Loving With Words

Summary: The passages in James and Matthew both emphasize the power and importance of our words. James warns about the destructive power of the tongue, while Matthew teaches that true greatness comes from speaking and serving others with humility.

Application: This sermon will encourage Christians to be mindful of their words, using them to build up and encourage others. It challenges believers to speak with love, grace, and humility in all interactions, reflecting the character of Christ.

Teaching: We learn that our words have the power to bring life or death. By taming our tongues and speaking with love, we can positively impact our relationships and reflect the love of God to the world.

How this passage could point to Christ: Both passages point us to Christ, who is the perfect example of speaking with love and truth. Jesus' teachings and actions consistently demonstrated the power of loving words in transforming lives and hearts.

Recommended Study: cultural context of speech in the biblical world and explore how the teachings of Jesus and James on the power of words apply to our modern communication. Study the Greek and Hebrew words for 'tongue' and 'words' in these passages .

1. Guiding Great Ships

James 3:1–4

The metaphor of the bit in a horse's mouth and a ship's rudder to illustrate how small things, like our words, can have a big impact.

The Greek word for bits is another form of the word for “bridle.”

The Greek word for “corrupt” here (Jas. 3:6) is the same root word used in James’s definition of true religion in 1:27

James speaks of controlling one’s speech as having the effect of keeping the whole body in check—literally, “bridled” (Jas. 3:2). He used this same Greek word in 1:26 to point out that failing to “bridle” one’s tongue nullifies a person’s claim of being religious!

Lack of control over the tongue is so serious precisely because of its capacity for starting fires that destroy others, as well as “corrupting” the person to whom the tongue belongs.

The words we speak have a way of coming back on us. The less we discipline our speech, the more our speech becomes influenced by the power of evil.

James says that no human can tame or subdue the tongue.

It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison (3:8).

Having those who teach become conduits of evil by their speech is frightening.

Vivid metaphors of how, by taming our tongues, we can steer our lives and others' towards Christ's love and humility.

Big Idea: By taming our tongues and speaking with love, we reflect the character of Christ and bring life and encouragement to those around us.

The origins of most human conflicts lie in the realm of the verbal—spoken words. Someone’s words inflame, offend or are misconstrued, and the fire rages. Beyond that, human words can wound and “kill” in ways that make the analogy to deadly poison most apt.

2. Dual Nature of Words

James 3:5–8

The dual nature of the tongue – capable of both praising God and causing great harm.

The Jewish Wisdom tradition words take on being—reality or existence—when spoken, and cannot be revoked. Characterizing words as having “being” makes God’s creative Word and His redemptive Word powerfully significant for all humankind.

When words come from the mouth of God, they become real. Words have power to affect the real lives of real people is why James is insistent that words be respected and the tongue be controlled.

God knew that nothing would divide and scatter people like words out of control!

Pentecost reminds us of God’s intention to make His speech clear and redemptive.

The need for Christ's transforming grace in our lives, enabling us to use our words for uplift and love, thus reflecting Christ's character in our speech.

3. Blessings and Curses

James 3:9–12

The inconsistency of blessing God and cursing others with the same tongue.

James evaluates such acts literally as “not fitting”

A person who can bless the Father and then turn around and curse those whom the Father loves shows a fundamental inconsistency.

The importance of congruence between our professed beliefs and our words.

The Greek word James uses in 3:8 for restless often refers to persons who are unsettled or vacillating. In fact, this is the word James employed in 1:8 to describe the “double-minded man” who is “unstable in all he does.” Double-minded persons are those who are unsettled and vacillating. They are restless.

The connection between failing to control the tongue and the double-mindedness that dooms the faithless person to instability is critical to understanding James’s concern over this issue. The relationship between a faith profession and one’s speech was clearly made in 1:26, and now we understand why failing to control the tongue is so damning. It reveals the heart of a person as unstable or two-souled. Our words have a way of revealing our hearts.

The blessing that comes from authentic faith, and the curse that comes in the form of all kinds of trouble from superficial and halfhearted religion.

When religion is surface only, or when the soul is divided in its loyalties, odd, incongruous situations occur.

Seek Christ's help in aligning their speech with His love.

4. Humility in Speech

Matthew 23:8–12

Jesus' teachings on humility and service, highlighting how we can use our words to elevate others rather than seeking personal praise.

How loving words, inspired by Christ's example, can transform our relationships and communities.

Illustration

Questions

In what ways can speaking with compassion and empathy reflect the love of Christ to those around us?

What practical steps can we take to apologize and make amends when our words have caused harm?

What does it mean for our words to be a source of healing and reconciliation in our interactions with others?

Can you think of a time when you spoke carelessly or insensitively? How could you have handled the situation differently?

Application

Struggling with using divisive or hurtful words in your interactions with others in public settings?

Practice humility and self-control in your speech, choosing to speak words that promote understanding.

Be mindful of the impact your words can have on those around you and strive to communicate with compassion and empathy.

Take the opportunity to apologize and make amends if you have spoken carelessly or insensitively.

Let your words be a source of healing and reconciliation in your interactions with the public.