The Book of James Guide-Lesson 07
Lesson 7: Live out your faith- Are you controlling your tongue?- James 3:1-12
JAMES 3: 1-12
1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or 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. 5Likewise 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. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. -NIV
1. Warning For Would-Be Teachers.- The tongue’s potential to bring judgment- James 2:14
1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
a) Teachers are being specifically addressed.
Not many believers should seek to become teachers. Why? Because they will face a stricter judgment from God.
Ø A teacher is always telling others how to live and correcting them when they miss the mark.
Ø A teacher is responsible for the lives and spiritual growth of those under him. God holds him responsible.
Ø If a teacher fails to live what he teaches, he shall bear a greater judgment and condemnation.
Ø A teacher must live what he preaches and teaches.
Note three facts.
1. This verse stresses a pointed truth: a person should commit his life to teach only if he cannot keep from teaching.
2. Teaching is a high calling, one of the greatest of callings.
a. It is ranked second only to the apostles and the prophets.
3. It has a large responsibility and is to receive the greater condemnation by God.
a. However, a person is not to fear this responsibility and neglect the gift of teaching.
b. If he is called and gifted to teach, then he must teach.
c. The great responsibility and potential condemnation enhances its great dignity.
2. Why Taming the Tongue is So Important . - James 3:2-17
2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or 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. 5Likewise 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. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
a) If you can control your speech, you can be perfect, able to control your entire body. - James 3:2
b) The illustrations of bits - James 3:3
c) The illustrations of rudder. - James 3:4
d) The power of the little tongue. - James 3:5-6
e) The illustration of a fire. - James 3:5-6
Ø “…a world of evil among the parts of the body.”
Ø “It corrupts the whole person,”
Ø “…sets the whole course of his life on fire,”
Ø “…and is itself set on fire by hell.”
f) The ability of man to tame everything but the tongue. – James 3:7-8
3. Warnings About the Inconsistency of the Tongue or Speech- James 3:9-12
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
a) The mouth can bring forth praise and cursing. – James 3:9-10
b) The inconsistency is illustrated from nature. – James 3:11-12
Faith-Walk Study Questions:
1. Why will teachers be judged more strictly?
2. How much discipline does it take to watch what you say?
3. What should be the teacher's highest priority in teaching?
4. Is James discouraging people from taking positions of responsibility, since they will incur greater judgment?
5. In what aspects of speech can one be found to be at fault? (Compare Matt 12:36,37 also)
6. In what ways is you life controlled by what you say?
7. What is it about the tongue that makes it so difficult to tame?
8. Have you ever said something you regretted?
9. If a salt spring cannot give fresh water, and a fig tree cannot produce olives, then why is it that out of the same mouth can come praise and cursing?
10. How do you think God reacts when He hears His children cursing each other with the same mouth (and many times in the same breath) that they use to bless Him?
Notes:
Reading Assignment: James 3:13-4:
Faith-Walk Action Plan:
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Memory Verses:
17 Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself..- James 3:17