The Tongue (1)

“Understanding”

James 3:1-12

James 3:1-12, Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.          3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

INTRODUCTION

James 3:1-2, Not many of you should become teachers [didaskalos – instructor, teacher, one who is fit to teach…or thinks himself so], my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged [the sentence of a judge, a decision] more strictly [megas]. 

 2  We all stumble [to cause one to stumble, to trip, offend, err, fall] in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault [to cause one to stumble, to trip, offend, err, fall] in what they say is perfect [complete, full age, mature], able to keep [bridle, restrain, lead] their whole body in check.

                  If He is not the Lord of your lips…He is not the Lord of your Life. Biblical       revelation tells us that the tongue is a fire…and it is set on fire of Hell. Let’s    consider what the Bible teaches us about the tongue…our understanding of it is critical.

I.         THE TONGUE…SETS THE COURSE 

James 3:3-4, When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

                  A.  The Bit and the Rudder.

                                    1.  The Bit. [It usually refers to the assembly of components that contacts

                        and controls the horse's mouth. The bit, bridle and reins function

                     together to give control of the horse's head to the rider. ]  

2.  Rudder. [A rudder's purpose is to steer and maneuver a vehicle by

      redirecting the flow of fluid around it] 

                  B.  Obedience and Steering.

                                    1.  Obey. [persuade, to convince, to obey]

                                    2.  Steering/Turning. [to direct, lead]

II.        THE TONGUE…IS A FIRE

James 3:5-6,  Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

                  A.  The Tongue…Boasts.

                                    1.  The Tongue…Small Part. [least, less, little, small...a small part of the

    body]

2.  The Tongue…Boasts. [to boast, to bear one's self loftily in speech or 

      action, to boast great things] 

                                                      a.  Great Boasts.

                  B.  The Tongue…is a Fire.

                                    1.  The Tongue…is Fire. [fiery, lightning]

                                                      a.  Destruction. 

                                                                        1)  A Great Forest.

                                                                        2)  A Small Spark.

                                    2.  The Tongue…is a World of Iniquity. [unrighteousness, unjust, wrong]

      Among [to permanently place]…the parts of the body.

                                    3.  The Tongue…Corrupts [stain, to defile]

a.  The Whole Body. [body, that which casts a shadow as   

      distinguished from the shadow itself]

4.  The Tongue…Sets on Fire. [to cause a blaze, i.e., ignite (figuratively, to       

      inflame with passion):—set on fire.]

                                                      a.  The Course. [a wheel (as a runner), a circuit of physical effects]

                                                      b.  One’s Life. [genesis = that which follows origin, as soon as men are

                                                  born…they begin to run…the course of life]

                                    5.  The Tongue…is Set on Fire. [to cause a blaze, i.e., ignite (figuratively, to

                                           inflame with passion):—set on fire.]

a.  Set on Fire…By Hell. [ghe’-en-nah (the valley of Hinnom…

      Ge-Hinnom)…where they burned their children, the place of

      everlasting punishment…hell]

                  C.  The Tongue Is…

                                    1.  Set on Fire…By Hell. Psalm 5:9, Psalm 10:7, Psalm 50:19, Psalm 73:9, 

Psalm 78:36, Psalm 109:2, Proverbs 17:4, Proverbs 25:23, Isaiah 59:3,    Jeremiah 9:5, Micah 6:12, Psalm 5:9, Psalm 78:36-37, Proverbs 5:3, Proverbs 8:13, Matthew 15:8,  Jude 1:16 

III.      THE TONGUE…AND THE TAMING

James 3:7-8, All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

                    A.  Man Cannot Tame it. [to curb, restrain]  

                                    1.  No Human Can Do It…Because it is…

                                                      a.  Restless [unrestrainable, unruly]

                                                      b.  Evil [worthless, depraved, injurious, wicked]

                                                      c.  Full [filled with thoughts, replete]

                                                      d.  Deadly [bringing death, fatal]

                                                      e.  Poison [venom (as emitted by serpents), poison injuring others]

                  B.  Holy Spirit Can Tame it!

                                    1.  He Can! Psalm 141:3, Isaiah 49:2, Jeremiah 5:14, Isaiah 50:4

IV.       THE TONGUE…THE CHOOSING

James 3:9-12, With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

                   A.  Two Springs and Two Trees.

                                    1.  Fresh Water/Salt Water?

                                    2.  Fig Tree/Grapevine?

                  B.  Praising/Cursing?

                                    1.  Praise [to speak well of, bless, praise]

                                    2.  Curse [abhor, loathe, curse, doom]

                              ***Out of the Same Mouth***

                  C.  This…Should Not Be.

                                    1.  Conflicted. Psalm 62:4…They bless with their mouth, But they curse

      inwardly. Selah