Becoming

Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Taming The Tongue

James 3:1-12

3 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.

James 3:1-12 (Message)

1–2  3 Don’t be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you’d have a perfect person, in perfect control of life.

3–5  A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!

5–6  It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

7–10  This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can’t tame a tongue—it’s never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!

10–12  My friends, this can’t go on. A spring doesn’t gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don’t bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don’t bear apples, do they? You’re not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?

What is the tongue?

Tongue - The organ of speech, which Scripture stresses can be the source of both praise and blame. The tongue is to be kept under control, on account of its capacity for evil words.

An evil and hurtful tongue is the product of an evil heart.

Matthew 12:34-35 (ESV) “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

This is why the heart needs to be healed and made whole. However; whether it is or not, the tongue has to be tamed.

Tamed - To control, to bring under control, to hold in check. To subdue. To overpower.

The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 34: James / 1 & 2 Peter / Jude (Chapter Three: How to Live with Faith and Wisdom)

As faith is central to the teaching of James, so is God’s gift of wisdom. In fact, some biblical scholars compare the Book of James to the wisdom literature of the Old Testament both in relationship to content and to literary style.In the truest sense, all of the Book of James deals with the practical application of God-given wisdom. In the first chapter, James refers to the need for God-given wisdom. He invites his readers to acknowledge the need for wisdom, ask God for it, and he says then it will be given (1:5).In this chapter, he goes beyond those instructions to deal with the very issue of what God-given wisdom is and how we can recognize it. Of course, this teaching must be combined with that of the first chapter as well as with all of the related teaching in his letter regarding the “how to” of practical Christianity.The third chapter of James deals with three specific matters which require God-given wisdom. The first is the awesome responsibility of serving as a teacher. The vital need to control one’s tongue is the second, and then he teaches specifically about the unique quality of God-inspired wisdom.

HOW TO LIVE AS A TEACHER

3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.—James 3:1

As James has been involved in his deep and passionate teaching regarding the relationship of faith and works, he now seems to change gears suddenly as he addresses a very important subject in just one sentence.Although his words are few, his teaching regarding the awesome responsibility of serving as a teacher is very important. No other passage in all of the New Testament is as potent in its focus upon the great responsibility of being a teacher of Christian truth and lifestyle. It appears that James is teaching two major truths which are intertwined one with the other.

1. Not many of you should become teachers (v. 1).

Within the New Testament church, the role of teaching was looked upon as the exercise of one of the leadership gifts given by the Holy Spirit. In Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus, he refers to the spiritual gift of teaching as one of five leadership gifts given by the Lord to His church. The gift of teaching is clarified within that context along with the gifts of serving as apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor (Eph. 4:11).

Interestingly enough, this is the only reference of James in his entire letter to the gift or role of teaching. Although biblical scholars speculate as to why he speaks concerning this matter within this context, the more important focus seems to be, “What is he saying to us?” Or, even more importantly, “What is God saying to us regarding the important role of teaching within the church?” It appears that some of his readers may have been facing the temptation of becoming teachers when they were not actually called of God or given the spiritual gift of teaching. James is certainly not discouraging those who have received that calling and have that gift. He is simply reminding his readers that few of us are called to be teachers. The leadership gifts are not given to all the members of the body. And the gift of teaching is given but to a few. As true of any ministry, we should become involved in teaching only when we are called of God and gifted by the Holy Spirit to do so. An appropriate paraphrase of the teaching of James in this context might be, “Brothers and sisters, God has not seen fit to call many of us to be teachers. Don’t be in a hurry to become teachers unless you are certain that God has called you and has entrusted to you the spiritual gift of teaching. Be content with whatever gifts and calling God gives to you. Don’t try to be what you are not; joyfully be what God has called you to be. Use your gifts in ministry to others and to the glory of God. If you teach, do it to the glory of God; if you do not teach, do it to the glory of God. Only then can you be truly fulfilled.”

2. Teachers shall receive a stricter judgment (v. 1). As a part of the warning that James shares regarding the great responsibility of teaching others within the church, James presents the sobering information that those who teach will be judged more strictly than others. This statement raises at least two important questions. The first question is, “Why would a teacher be judged with greater strictness?” And the second question would be, “Who is going to do the strict judging?” At least two principles of Scripture will help us to answer the first question adequately.

The first is a principle taught by Jesus, “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more” (Luke 12:48). In other words, both God and man require more from those who have been given more. When God calls a person to a place of leadership, much is required of that leader from God. And when one is given the great privilege and responsibility of teaching the truth of God’s Word, there is little wonder that God would require a high standard of excellence and faithfulness. Second, there is the principle of sowing and reaping which is very relevant to what James is teaching. The principle is as follows, “For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Gal. 6:7). Usually, teachers reproduce themselves in the lives of their students.

A false teacher could do great harm by creating mediocrity in the lives of the people of God and by actually leading them astray. Much is written in the New Testament as a warning against false teachers, including the epistles of Jude (p. 261) and 2 Peter (p. 225). A false teacher or an inept teacher would be “tearing down” the lives of the believers.

A teacher who is called of God and gifted of God and who is properly equipped will have the joyous privilege of building the lives of God’s people and of building the body of Christ. The biblical model for this style of teaching leadership is found in Ephesians 4:11–13. Such an act of teaching results in the body of Christ being built up, becoming unified in faith, having the knowledge of Christ, and ultimately growing to become more and more like Jesus.No wonder James shared his timely warning against those who would teach when they were not called to do so.Concerning the second question, “Who is going to do the judging with greater strictness?” there seem to be two possible answers. Both of them have some probability.

First, there is the obvious reality that God will judge those who teach His Word and His truth. This fact could be documented throughout Scripture, including the statement of Paul, “So then each of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12). Second, there is the strict judgment that shall come from our brothers and sisters in Christ, especially those whom we are teaching. There are many warnings in the New Testament concerning false teachers such as Peter’s prophetic statement, “There will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them…” (2 Pet. 2:1). In summary, teachers should expect strict judgment from their brothers and sisters in Christ and from the Lord Christ Himself. To teach is a marvelous privilege and an awesome responsibility!

HOW TO TAME YOUR TONGUE

2 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.

3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.

4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.

5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!

6 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 it is set on fire by hell.

7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.

8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.—James 3:2–

12The tongue is difficult to tame. In fact, James says it is humanly impossible to tame the human tongue. Yet, within that context, he shares some great insight as to how the tongue can be tamed by God.

James begins this section of teaching by exposing our human tendency to stumble in many things. He points to the ultimate solution which would enable us to overcome this stumbling. He contends that anyone who could stop stumbling in word would be a perfect person. If we could control our tongues, we could bring our whole body under control (v. 2).

James proceeds to share a long and seemingly disjointed discourse on the problem of taming or controlling the tongue. However, it is possible to organize his teaching into three specific contentions which will help us understand “how to tame our tongue.”

1. No one can tame the human tongue (v. 2).

James presents the problem or the need very clearly. In fact, his statement is so clear and is supported with so much evidence that the reader faces the possibility of misinterpreting what James is attempting to teach by concluding that he is fatalistic toward the probability of taming the tongue. To the contrary, he is simply attempting to establish the impossibility of the tongue being tamed by mere human endeavor. To establish that fact, he makes four specific contentions regarding the tongue.

(1) The tongue is a little member but boasts great things (vv. 2–5). To illustrate this point, he uses three practical examples which his readers would fully understand.

First, he refers to the bit in the mouth of a horse. Although very small, it is very significant. By using the bit, the horse will obey us and will turn whatever direction we wish.Then, there is the example of the rudder of a ship. It, too, is very small in comparison to the size of a large ship. But it also has great significance. By using the rudder, a ship can be turned and controlled.

Finally, there is the small fire. A very small fire or even a tiny spark can ignite a huge forest. What incredible power and significance belong to all three of these small things. With a bit, one can control a horse; with a rudder, one can control a large ship; and with a spark, one can ignite a huge forest and destroy it by fire. So it is with the tongue; it is very small but very powerful and significant. If one can control it, one can control the whole body. Such a person would be perfect (v. 2).

(2) The tongue is a fire—set on fire by hell (v. 6). After establishing the significance and power of the tongue, James proceeds to address its great potential for destruction. His contention contains three specific statements regarding the destructiveness of the tongue.

First, as a fire, the tongue is “a world of iniquity” (v. 6). The word “iniquity” is adikı́a in Greek, a very strong word denoting moral unrighteousness. It is the same word used by Paul when he states, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Tim. 2:19).

Second, “The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body” (v. 6). As a world of iniquity, the tongue cannot be held in isolation. It corrupts the entire body. Just as a rudder affects a ship and a bit affects a horse, so the tongue affects the body and brings corruption. It defiles the whole body.

Third, the tongue not only corrupts the body, it sets on fire the entire course of one’s life (v. 6). In other words, the tongue does not merely affect the physical body of a person, it brings corruption to our total life. It affects not only what we do but what we are. And the source of this fire is hell itself.

Once again James advances his basic contention that all evil comes from the devil. He is the source of the evil which plagues our tongues. No wonder we cannot control the tongue. In our own strength, we are incapable of overcoming evil. Such a person would have to be perfect.

(3) The tongue is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison (v. 8). James now levels his strongest attack of all on the evilness of the tongue. It is not only evil, it is an unruly or restless evil. It is the kind of evil which is not merely passive but is actively on the attack. And it is a deadly poison. It is poison, iós, like the poison of a deadly snake (Rom. 3:13).

(4) The basic conclusion: No one can tame the tongue (vv. 10–12). The tongue is an enigma; it is a defilement of the natural order created by God. A spring doesn’t flow with both fresh and bitter water. Nor do fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring. Nor does a fig tree bear olives or a grapevine bear figs (vv. 11–12). Yet out of the same mouth can proceed both blessings and cursings (v. 10).

The conclusion of James is clear. The significance and influence of the tongue is great. It is a little member, but it has great power. It is a destructive fire which comes from hell. It corrupts one’s entire life. It is an unruly evil, full of poison that is just as deadly as the venom of a snake! This can lead us to but one conclusion, according to James—no one can control the tongue!

In contrast, man can tame about everything else in all of creation, including every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and creature of the sea. All of them have been tamed by mankind (v. 7).

James’ confusion in this matter is righteous before God. It should not be so; blessings should flow freely from our mouths—but not cursings. We have been created in God’s image to bring glory to Him. Yet, because of sin, we are a strange mixture of good and evil. And our tongues betray us by expressing both blessings and cursings. No one can tame the tongue.

2. If we could tame our tongue, we would be perfect (v. 2). At the very beginning of this passage, James sets forth a hypothetical statement which can be very confusing to us. He states that if a person could tame his tongue, or bring it under control, such a person would be perfect. This contention seems to stand in sharp contradiction to his later contention which states, “But no man can tame the tongue” (v. 8).

In actuality, there is no conflict at all. James is drawing us back to God once again. His overwhelming evidence regarding the wickedness and destructiveness of our tongues establishes the fact that we are helpless in the human realm.But we have great hope and potential in the spiritual realm. The problem with our tongues is a spiritual problem. They have been under the control of our sinful nature. All evil comes from Satan, and he has taken control of the tongues of human beings. But, James teaches us, God is the source of all good and He is available to help us in every situation (1:16–18). If we need wisdom, we need only to ask for it (1:5).

This brings us to the third and final contention of James concerning the tongue.

3. God is perfect—He alone can control our tongues. The first two contentions of James regarding the tongue are stated very clearly. This third contention comes by inference. It is related to all of the teaching which James has shared up to this point of his letter. Our reasoning is as follows: Only God is perfect. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him alone (1:16–18). Only a perfect person could control his tongue (3:2). Such a person could not only control his tongue but also his total being. Since God is the only One who is perfect, He is the only One who can control the tongue. Our deep need is to be possessed by Him so that He can forgive all of our sin and enable us by the power of the Holy Spirit to control our tongues and our total being.

The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (III. The Untamed Tongue and the Way of Wisdom (3:1–18))

3:1–2 In the absence of good works, there’s often an abundance of worthless words. So James addresses the necessity of controlling our tongues. This is practical, down-to-earth Christianity. He begins with teachers in the church: not many should become teachers. Why? Teachers influence the thinking of others and have the power to lead them astray. Therefore, teachers will receive a stricter judgment

(3:1).

Heaven notices what you say. We all stumble in many ways; none of us is perfect. But the one who controls his tongue is mature (3:2).

The tongue is a crucial—and often deadly—part of the body. It’s like a master switch. Take command of it, and you have the potential for bringing your spiritual life under control. 3:3–6 James delivers two insightful illustrations. When you direct the bits in the mouths of large horses, you control their movement (3:3).

Similarly, steering a small rudder will direct the course of a large ship (3:4).

As the bit is to the horse, and as the rudder is to the ship, so is the mouth to the saint. The tongue is small, but it can do great damage (3:5).

Some spouses have hurled insults that their mates have never forgotten. Some individuals started gossip fires years ago, and the flames are still burning. A mouth can set the whole course of life on fire (3:6).

It can destroy self-esteem, devastate relationships, ruin a career, and kill a ministry. As sure as a tiny match can set a forest ablaze, the mouth causes harm that is out of proportion to its size. 3:7–8 Mankind has tamed every kind of animal (3:7).

We have seals that clap, dolphins that talk, birds that flip, and dogs that jump through hoops. We can do with beasts what we can’t do to the human mouth: No one can tame the tongue (3:8).

The only successful tongue-tamer is God. Remember, whatever is inside will come out. This is why you need to be filled with Scripture and the Holy Spirit. 3:9–12 James isn’t writing to the world. He’s exhorting Christians. Brothers and sisters (3:10), he says, the tongue is polluted. Our air and water become polluted when they include contaminants. It doesn’t matter if a poisonous contaminant comprises only a small percentage of the whole. If you breathe polluted air or drink polluted water, you can become seriously ill or die. The mixture is deadly. With our tongues we can bless our Lord and also curse people who are made in God’s likeness. Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth (3:9–10). When this happens, our mouths have become polluted. After singing hallelujahs, some families start tearing each other down before they’ve even departed the church parking lot. But to verbally attack another human being is to attack God because people are made in his likeness. A fig tree can’t produce olives. A saltwater spring can’t produce fresh water (3:12). Why? Because production is based on what’s inside. Therefore, if criticizing, gossiping, and swearing come out of your mouth, the content of your heart needs to be addressed. So if you want to change the course of your life, you need to ask God to help steer that little rudder called your tongue.

You will eat the fruit of your words.

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”

Psalms 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”