The Untamable Tongue (CCS)

Introduction: The purpose of this potent letter is to exhort the early believers to Christian maturity and holiness of life.

James' concern was Christian behavior

 James made no fewer than 18 references or allusions to Matthew 5 through 7 in his epistle.

Jesus clarified the believer's goal. In Matthew 5:48, Jesus said: "you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." This maturity into the image of Christ is God's goal for every Christian (cf. Eph. 4:13). In dealing with each of the five behaviors that he selected, James clarified the goal that the believer should bear in mind and to which he or she should press.

In chapter 3 the behavior is our speech. God's goal is that we bless others with our speech: God Himself, and all other people. The method is to receive and use wisdom from God.

Context: In chapter 3 the behavior is our speech. God's goal is that we bless others with our speech: God Himself, and all other people. The method is to receive and use wisdom from God.

why? The person who speaks much is going to err ("stumble") much in his or her speech, because the tongue (vv. 5-12) is the hardest member of the body to control.

1. (V1) Let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we should receive a stricter judgment

-GREAT RESPONSIBILITY-

James found that this department of church-work had become extremely popular. Hence his warning about its serious responsibilities. 

The words of Jesus and James remind us that being among the teachers in God’s church is more than a matter of having natural or even spiritual gifts; there is an additional dimension of appropriate character and right living. “

a) Words / Doctrine

Understanding doctrine

Jesus rebuked Nicodemus, who was a Pharisees, a teacher of Israel

John 3:10 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?”

1 Timothy 1:7 “desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

b) Actions / Character ( Living out what we teach )

Teachers have a platform, which can led people to put them on a pedestal

Actions lead people to Christ or push them away

Romans 2:21 “You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?”

Above reproach 1 Tim & Titus speak of the Bishop / Pastor

1 Timothy 3:2 “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;”

Above reproach, however, does not mean without sin. No Christian lives an entirely sinless life, nor will we until we reach the glorified state in heaven.

Above reproach means that the overseer’s life is free from sinful habits or behaviors that would impede his setting the highest Christian standard and model for the church to emulate

I place safe guards in my life that some may think is radical or extreme, but reverent fear for the Lord and what He has intrusted me with

c) Teachers will receive a stricter judgement

Matthew 5:20 “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”