Taming the Tongue – Part 2 “Real Life” [James] Series [16] James 3:5b-12

JAMES’ WARNING AGAINST THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE TONGUE PROBLEM A threefold key to understanding this passage [3:1-12]: We ought to...  Face our own “denial” with the tongue problem.  Face what’s really broken in us concerning the tongue problem.  Be patiently attentive to James’ warnings.

JAMES’ WARNING AGAINST THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE TONGUE PROBLEM [RECAP] Three things we must realize first before taming the tongue [3:1-5a]:  We will be judged by every word we speak—therefore, don’t take what you say LIGHTLY; not many of you should become a teacher! (v.1)  We all stumble in many ways with our tongues—therefore, don’t stay in your DENIAL; you have a serious tongue problem! (v.2)  The tongue has the power to control us to a great extent— therefore, don’t underestimate the CONTROLLING power of the tongue; give your full attention to your tongue! (vs.3-5a)

JAMES’ WARNING AGAINST THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE TONGUE PROBLEM Continuing on James’ warning in today’s text (3:5b-12), our focus question is: “Why is the tongue problem so serious?”

WHY IS THE TONGUE PROBLEM SO SERIOUS? 1) The tongue has an extremely destructive power. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. (vs.5b-6)  The tongue is a fire! Like the enormous destruction caused by a small fire, its damage can spread so fast, affecting all.  The tongue is a world of unrighteousness. The tongue itself contains a whole fallen world of unrighteous sins.  Its fire is by hell [gehenna]—the ultimate place of condemnation, i.e., fueled by the power of Satan.  Hence, we must realize the seriousness of the tongue’s destructive power.

The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. Proverbs 10:8 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Proverbs 29:20 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Proverbs 12:19

Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. Proverbs 18:12 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool. Proverbs 10:18 They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s, and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah Psalm 140:3 With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered. Proverbs 11:9

13 "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." 14 "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." Romans 3:13-14

WHY IS THE TONGUE PROBLEM SO SERIOUS? 2)The tongue can NOT be tamed by the human will power. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (vs.7-8)  The human wisdom and will power conquered to tame all kinds of beast and animals but not the tongue.  If the tongue—and its destructive power—cannot be tamed by the human will power, think about the terrifying ramifications of untamed tongues!  Its ramification is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  Hence, we must realize our helplessness in taming the tongue, turning to the power of the Spirit in obedience.

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. Proverbs 10:19

WHY IS THE TONGUE PROBLEM SO SERIOUS? 3)The tongue has a duplicity problem deeply rooted in its source—the heart. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. (vs.9-12)  The tongue is duplicitous with blessing God and cursing men who are made in His own image.  The tongue’s inconsistency is rooted in the heart—its source.  Hence, the ultimate solution is at the heart-level not merely on the tongue-level.

The Peril of Being “Talkative” FAITHFUL: Do you know him then? CHRISTIAN: Know him? Yes, better than he knows himself. FAITHFUL: Pray what is he? CHRISTIAN: His name is Talkative; he dwelleth in our town. I wonder that you should be a stranger to him, only I consider that our town is large...notwithstanding his fine tongue, he is but a sorry fellow....This man is for any company, and for any talk; as he talketh now with you so will he talk when he is on the ale-bench; and the more drink he hath in his crown, the more of these things he hath in his mouth. Religion hath no place in his heart, or house, or conversation; all he hath lieth in his tongue, and his religion is to make a noise therewith.

The Peril of Being “Talkative” FAITHFUL: Say you so? Then am I in this man greatly deceived. CHRISTIAN: Deceived! you may be sure of it. Remember the proverb, "They say, and do not" (Matt. 23:3). But the "kingdom of God is not in word, but in power" (1 Cor. 4:20). He talketh of prayer, of repentance, of faith, and of the new birth; but he knows but only to talk of them. I have been in his family, and have observed him both at home and abroad; and I know what I say of him is the truth. His House is as empty of religion as the white of an egg is of savor. There is neither prayer, nor sign of repentance for sin; yea, the brute, in his kind, serves God far better than he. He is the very stain, reproach, and shame of religion to all that know him;… Thus say the common people that know him, "a saint abroad, and a devil at home." - John Bunyan [Pilgrim’s Progress]

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.Take James’ warning seriously by BEING VIGILANT AGAINST the destructive power of your tongue.  Turn away from any careless ways of sinning with your tongue.  Train yourself to restrain your tongue daily. 2.Pursue THE HEART TRANSFORMATION to tame the tongue by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Don’t fix your tongue problem on the outside—start from inside, seeking real transformation of the heart.  Tame your tongue not by your will power but the power of the Holy Spirit.