The Letter of James - 3:1-12

James 3:1–12 NLT

1 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. 3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. 7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

James 3:1-12

James 3:1–12 NLT

1 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. 3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. 7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

James 3:1-1

Remember in chapter 1, James tells his readers how to know if they have genuine faith? He gives three points to measure by.

James 1:26–27 NLT

26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

Remember in chapter 1, James tells his readers how to tell if they have genuine faith? He gives three points to measure by.

Controlling the tongue

Caring for the needy

Avoiding worldliness

Teachers

*Teachers

Let's hang out here for a moment.

Teachers will be judged more strictly. Great!

Why would James say that teachers will be judged more strictly? Because greater responsibility rests on those, who teach God's word to others.

Why would James say that teachers will be judged more strictly? Because greater responsibility rests on those who teach God's word to others.

What is a teacher? One who teaches. What is a biblical teacher?

In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul opens up this idea of "gifts" that Jesus gave to the church. Remember, church = people, not a building.

Ephesians 4:11–13 NLT

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers. Why did he give those?

Ephesians 4:12 NLT

12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers. Why did he give those?

To equip to build up.

To equip God's people for the work of service that builds the body of Christ.

This is why teachers in the church will be judged more strictly.

Ephesians 4:12–16 NLT

12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

This is why teachers in the church will be judged more strictly.

That's us, the church. A complex organism, working together perfectly, so we are all healthy and growing and full of love. I don't know about you, but I think that's an awesome sight.

That's us, the church. A complex organism working together perfectly so we are all healthy and growing and full of love. I don't know about you but I think that's an awesome sight.

Here's the problem. Unqualified teachers were a problem in the early church. All throughout the new testament, we read of times when false teachers wiggled their way into the Christian community, instructing the church to live contrary to the teaching of the apostle's message.

2 Peter 2:1 NLT

1 But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves.

1 Timothy 6:3 NLT

3 Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life.

2 Timothy 4:3 NLT

3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.

Now, in the early church, the teacher was a rough equivalent to a rabbi. Rabbi simply means teacher. This was a sought after position.

Some readers of James' letter were presumably seeking the status of teacher for political gain. Without the proper moral and intellectual qualifications, this was probably the cause of James rebuke in later verses dealing with a bitter spirit, quarreling, hateful and critical speech.

Some readers of James' letter were presumably seeking the status of teacher for political gain. Without the proper moral and intellectual qualifications, this was probably the cause of James rebuke in future verses dealing with a bitter spirit, quarreling, unkind and critical speech.

This leads us to verse 2, an introduction to the rest of the passage, which a warning first to those who teach in the church and second to the church at large.

James 3:2 NLT

2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

Dangers of Speech

Spiritual maturity is the ability to control your tongue and not stumble in what you say. We all make mistakes. No one is perfect. How awesome would that be?

We all make mistakes. No one is perfect. Spiritual maturity is the ability to control your tongue and not stumble in what you say. This provides evidence that we can control our emotions and personality.

James is reminding his readers that if you want to achieve spiritual maturity, focus on your speech. This is the ultimately untamable member. You control this, the rest will be relatively easy.

We've all been there. You start to say something and mid-sentence you realize what is coming out of your mouth.

Here's a good commitment to make, "Let's use our speech only for edification, not destruction."

I think of it as a yellow light. You're driving along, not paying too much attention and out of nowhere, the street light turns yellow.

Do you slam on the breaks? Or do you slam on the gas?

This is a perfect time to read a few proverbs.

Regarding the tongue, you talking with someone or about someone and as you approach the intersection of positive speech to negative speech, the light turns yellow.

The yellow light is actually a warning.

You have 2 choices. One, you can slam on the breaks and send the conversation to an abrupt stop or attempt to make a turn. This type of movement in a conversation will result in, "Umm, well, I'm not going to go into it." Sidetracking, back peddling, realizing you're speech about someone was about to take a turn for the worse.

It looks like this.

The light turns yellow. Do I stop? Do I go? A couple gas-break-gas fakeouts and you try to stop, but your car is in the intersection. Now, you have to slowly back up behind the line while everyone around is looking at you. So embarrassed.

Or, you're the one that sees a yellow light and immediately interprets that as "Steep on it!" and you fly through the intersection.

This reaction has a few options when one is approaching the intersection of positive to negative speech. One, they realize they already said too much and decide to unload everything, no holds barred.

Another way to handle the yellow light is to run through it so fast that you hope no one hears it or processes what you say.

Or, we can be cautious drivers, keeping an eye out for potential dangers, steering clear from them with the realization that you can cause significant damage. Be alert. Be ready for the light to change from green to yellow, cause we all know it will happen sooner or later. Just be prepared.

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It seems to me that James is suggesting that a key to spiritual maturity has root in how one is able to control their speech.

Image 3

Tame the tongue and have better control over your emotions and character.

Focus on your speech. This is the ultimately untamable member. You control this, the rest will be relatively easy.

large horse, small bit

small rudder, huge ship

Here's a good motto to live by, "My speech is only for edification, not destruction."

James uses two illustrations to bring home the same point; very small things can direct very large things.

This is a perfect time to read a few proverbs.

Proverbs 11:9 NLT

9 With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous.

The tongue is a small thing that boasts of great things.

Proverbs 11:12–13 NLT

12 It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet. 13 A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

Proverbs 12:18 NLT

18 Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.

The tongue exposes the evil within a person.

Proverbs 15:1 NLT

1 A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.

Proverbs 16:27–28 NLT

27 Scoundrels create trouble; their words are a destructive blaze. 28 A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.

Proverbs 18:21 NLT

21 The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

Tiny spark, great forest fire

James 3:3–5 NLT

3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.

Just think of the destruction James is referring to. A small, tiny spark can be used for starting a fire to cook with. It can be used to boil water. If it's used carefully, it can produce great things. But if the spark is not used responsibly, it can grow into a raging wildfire that will cause much destruction.

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The tongue is a flame of fire, a world of wickedness.

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Our words have power! The power to bring life. The power to bring death.

large horse, small bit

How many families have been ruined by gossip? How many churches have been split because of slander?

small rudder, huge ship

You might never think about setting fire to your neighbor's house but have already committed spiritual arson.

James uses two illustrations to bring home the same point; tiny things can direct huge things.

The uncontrolled tongue might only be a spark. One negative word, complaining or criticizing someone. And it explodes into an unstoppable fire of destruction.

We must control our words. We must speak life.

The tongue is a small thing that boasts of great things.

The tongue exposes the evil within a person.

I think Jesus said it best when rebuking a group of Pharisees.

Tame all kinds of animals

Mark 7:15 NLT

15 It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.”

Birds, reptiles, fish, even squirrels. And monkeys, and dogs, and Ginnie pigs, cats, bears, snakes.

James 3:5 NLT

5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.

But no one can tame the tongue.

A tiny spark, great forest fire

How can we speak blessings and curses from the same mouth? How can we use our words to praise our God in heaven then turn around and curse those made in the image of God? How can this come from the same mouth? It's not right.

The tongue is inconsistent in nature, a little hypocrite in our mouths.

Just think of the destruction James is referring to here.

Fire can be used for many things that are useful in everyday life. We use it to keep our house warm, to get warm water, to cook with. We had to use fire to get to the church building today. Controlled fire is instrumental and beneficial.

But what happens when that fire is uncontrolled? Or when someone who is in control of it is careless?

Something so small and helpful can quickly turn into devastating destruction killing everything in its path.

How remarkable is the tongue. A spring of water cannot produce both fresh and bitter water or a fig tree cannot produce both figs and olives, a grapevine cannot produce grapes and figs. How can the tongue produce both blessing and cursing?

Irresponsible and inconsistent talk is not right, but we do it anyway.

A tiny spark, a word of encouragement can set a person on the road to success. You can probably remember an encouraging word someone spoke to you as a child, that has helped you get to where you are today. Just think if you had several of those from multiple people. That would be awesome.

Fruit of the Faith

A tiny spark, a word of discouragement. Oh, how words can hurt. They sting and leave lasting marks, hindering oneself from reaching their full potential. I bet we all can remember several discouraging words spoken to us. And some of them still hurt.

I'd rather be beaten with sticks and stones than some of the words I've been beaten with.

A small, tiny spark can be used for starting a fire to cook with. It can be used to boil water. If it's used carefully, it can produce great things. But if the spark is not used responsibly, it can grow into a raging wildfire that will cause much destruction.

James 3:6 NLT

6 And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

The tongue is a flame of fire, a world of wickedness.

Our words have power! The power to bring life. The power to bring death.

How many families have been ruined by gossip? How many churches have been split because of slander?

I doubt you have ever thought about setting fire to your neighbor's house, a relatives house, or a friends house. But beware of verbal arson, starting a spark that creates a fire that burns out of control.

The uncontrolled tongue might only be a spark. One negative word, ungrounded complaining, or criticizing others. Then it explodes into an unstoppable fire of destruction.

We must keep careful control of our words. We must speak life.

James 3:7 NLT

7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish,

Tame all kinds of animals

Birds, reptiles, fish, even squirrels. And monkeys, and dogs, and Ginnie pigs, cats, bears, snakes.

But no one can tame the tongue.

James 3:8–10 NLT

8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

How can we speak blessings and curses from the same mouth? How can we use our words to praise our God in heaven then turn around and curse those made in the image of God? How can this come from the same mouth? It's not right.

The tongue is inconsistent in nature, like a little hypocrite hidden in our mouths.

James 3:11–12 NLT

11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

How remarkable is the tongue? A spring of water cannot produce both fresh and bitter water or a fig tree cannot produce both figs and olives, a grapevine cannot produce grapes and figs. How can the tongue produce both blessing and cursing?

Irresponsible and inconsistent talk is not right, but we do it anyway.

We’re going to have a time to respond to this message. If anyone would like to come forward to pray, the alter is open. If you would like to sit in your seat and reflect on what God might be saying to you, you’re free to do that. If you’d like to stand up and sing along, you’re free to connect with God.