Mighty Is The Tongue

Zig Ziglar once relayed the following story:

A woman meets with an attorney and says “I want to divorce my husband!“

“OK” the attorney responds, “let’s start with a few questions first.”

“Like what?” she asks.

“Well, do you have any grounds?”

“Yes, we have about 5 acres out in the country.”

“No, I mean do you have a grudge?”

“No, but we have a nice, wide carport and a storage shed.”

“Let me ask this a different way. Do you have any complaints about him?”

“Like what?”

“Well, does he beat you up?”

“No, I’m up at least an hour before him every day.”

“Well, what about your role here? Do you ever wake up grouchy?”

“No, when he’s in a bad mood I just let him sleep.”

Exasperated, the attorney finally asks, “Why exactly do you want to get a divorce?”

“Well,” she replies, “the guy just can’t communicate!”

Historical/Cultural Context -

The book of James was written by the half-brother of Jesus. The Son of Joseph and Mary. Written in the early 40s. He wrote to primarily Jews who were Christians, as at this time it was so early in the spread of Christianity that it had not been widely adopted by non-jews, also known as Gentiles. James encouraged his readers to live consistent Christian lives in the midst of persecution for their faith in Christ.

Biblical Text -

James 3:1–12 NKJV

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 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. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 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. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 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. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - Christians Need To Know, The Tongue Is Small But Mighty and We Must Not Speak The Language Of Hypocrisy.

Life Point - The Tongue Is Small But Mighty

Exegetical -

James 3:1–5 NKJV

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 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. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 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. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!

Homiletical -

The tongue. This can be a very complex subject. We are talking here about words, not the actual appendage that is in our mouths.

What we say comes from what we believe. What our worldview is about. If we believe in the God of the Bible then we will say that.

If we believe that the Buddha has all the answers then we will tell people that, even though it is completely wrong.

This principle works in the minutest of details, the tiniest attitudes and actions.

Matthew 15:3–11 NKJV

He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

Our words reflect our heart, our spirit, our minds. When we make those things known it causes people to react, and in so doing sets our trajectory in life.

How many times have you said something and knew immediately you shouldn’t have said it? Of course you have. We all have.

How many times have you gossiped about someone and it came back to bite you in the rear end? Please don’t raise your hand, we don’t want to know. We want to think the best of you. However, if that is you I would implore you to ask God’s forgiveness.

I would say 99% of the time gossip will come back to bite you.

Ephesians 4:29 NKJV

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Proverbs 10:19 NKJV

In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.

Luke 12:2–3 NKJV

For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

James 3:1–2 NKJV

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 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.

Teachers to the Jews were seen as distinguished in the community. They taught the law of God and the traditions of the Elders. The law we find in our Bibles in the Old Testament. The priests and the scribes knew it better than anyone, so it was thought. Why? The priests because they studied it; the scribes because they copied it. There was no printing press at this time, so they had to rely on handwritten copies.

For example, some monks during the middle ages would copy so strictly that if they made a mistake the entire scroll or page would be thrown out and started again. Why? Because it was the Word of God and it is sacred and must be copied perfectly.

Teachers, often referred to as Rabbis were, therefore, honored by the community, especially the higher up in the organization they got. Not unlike denominations today.

However, we find multiple examples where Jesus would call them out for their hypocrisy. He didn’t play their silly little games in order to be liked by them. He was harder on them than He was on the blatant sinner!

Why? Because they should know better!

This is the backdrop that James, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writes the words “let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”

James 3:2 NKJV

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.

The word perfect there is better translated as mature. So if a person does not stumble in word they are a mature christian able to control the whole body.

Why would he equate maturity with discipline of the body?

Because when we speak to someone we can do multiple things with words. Humans can flatter you, bending you toward their will. they can gossip and lie about you, bending you toward their will. They can tell you hard truths in love, bending you toward God’s will.

With words a person can instigate a fight or they can get out of one. With words a person can chose to do good or do evil.

By the power of words you can change the trajectory of your life and thereby your body.

However what we say and how we say it, which is communication, is hard to control for all of us. If a person can master how they communicate, then controlling their actions should not be hard.

Without a doubt controlling your tongue is one of, if not the hardest thing you can do in your life.

James 3:3–5 NKJV

Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 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. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!

James gives us some illustrations here, but notice he talks about how small our tongues are compared to the rest of our bodies.

Yet it drives our life circumstances!

Have you ever met a boaster? Someone who boasts great things?

As a teacher working with Kindergarten up, I can tell you that boasting is part of the sin nature and kids do it a lot. I mean a lot.

They are constantly one-upping each other.

One such example comes from a kid that boasted he had an xbox one, which is a video gaming console with many iterations, and another kid goes “well I have and xbox one S”, another one boasts that his parents got him a really expensive xbox one X. Then without missing a beat another kid across the room says, “Oh Yeah, well I got an Xbox Series S. The new one just released.” Right when you think it is over another one says, “yeah but you don’t have an Xbox Series X!”

Just as the bell is about to ring and start class another child says, “Xbox sucks, I have a Playstation 4!” Which is a completely different system all together. Then another says, “yeah I got a Playstation 5!”

Then the playstation kids get into a contest of which is better Xbox or Playstation. To which the bell rings, I have had enough and tell all the kids to sit down and listen. Then I say, “It doesn’t really matter which one is best or who has what, neither of them have eternal value. Besides XBOX is the better option.”

Even Paul wrote, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that boasting is foolishness.

2 Corinthians 11:16–20 NKJV

I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little. What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face.

2 Corinthians 11:30 NKJV

If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.

The moral of this snippet? Boasting is evil and if you have to boast, boast in your weakness showing God’s Greatness!

Life Point - Don’t Speak The Language of Hypocrisy

Exegetical -

James 3:5–12 NKJV

Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 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. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

Homiletical -

Notice verse 6 says that the tongue is full of iniquity. Iniquity is a churchy word if I ever heard one.

It means to work unrighteousness or being unjust. The New Living translation says it this way.

James 3:6 NLT

And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

In this one section, James tells us what evil can be done by our words and just how bad those words are. He shares with us the source of them. The tongue is set on fire by hell.

What does hell-fire do? It causes untold pain and evil. Causes unending torture. Your words can cause that. We must be careful of what we say and how we say it.

James 3:7–8 NKJV

For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

We have tamed just about everything. But no one can fully tame their tongues 100% all the time, but the humble person will make it right when they mess up. That is why Matthew 18 exists.

Matthew 18:15–17 NKJV

“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

Notice it doesn’t say that the offender should go and make it right. Why? because, many times we don’t realize we have said something wrong, or offended someone with our words.

Men if you have been married for more than a year, you know what I am talking about. Or maybe it is just me? I tell you what, my wife says I don’t speak girl. I can’t go a day without saying something that gets taken wrong or I didn’t say it right.

So when there is offense, it should be made right. Apologize and repent before God, and then both parties need to move on. But if that doesn’t work we are given more steps to follow.

James 3:9–12 NKJV

With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

There is strangeness to our hypocrisy. We as Christians can curse somebody behind there back, or today in front of them and then rather than apologize and repent we go before our God and master and up praising Him.

Do you think that is right? No? Neither does God.

What does God communicate with us through James here?

“My brethren these things ought not be so.”

God tells us we will be held accountable for every idle word we speak.

Matthew 12:33–37 NKJV

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

The word idle there can also be translated “careless.”

Every careless word will be judged.

This should be a humbling thought, if not an embarrassing one before God.

Life Principle – Christians Need To Know, The Tongue Is Small But Mighty and We Must Not Speak The Language Of Hypocrisy.

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