The Untamed Tongue

MARCH 15, 2020 STUDY NOTES-JAMES 3:8-12--BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES THE UNTAMED TONGUE INTRODUCTION James has given us a description of the uncontrolled tongue, Jas 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. The tongue is a “world of iniquity,” the tongue is a fire set on fire of hell James continues to describe the tongue and makes an alarming statement in verse 8 No man can tame the tongue, the tongue is an unruly evil and full of poison From the same tongue comes forth blessing God and cursing man (vs. 9-10) James compares the tongue to a fountain bringing forth two kinds of water (vs. 11) James compares the tongue to a tree bringing forth two kinds of fruit (vs. 12) We should not be surprised at the conclusion of James concerning the tongue--Jas 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. “But” introduces a strong contrast, in contrast to the previous verse, Jas 3:7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: Because of the “Fall of Man,” man lost dominion over himself He is no longer the master of his own life he is now under the control of the nature of sin No human being in his own power can tame the tongue James did not say that it was impossible to tame the tongue The tongue can be controlled but not by the power or authority of man alone It requires the supernatural power of God to subdue the tongue God “in us” is the power over the tongue, only by the grace of God can the tongue be controlled Remember what James said earlier, Jas 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. The one who is filled with the Spirit can control “the whole body” (even the tongue) James pictures the untamed tongue in two ways, it is an unruly evil and full of deadly poison it is an unruly evil, The untamed tongue is restless, unruly, unstable, unreliable, and cannot be trusted The original word has the thought of a wild animal that does not want to be tamed Like a wild beast, it is always capable of injury and hurt, it can strike at any time It is easier to teach the eyes not to look, ears not to hear, hands don’t touch, or feet don’t go Than to teach the tongue, don’t say it, don’t you dare talk like that, because it can be deadly--full of deadly poison. Like that of a poisonous snake, the tongue can strike with the venom of a serpent There are many accounts of a lying, poisonous tongue, found in the OT The Psalmist describes why the wicked must be judged, Psa 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. From the time of birth, the nature of the tongue is to lie, the tongue is like a poisonous snake, Psa 58:4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; Now listen to the plea of the psalmist, Psa 58:6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD. The tongue can tear and devour like the teeth of a young lion David prayed to be delivered from the evil man and his evil tongue, Psa 140:1 Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man; The tongue that has followed Satan, that old serpent of the garden, will speak sharp words, Psa 140:3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah. Their words are poisonous and are spoken with the intention to hurt or destroy Paul speaks of the poisonous tongue, Rom 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: The poisonous tongue of man was used against Jesus when He was arrested and tried Many false witnesses came forth with their words but could find no agreement Then two witnesses came forth and actually-spoke true words from the mouth of Jesus, Mat 26:61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. The tongue of Jesus spoke the truth, but Satan filled the tongue of man with poison Satan will still take the tongue and twist the truth, bringing forth double-talk Jas 3:9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. With the same tongue man will praise God and curse men “Bless” means “to speak well of,” to praise God because of who He is Praising God is the Highest and most noble use of the tongue, Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: We are to praise him because of who “He is” and because of “His spiritual blessings” There are many reasons why God is to be praised with our tongue, Peter gives us a good one, 1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, Praise God because He gave us His Son, praise God for our relationship with Him through Jesus Exactly what James tells us, “Bless God, “even the Father” even the Father; We are to praise God as Father, emphasizing His compassion and love God through His grace and love chose Israel to be His children Through that same grace and love He chose those who trust in Christ to be His children We have-to answer the same three questions that Israel did, Mal 2:10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? As children of the same family, why would we “deal treacherously” with our brother? It is easy for the tongue to deceive our brothers and sisters in Christ and therewith curse we men, “We” even Christians, with that same tongue that blesses God, it curses men There is an emphasis upon men, we are to look upon others as God looks upon them Humanity is the crown of God’s creation, to “curse” man is not limited to profanity It is speech with the intent to harm someone, to wish evil upon others It is the desire to hurt, to destroy, to personally abuse, James has in mind angry words that abuse others Jesus instructed us, Luk 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. Something that human nature will not do, the tongue must be supernaturally controlled, Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Obedience to the words of Jesus is the evidence of what James has already told us, Jas 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Paul said, Rom 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. James now explains to us why we should do what Jesus and Paul have said--- which are made after the similitude of God. Those who are being cursed are the very ones that God created in His likeness Meaning a divine likeness, they were created for the same reason He created us The goal of the Christian life is to become more like Christ in all that we say and do Don’t sing praises, read the scriptures, and pray for the brethren on Sunday And then Monday curse God’s created beings, Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Human life is sacred, Gen 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. Man was not created like an animal he was created in the “image of God” to represent God Too often the tongue of man is more animal like than God-like Jas 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. The emphasis is “out of the same mouth,” the tongue in one person’s mouth Both blessing and curses can come from the same mouth One or the other is not right, the one that is right is not hard to figure out The hypocrisy is not the cursing, the hypocrisy is the blessing of God while cursing man That is the height of hypocrisy, it is the “blessing” that is hypocritical Peter is an example, he confessed that Jesus was the Christ, Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus told Peter that his words had come from heaven, Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. James is telling us that our tongue is to speak words from heaven, and he gives us a warning The tongue that speaks words from heaven can find itself speaking words from hell Peter is an example, listen to this man who had spoken words from heaven Jesus was on trial and about to be crucified, the tongue of Peter was about to be tested Peter had three opportunities to speak for the Lord, he failed every one of them A servant girl gave Peter the first opportunity, Mat 26:69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. Peter’s tongue failed to speak for heaven, Mat 26:70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. Another girl gave Peter his second opportunity, Mat 26:71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. Again, his tongue failed an opportunity to speak for Jesus, Mat 26:72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. Then came the third opportunity, Mat 26:73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. This time he not only failed to speak for Jesus, he used his tongue to curse and tell a lie, Mat 26:74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. A good example of what James is telling us, Jas 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. My brethren, James never wants us to forget who we are “In-Christ” John spoke concerning the same issue, 1Jn 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? Another example of a tongue blessing and cursing, we must hear what James says, these things ought not so to be. “Ought not” is a special choice of wording from James, the only time that it is used in the NT Meaning there is no place that such a thing should be found, what he says is totally unacceptable It is something completely out of character, it is a moral abnormality Something that should not happen at all, but it does, yet, it is not even natural for it to be done What James said in verse 9 should never be true of the Christian It should never happen toward any person, especially to another Christian Don’t speak good of God and then speak bad of a brother That should not come forth from the mouth of a Christian You cannot speak for God and speak against the highest of God’s creation It is unbecoming, inappropriate, completely out of character, it is abnormal The tongue that God gave to comfort, cheer, and counsel others, must not curse others James explains what he has just said by using three illustrations Jas 3:11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? James likes to use God’s creation as examples, using nature to illustrate truths He points out that there is a consistency of nature, nature is true unto itself The consistency of nature in the spiritual realm should not be violated There should be a consistency found within the nature of a Christian He speaks of that which man does not even expect from God’s creation That is not how God created them, in creation it is not natural for certain things to happen “Sweet” water is cool, refreshing, and strengthening, “Bitter” water does not taste good and is nauseating So, the answer to his question is “NO,” you don’t even expect that to happen Two different kinds of water do not come forth from the same spring Drinkable water and water that is not drinkable do not come from the same well The law of nature says that “like produces like,” James now presents to us his second illustration--Jas 3:12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. (Something else that you do not expect) Jews commonly had their own fig trees and their own grapevines, 1Ki 4:25 And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. They had berry vines and fig trees because they wanted both berries and figs They did not expect to have berries by planting fig trees, so, again, the answer is “NO” The fruit of the tree will agree with the nature of the tree, there will be no berries picked from a fig tree A farmer doesn’t say, “I need more figs so I will plant some grape vines,” Now his third illustration--so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. (Again, the answer is “NO”) Each of the illustrations present that which is contrary to nature That is not the way that God created them, nature remains true to its kind and purpose The tongue of the Christian is not to be contrary to the nature of the Christian life What does the lost world expect to hear from the Christian? When you hear a Christian talk, you expect to hear the language of a Christian From the mouth of a Christian should come forth words of Christian character Beware of idle words; half-truths; questionable stories; deliberate lies When you hear someone say, “I know I shouldn’t say this,” tell them not to say it We must hear James and Peter, 1Pe 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 1Pe 3:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. Do not allow the tongue to be set on fire of hell But let the tongue be set on fire of the Holy Spirit