit will heal the hurt, and we won’t lash out.
V. PURITY OF SPEECH (James 3:9-12)
A. Positive power (James 3:9-10).
1. (vs. 9). Still talking about the tongue that no man can tame, James here says “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.” James is saying that it is completely inconsistent for us to “bless” or praise God the Father with the same tongue that we sometimes “curse” or speak evil of men, especially since we are “made after the similitude (likeness) of God.” In other words, we are made after the image of God. This is the highest degree of hypocrisy---being “double-tongued.” To exalt God the Father is commendable, but this outward show of devotion means nothing when with the same tongue we curse people. We can do this not only by using profanity or invoking curses, but we can also curse people by speaking abusively, or slandering their reputation. This sin is worsened by the fact that those we curse are created in the “similitude” or likeness of God. This is what distinguishes us from all other creatures. How then, can we speak evil of someone who bears God’s image without slandering God also? Using the tongue for both blessing and cursing is the worse hypocrisy and stands condemned.
2. (vs. 10). In this verse, James sums up the inconsistency of blessings and cursing coming from the same tongue. He said “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” For “blessing and cursing” to come from the same tongue is so contradictory that James added in a gentler tone: “My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” James’ readers are challenged to strive for maturity, for words reveal what resides within us. Jesus Himself said that it is not what goes into a person’s mouth that defiles him, but what comes out (see Matthew 15:10-20). When curses and other vile language come forth, they reveal the true condition of the heart.
B. Blessing and cursing (James 3:11-12). In the final two verses, James asks two rhetorical questions to prove that blessing and cursing coming from the same tongue is a monstrous contradiction that is not even found in nature, where the product is always consistent with its source.
1. (vs. 11). First James asked “Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?” Of course the answer is no. We don’t expect to get “sweet water” or fresh water from the same fountain as we would get “bitter” or salt water. That’s illogical and inconsistent with a fountain.
2. (vs. 12). The second question James asked is “Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.” Just as we wouldn’t expect to get salt and fresh water from the same fountain, neither would we expect different kinds of fruit to grow on the same tree. A lot more could be said about taming the tongue, but more words won’t solve the problem unless the words are a prayer for God’s help in controlling our tongues.
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