Taming the Tongue
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Scripture
Scripture
1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
Setting the Scene
Setting the Scene
26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
These verses set the scene for the rest of the letter.
They highlight three main christian duties
Controlling the tongue
Caring for the needy and the socially marginalised.
Avoiding worldliness
James highlights these three as vital tests of true Christian faith.
The works that genuine faith produces.
The fruits that genuine faith brings forth.
If we want to measure our Christian progress and maturity, here is the test.
How are we doing?
True faith is based on gratitude to Jesus that overflows in all we do and to all in our circle.
Teachers
Teachers
Lets read James 3:1,
1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
Why does James start with a warning to Teachers?
Who do you think this applies to in the Church today?
Noun is διδάσκαλος di-dak-a-loss,
Occurs 59 times in NT
Majority in the four gospels and referring to Jesus.
Taming the Tongue
Taming the Tongue
James goes from his focus on Teachers to a focus on All.
2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
Personally I find James 3:2 very encouraging as an opening statement, before he continues.
Mercy before judgement.
The tongue is very small but very powerful
The tongue is very small but very powerful
James uses a number of analogies and metaphors about the tongue and its power.
Horses
Horses
3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
The horse is a very large and powerful animal
It is easily controlled by a very small thing—the bit in its mouth (v. 3).
Ships
Ships
4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
A ship is also a very large and powerful thing, but it is easily controlled by something that is quite small—the rudder (v. 4).
Salt Water
Salt Water
12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
The tongue is the little hypocrite in our mouths that can make big hypocrites out of us.
Forest Fires
Forest Fires
5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
A forest can be a very large thing, sprawling over thousands of acres, but the whole thing can be destroyed by an untended small campfire (v. 5).
What about Spiritual arson!
God’s Creation
God’s Creation
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
This is where we get the phrase the taming of the tongue.
The reality is no man or woman can tame it fully!
Our Speech
Our Speech
9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
Highlights the inconsistent nature of the tongue.
Water and Plants
Water and Plants
11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
Highlights the inconsistent nature of the tongue.
Summary of the Power of the Tongue
Summary of the Power of the Tongue
The tongue, even though it is small, has great power, for good and for evil, to build up or tear down, to wound or to heal.
The tongue is a little hypocrite in our mouth, that has the power to make us into big hypocrites.
Our Response to James
Our Response to James
How would you summarise James diagnostic of the Tongue?
Do you agree that this diagnostic applies equally today?
How should we seek to tame the Tongue?
James will certainly go speak to this from James 3:13 on wards.
That is next week
But let’s get a head start.
Because the danger is here and now.
19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.
What do these verses teach us?
1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. 3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. 4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
What does this teach us?
Conclude with Prayerful Poem
Conclude with Prayerful Poem
Do a tongue inventory. How often do you complain, gossip, criticise, encourage, complement or motivate?
What steps can you take to improve?
Let us all start with this prayerful poem.
May the mind of Christ my Saviour
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and pow’r controlling
All I do and say.
(Kate B. Wilkinson)