Guarding the Tongue

*What kind of damage can be done by the tongue? Gossip, false
teaching, etc. In what ways have you seen either of these happen in life?

*According to scripture, how important is this whole issue of the
tongue? The tongue is of great concern to James, being mentioned in every chapter of his letter see (1:19,26; 2:12; 3:5,6 [twice],8; 4:11; 5:12). Jesus also warns of this (Matt. 12:36-37, 15:19, Mark 7:20-23). Also, the Old Testament has much to say about this (Psalm 34:13; Psalm 39:1; Prov. 17:20; Prov. 26:28).

The purpose of the passage – Here, James is giving us yet another test by which we can evaluate the veracity of our faith. In vs. 2 he says, “If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body.”

The tongue brings judgment on those who teach.

In vs. 1-2, James reminds us of the caution teachers of the word must have. He says, “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.” Because we carry a tremendous responsibility as teachers and preachers of God’s word. A believer should never begin any form of teaching God’s Word without a deep sense of the seriousness of this responsibility. To sin with the tongue when alone or with one or two other persons is bad enough; but to sin with the tongue in public, especially while acting as a speaker for God, is immeasurably worse. Speaking for God carries with it great implications, both for good and ill.

Psalm 39:1. “I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will
restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me.”

Thus, the teacher is to be especially careful with his tongue.

The tongue directs a man’s path.

Back in vs. 2b, James said that if one controls the tongue, he could
control the whole body. In vs. 3-5, he gives several illustrations of this. He says, “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!” Notice here that James uses the illustrations of (1) the bridle in a horse's mouth and (2) the rudder of a ship. The point here is that in the same way that the small objects turn massive things like horses and ships, the tongue has the ability to move our lives in major ways.

Consider the major ways that words move reality.

• Marriage.
• Presidential Swearing In.
• Offering and accepting a job.

Proverbs 17:20. “He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.”

Thus,

The tongue brings destruction into our lives.

In vs. 6-8, James goes on to illustrate the destruction that the tongue can bring. He says, “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.” The point here is that the tongue has the ability to bring tremendous damage to our lives. Moreover, it is notoriously difficult to tame and control.

Mrs. Holpp in 4th Grade. Like all of you, there have been words in life that have hurt and shaped me deeply. One such time came from a school teacher in 4th grade.

Matt. 12:36-37. “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.”

• Psalm 19:14. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.”
• Psalm 141:3. “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.”

Thus, we must guard our tongues so that we do not sin against
God.

The tongue reveals hypocrisy.

In vs. 9-12, James reminds us of the hypocrisy we are often guilty of. He says, “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.” Here James shows us how inconsistent we are when we bless God and curse man with the same mouth. This is hypocrisy because man is made “in the likeness of God.” Here James is reminding us that man is created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27).

I John 4:20-21. “If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”