James 3:1-12 (Part 9) The Tongue

James 3:1-12

• The importance of the tongue, 3:1-2

• The power of the tongue, 3:3-6

o Power to influence

o Power to harm

 Its contents

 Its pervasiveness

 Its effects

 Its source

• The insubordination of the tongue, 3:7-8

o Unlike the animal kingdom, v. 7

o Like the animal kingdom, v. 8

• The inconsistency of the tongue, 3:9-12

o Introduced, vv. 9-10

o Illustration, vv. 11-12

Four speech sins in the New Testament—given by 4 different words:

1) Diabolos: to throw against

• To speak in such a way to hurt the reputation of another. I Timothy 3:11, Titus 2:3.

2) Blasphemia: to injure by words

• Always set in a context of evil motives. Ephesians 4:31, Colossians 3:8

3) Epiplato—to hit with the fist

• Metaphorical use—to hit with words. I Timothy 5:1

4) Mataiologia—empty words—words that have no profitable conclusion. I Timothy 1:6.