Taming the Tongue?
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Last week we finished up the second chapter of the book of James. We looked at how faith and deeds (or works) go together. We closed by looking at verse 26, which says:
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
In our passage today James continues to help us understand the kind of religion that God desires.
But verse 1 of chapter 3 may seem a bit out of place, but it will all make sense in a minute.
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
Teachers Beware!
Teachers Beware!
It’s been said, “that those who can, do; those who can’t teach!” That is not the view of James. He believes that we all ought to walk our talk and talk our walk.
People should be careful not to “want” to be a teacher of God’s people. He means that it is not good when people want to be “teachers” because it is too easy to blow up your ego!
Yet the real reason that people shouldnt want to be teachers is because teachers will be judged more “strictly” (Gk: literally a greater judgment).
Every believer is supposed “teach” or pass on what they have learned from God’s Word. Consider Matthew 28:19.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. . .
But that’s not the kind of “teacher” that James is talking about here. He’s talking about being a rabbi of sorts. James is talking about being a “formal” teacher.
He may have had the Jewish rabbis of his day in mind — because they loved to have the seats of honor, and to have people soak up their words — they were professional teachers, but their personal lives often didn’t follow or live up to the standards they set for everyone else.
Teachers — any kind of teacher that teaches God’s Word is subjected to a more severe or greater judgment.
Reaching Perfection?
Reaching Perfection?
We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
James tells us that every person stumbles (Gk. fails, fall, sin) in all kinds of ways.
Anyone who never says anything wrong is “perfect.”
If we can control what we say, we can control any part of the body!
The Example of a Horse
The Example of a Horse
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
With a small bit in a horse’s mouth we can make the entire animal obey us (v. 3a).
Pull on way or another and the entire horse will change its direction (v. 3b).
The Example of a Ship
The Example of a Ship
Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
A huge ship (sailing ship) can be driven by strong winds (v. 4a).
But the pilot can steer the ship wherever he wants it to go by using a small little rudder (v. 4b).
The Danger of the Tongue
The Danger of the Tongue
Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
Like the ship’s small rudder, the tongue is a small part of the body--but it makes huge boasts (v. 5a).
Forest Fire Example
Forest Fire Example
The danger the tongue can do is like the danger of a small spark that can ignite a huge consuming forest fire! (v. 5b)
The Danger of the Tongue
The Danger of the Tongue
The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
The tongue is a violent fire (v. 6a)!
The tongue is filled with the world’s evil (v. 6b).
And the tongue ends up corrupting the entire body (v. 6c).
The tongue can destroy our entire life — burn up our life (v. 6d).
And the tongue is set on fire by hell itself! (v. 6e).
Taming the Tongue
Taming the Tongue
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind,
James says that humans have been able to tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, sea creatures--they can all be tamed! (v. 7).
but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
But no human can tame the tongue (v. 8a).
The tongue is a restless evil (v. 8b).
The tongue is full of deadly poison (v. 8c).
The Fickle Tongue
The Fickle Tongue
Back in verse 8, James said that the tongue is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. That brings him to a problem!
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.
With the tongue we can praise the Lord Jesus, and God the Father (v. 9a).
But with the tongue we can also curse human beings who are made in God’s likeness (v. 9b).
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
Out of the same mouth can come praise and cursing (v. 10a).
James tells us that it should NOT be that way! (v. 10b).
Examples from Nature of Single Purpose
Examples from Nature of Single Purpose
Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
A Spring of Water: It produces either fresh water or salt water, but not both (v. 11).
My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
A Fig Tree only bears figs, it can’t bear olives (v. 12a).
A Grapevine only bears grapes, it cannot bear figs (v. 12b).
A Salt Spring cannot produce fresh water (v. 12c)
From these examples we see that our tongues should bear praise or curses but NOT both! Producing both is unnatural.
So What?
So What?
One of the things that I like about the book of James is how he emphasizes the way our relationship with Jesus ought to change our behavior.
One of the big changes should be a huge change in what comes our of our mouth.
Honestly, it is difficult for me to get past verse 10 — Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brother and sisters, this should not be.
There are far too many times when my speech is fickle to say the least. There are far too many times when I praise the Lord and curse people with the same mouth.
Paul echoed this idea in Ephesians 4:29, when he wrote:
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
If I have the relationship with Jesus that I say I have, what comes out of my mouth ought to be vastly different.
My speech should build up others according to what THEY need — not what I need!
So my question for you today is what kind of speech is coming out of your mouth?
