James Series (7)

James 3:1–12 CSB

1 Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body. 3 Now if we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we direct their whole bodies. 4 And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how a small fire sets ablaze a large forest. 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among our members. It stains the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 Every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish is tamed and has been tamed by humankind, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness. 10 Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. 11 Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.

Consider a lit candle in a dark room. Its light can illuminate the space but also cast shadows. In the same way, our words can shine light on hope and truth or create darkness filled with despair and lies. James reminds us that just like a small flame can ignite a great fire, our words have the power to influence lives dramatically, whether for good or ill.

Think of a ship at sea. Its direction is influenced by a tiny rudder. Similarly, our tongues, though small, guide the course of our lives. When James spoke about the power of the tongue, he highlighted this truth. A few well-chosen words can transform a situation, while a reckless comment can lead to disastrous results. Let’s be mindful of our speech and wield it wisely to steer others toward Christ.

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 .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.

James says that teachers will be judged with greater strictness. One hint in the wrong direction, and someone else’s life—perhaps a whole classroom full of other lives—can be sent down a wrong path. Now there are, of course, different kinds of wrong paths. Many people will realize something is amiss and find their way back. But in other cases the damage will be done.

How much more is this the case in the church! One sermon pushing a line, pouring scorn on a cherished doctrine or advocating something that’s not quite right, and a whole churchful of people may set off in the wrong direction. One word out of place in a pastoral conversation, and the listener, at a vulnerable and impressionable moment, can be encouraged to make a false move. Teachers, beware! is the lesson here. Perhaps that’s why many vocational advisors tell prospective ministerial candidates that if they can find anything else to do, they should do it.

From that rather solemn beginning, James proceeds to develop his theme. Having begun by warning about how difficult it is to come up to the mark as a teacher, he expands the point: taming the tongue in general, for anyone, is so difficult as to be almost impossible. Get that right and you’ve obviously got your entire self under control. The tongue, it seems, is the first but also the  last thing God refines. First God takes the vulgar talk and curse words but then He doubles back to refine things like gossip and idol talk.

But how important it is! It may be small, but like a horse’s bit or a ship’s rudder it can determine the way the whole person is going. Let slip the wrong word at the wrong moment and a precious relationship can be spoilt forever. A promise can be broken. A bad impression can be given which can never be repaired. No wonder the Psalmist prayed that God would place a sentry in front of his mouth, to check on everything that was coming out (Psalm 141:3 3 Lord, set up a guard for my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.

 As he said before, any claim of being sincere as a Christian or follower of Jesus that doesn’t result in a serious transformation of speech habits is a sham. You will not talk like you did before Jesus!!

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. 

This brings home the real underlying point. Why is the tongue like this? Jesus had pointed out that what comes out of the mouth is a sign of what is really there, deep in the heart (Matthew 12:34] James echoes this passage when he speaks of the fig tree bearing olives or the vine bearing figs. Things just aren’t like that! If someone turns out to be pouring out curses—cursing other humans who are made in God’s likeness—then one must at least question whether their heart has been properly cleansed, rinsed by God’s powerful spirit. And if that isn’t the case, it turns out that the tongue isn’t simply a private world of injustice. It is getting its real inspiration from hell itself

Matthew 12:34 CSB

34 Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.

James 3:6 CSB

6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among our members. It stains the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

What James is after, then, is consistency. He wants people to follow Jesus through and through, to be blessing-only people rather than blessing-and-cursing people. It’s a high standard, but we should expect no less if the gospel is indeed the message of salvation. The danger, as always, is that people will take the bits of the message they want, and quietly leave the real challenges to one side. But it can’t be done. The spring must be cleansed so that only fresh, sweet water comes out. For this we need help. That, fortunately, is what the gospel offers. 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.

-Squeeze a apple and get orange juice illustration.

Brothers and sisters, if there's anything we must walk away with today, it is this: your words are not cheap—they are eternal. They carry weight, they carry influence, and they carry the power to build or to break. The tongue is a small part of the body, but oh, how great a fire it can kindle! Church, we are called to more than just good behavior—we are called to holy living. And holiness doesn’t just show up in what we don’t do—it shows up in what we say, how we speak, how we love, and how we bless. James tells us the tongue is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. And you know what? He’s right. But here’s the good news: God never calls us to do what He doesn’t also empower us to do. In our own strength, we cannot tame the tongue. But when the heart is entirely sanctified, when the Holy Spirit has full control, even our speech is transformed. In the Church of the Nazarene, we believe in entire sanctification—a second definite work of grace where the believer is cleansed from the root of sin and empowered to live a life fully yielded to God. That includes our thoughts, our desires, our actions—and yes—our words.

So I ask you: • Is your tongue surrendered to the Holy Spirit? • Do your words reflect the fire of Pentecost or the fires of hell? • Are your lips holy because your heart is holy?

Are you speaking as a vessel of the Holy Spirit or a tool of the enemy? God is calling His church—not just to clean lips—but to consecrated hearts. Because Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” If we want our tongues to be tamed, our hearts must be transformed. Today, I challenge you to surrender your speech to the sanctifying work of the Spirit. Let your tongue no longer be an agent of destruction but an instrument of healing, peace, and truth. May the fire on your tongue no longer come from the pit, but from the altar of God. Today, let’s not just ask God to help us try harder to talk better. Let’s go deeper. Let’s ask Him to purify our hearts so completely that our speech naturally flows from His Spirit within us. When the heart is clean, the tongue will follow. Let the fire on your tongue come not from anger or bitterness, but from the holy fire of the Holy Spirit.