The Tongue Which Guides
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
This section is connected to James 1-2
Faith without works is dead: as seen by the tongue
Be careful if you teach, for you will be judged.
the teacher had the task of expounding the truth of the gospel on the basis of the growing Christian tradition - Moo
See the connection to verses 13-14
Warnings Concerning Speech
Warnings Concerning Speech
All have issues with one’s speech - though this is made evident in different ways
Some struggle with anger, accusations, gossip, lies, boasting
No one can tame the tongue themselves
No one can control their tongue perfectly, but that is the goal for which James wants us to strive. If we were to do so, we would be “perfect,” i.e., a “complete” person who has arrived at full “maturity,” for then we would “also control ourselves in every other way.” - Osborne
Your speech reveals the inner most workings of your heart
This can be both public speech and private speech - God sees all
Commands for Speech
Commands for Speech
Put a control on your speech
χαλιναγωγέω
to curb ⇔ bridle† — to curb something, conceived of as placing a bridle on something (like a horse) so as to control it.
The tongue, representing the believer’s speech, is not easily mastered. But the tongue must be mastered by acquiring the great skills of wisdom through careful and arduous study of God’s Word. Only by such study can the skill to face the great issues of life be acquired. There is no other way to preserve the ship of life intact. - Richardson
Guard your tongue from rampant destruction
The spark is not a neutral metaphor; the destructive figure is unmistakable. A similar use of this example can be found in Philo: “Nothing escapes desire …; like a flame in the forest, it spreads abroad and consumes and destroys everything.”16 Very likely, then, James meant to say that the boasting the tongue might rightly do must be understood in light of its destructiveness in much of life. Richardson
Live according to wisdom and not your passions
The wise lay up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
Application for Your Speech
Application for Your Speech
Search your way of speaking to see where you need help
This may require you to ask others for their insights!
Be careful when you instruct others.
Guard your speech to make sure it honors God.
Add wisdom in order to speak wisdom.