James 3 - Controlling the Tongue
By Bro David Petersen
The Book of James
Introduction |
Chapter 1 |
Chapter 2 |
Chapter 3 |
Chapter 4 |
Chapter 5
3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
The word "Masters" here in the KJV refers to teachers. A teacher has authority over his field of study and his class. Not many of us should presume to be teachers because teachers will receive a stricter judgment and greater punishment than others. As a teacher, don't be too eager to tell others their faults, for we all make many mistakes.
Why teachers receive a stricter judgment:
- The burden to teach is given by God.
- God will assist those whom he has burdened to teach.
- Teachers need the prayerful support of their students and the church.
- Teachers should study and have the greater knowledge and therefore are more accountable. They should know better.
2 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.
The Greek word in v2 for "offend" means to stumble. We all stumble in many ways. Stumbling is done unintentionally and teachers have plenty of opportunity to stumble. Teaching is prone to unintentional error and teachers constantly need God's help. Unintentional stumbling can lead pupils astray. The idea is to make a mistake that can cause misery.
In Psalm 19:12-14, David spoke of 2 types of sin which were unintentional sins or "secret faults" done in ignorance and insolent, presumtuous sins:
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O
LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Our errors may be secrets to us and to other people, but they are not secrets to God. So we can pray as David did for God to cleanse us of the sins that we do ignorantly. Presumptous sins refer to intentional sin or open rebellion against God. This type of sin reflects arrogance and insolence against God. David wants to be innocent of the "great transgression" because there was no sacrafice for presumptuous sin. Compare Numbers 15:27-31 below. May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you,
Numbers 15:27-31
27 And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering.
28 And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.
29 Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.
30 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
31 Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.
When people willfully reject the salvation that God provides through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, then there remains no more sacrifice for them. If God is merciful and allows them to live they may get another opportunity to repent, but as long as they arrogantly reject God's way and insist in their own way they are cut off from God and the commonwealth of Israel.
So according to James we shouldn't be stumbling around in the dark causing pain for others. Instead we should "walk in the light, as he is in the light, and have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.1 John 1:7-10.
We need to be constantly praying and examining our own hearts to understand our errors as David says. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. We can't be in denial about our sin. We need to search it out. Modern America is not a self-examining society. Instead, personal freedom is emphasized. You have probably heard it said that "If it feels good, do it". Rights are in, self-restraint is out.
The word "perfect" in verse 2 means complete, mature or fully developed. What distinguishes mature Christians is that they are able to keep their whole body in check. Here James expands the scope of his application from teachers to "any one".
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 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.
Verses 3 and 4 give positive illustrations of how something small can control something that is very large and would otherwise be uncontrollable. The things we can be positive and can help steer our lives and the lives of others around us in the right direction.
The tongue can also be responsible for negative consequences.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
The tongue which is a small part of our body can cause extensive damage. The picture here is that a small spark can cause a great forest fire burning out of control. Firefighters usually have to just wait for these raging infernos to burn themselves out. Remember what Smokey said. "Only YOU can prevent forest fires." Apparently Smokey had been reading his Bible, because he got it right. In human relations an unkind or unwise word can spark a great fire and do a lot of damage in people's lives. Just like an out of control forest fire, then things we say can have negative consequences burn out of control and consume relationships for many years.
"Loose lips sink ships." A carelessly spoken word or even worse slander can assasinate character. Malicious gossip can destroy a church.
6 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.
7 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:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Men cannot tame the tongue by their own strength. But James is alluding to the fact that we can tame it with help from God.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude <image> of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
The contradiction in verses 9 and 10 come from the fact that born again believers have 2 natures. The spiritual nature that is born of God leads one to bless God. But the depraved nature causes one to curse others. The word bless as used here means to praise or speak well of. The idea of cursing is not a sware word, but rather refers to wishing evil upon someone.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
The tongue of a believer is to spring forth sweetness, not bitterness. It should refresh and edify, not nauseate and tear down. If we depend on ourselves to control our tongues, we are bound to say things that are hurtful to others and detrimental to the cause of Jesus Christ.
God has to be in control. Whatever is in your heart, that is what gushes up out of your mouth. " Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man." Matt 15:11.
Matt 15:18-19:
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
But if the Spirit of God is in control of our hearts, sweet water will flow from our mouths.
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
Fruit trees bring forth their own particular type of fruit according to their kind as God designed the creation in Genesis 1:11-12. It is their nature to bring forth their fruit as it is the nature of a fresh water spring to bring forth fresh water.
Similarly believers speak positively because it is the nature of the Spirit within them to do so. A tongue that utters praises and curses sends mixed signals to all who hear it.
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
The word "conversation" in verse 13 actually means "manner of life". Meekness means gentleness, not weakness or timidity. One who reflects the "meekness of wisdom" is speaking and acting as he is directed by God. Such words build up their listeners rather than tear them down.
Niceness is over-rated and distorted in America. They say "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all". I appreciate the sentiment of that saying but it can be used inappropriately to limit the truth. "Niceness" in the context of American society carries with it an over-arching quality of not saying or doing anything that challenges one's sinful lifestyle.
Let me give you an illustration of what I mean. Jesus told some very religious people:
"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." John 8:44.
Somebody might say, "Now Jesus, be nice." "Jesus, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all". Here Jesus isn't being very nice, but he is telling the truth. What he was telling them was appropriate for them because they were verbally attacking the Son of God.
Generally the lost people that we speak to about the Lord will not be violently opposed to the truth the way that these men were whom Jesus had harsh words for. The way to speak to lost people is with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15:
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness <gentleness> and fear<respect>.
A more Biblical way of saying "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" might be to say: "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Eph 4:29
The Biblical concept of edification means "to build up". We should say things that build people up, not things that tear them down.
One way to do this is to "speak the truth in love."
"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." Eph 4:15 We need to speak the truth, but in a loving way.
In Acts chapter 18, Apollos was a teacher in the church at Ephesus. When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. Let's encourage those who express a desire to serve the Lord.
Judas and Silas went from the church at Jerusalem down to Antioch to deliver a letter to the church there. Acts 15:32-33 says: 32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. Our words should encourage and strengthen our brothers in the Lord.
1 Cor 14:3:
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
Our words should provide edification, exhortation, encouragement, comfort, strength and profit.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual <unspiritual>, devilish <of the devil>.
Man's earthly wisdom says to win the argument. It is concerned with the victory of it's own opinions and is not concerned with the truth. Where there is envying and stife you can be sure that the devil is influencing either directly or indirectly through his demonic forces.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Envying and strife or selfish ambition are the causes and confusion <disorder>and every evil work are the effects of earthly wisdom.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
The wisdom from above is much better than earthly wisdom. It has better effects because it comes from a better source. Instead of confusion and every evil work, it produces peace and the fruit of righteousness. Wisdom that comes from God yields a bountiful harvest of words and actions that are wholesome and beneficial.
The Book of James
Introduction |
Chapter 1 |
Chapter 2 |
Chapter 3 |
Chapter 4 |
Chapter 5