Taming the tongue is like comparing it to a wild, untamed animal, an unruly, and ultimately unreliable beast. The tongue is irrepressible, restless, and full of poison. It is, therefore, critical to learn how to control and regulate it. It is essential to avoid using unloving words, or you may risk causing pain to others.
James addresses the problem of some early Christian teachers viewing themselves as wise and mature in their faith, and they wanted to be respected as teachers. Unfortunately, these teachers lacked the spiritual gift and lifestyle of a Christian teacher.
James is not suggesting that all Christians should avoid becoming teachers. Teachers have a valuable role in the church, and God empowers specific individuals to fulfill these roles. In this way, teachers can help make the Word of God understandable to other Christians. They do not reveal new truths from God, but they make what God has already revealed more accessible to their listeners. James’ warning against becoming a teacher explains why the Church should confirm a man’s ministry before he takes on the role.
A Caution Against Becoming Teachers
Teachers Shall Receive A Stricter Judgment
James 3:1 ESV “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”
Those who practiced piety tended to honor God with their lips but neglected the weightier things of life. They also worshiped rules taught by men. James seems to favor religion, but he makes it clear that it is not necessarily evil. James even points out that some of God’s people practiced rituals, which were not taught by the Lord himself.
The tongue is one of the world’s most dangerous things, and the unruly and unrestrained tongues of men throw everything into chaos. Examples of this can be found in every age and condition of life. Without the grace of God, no man can tame his tongue. James, however, does not imply that it is impossible but rather describes it as extremely difficult.
Maturity And Self-Control Required Not To Stumble
A Christian’s maturity in the Word and self-control are key components of living like Jesus. However, the definition of self-control in scripture is a little different than our understanding of it. True self-control comes from the Holy Spirit, not fear or punishment. It is no surprise that James wrote a “handbook for controlling the tongue.”
The Power of the Tongue
Your tongue has the power to kill, destroy, and inspire. A small member of your body, the tongue has enormous power. It comes from your heart and it can either be an instrument for good or a weapon for evil. Proverbs 16:27 and Matthew 12:34-35 speak about the power of the tongue. A spiritual tongue spreads healing rather than poison. Regardless of your age, you should never underestimate the power of your tongue.
The Bible has a lot to say about the power of our tongues and words. Many of its verses discuss the responsibility of our tongues and the consequences of their misuse. Let’s consider a few of those verses. What are the benefits of using your tongue? Discover the many positive effects of using your tongue correctly. Always, remember that your tongue is powerful! Use it wisely, and you’ll see the difference in your life! Whether we realize it or not, the power of our tongues lies in the fact that our tongues control everything in our lives.
Like A Bit That Controls The Horse
James 3:3 “If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.”
The term “bit” refers to something inserted into a horse’s mouth, usually a metal one. A bit is a foreign object, as a horse’s mouth is inherently inhospitable to the insertion of anything else into it. Because horses are born to reject anything placed in their mouths, the use of a bit runs counter to both the intended purpose of recreational riding and the welfare of the horse.
A bit works by exerting pressure on the horse’s mouth and tongue. The bit presses on these parts of the horse’s mouth, such as the bridge of the nose, under the chin, the corners of the mouth, the tongue, and the palate and poll. There are several types of bits, including rein-only and direct-rein-pressure bits. Rein-pressure bits apply pressure directly to the mouth while direct-rein-pressure bits apply leverage pressure to the horse’s lips.
Like A Small Rudder That Directs The Ship
James 3:4 “Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.”
Just as a rudder directs a ship’s course, the human tongue is a powerful tool. Although it is a small organ, it boasts immense effects. The force it exerts is in direct proportion to its size and acts as a moment about the ship’s center of gravity. This moment is sufficient to steer the ship in one direction and turn it in another.
Ships are large and are driven by strong winds. Instead of using an enormous rudder, a small rudder directs the ship in one direction. The rudders on the larger vessels are electrical, hydraulic, or steam-powered. These mechanisms are used to turn the rudder to direct the ship to the desired destination. A rudder is a key element of a ship’s navigation, as it is the mechanism that directs the vessel’s movement and direction.
The Danger of the Tongue
James 3:5-6 “5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And 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.
The Bible warns us that our tongue is as powerful as a fire. This little member, which boasts great things, can start a forest fire. In the world of iniquity, it can also be a tinderbox. This article will teach us to protect our tongues. But what is the danger of the tongue? How can we stop it from destroying our lives? First, let us understand what the tongue is.
A Little Member Which Boasts Great Things
A little member of the body boasts of great exploits, the tongue is no exception. It is the tongue that ignites a small fire and makes it grow into a great forest. A small flame can start a great forest if it spreads far and wide. A small flame can spread to a large area and even set an entire forest ablaze. Likewise, a tongue can be small but boast of great things.
What we say with our tongues often becomes our motto. We talk of great things we can do and accomplish with our tongues, but in reality, our words are not so powerful as our actions. A little fire can spread to a large forest, but it must be controlled.
The Tongue Can Be A Fire – A Little Fire That Kindles A Great Forest Fire
The tongue is a world of sin and evil in the human body. It begins a fire that burns through our whole body, corrupting every part of us. Hell begins its reign of terror on the tongue, igniting a fire that affects every aspect of life. The tongue has the power to destroy our entire body, consuming the course of creation with fuel from hell. That’s why we should never let the tongue run wild!
The tongue is like a small member of our body that is able to spread poison and set an entire forest ablaze. Just as a single cigarette can smolder and burn, so does the tongue. Ultimately, the tongue can burn down a whole forest, and even human life. In fact, James sees the tongue as an instrument of great power. The tongue is an important part of the body, and when it speaks, it projects what’s inside of us.
A World of Iniquity
The tongue is an evil instrument. It contains deadly poison. It is restless and unstable and chafes at confinement. It seeks ways to escape. The tongue carries venom more lethal than snake venom. It is slow to act, but the result is death. Here are some warnings from Shakespeare about the danger of the tongue. Here is a summary:
The tongue has immense destructive power. It can set the whole forest on fire. Like fire, the tongue can ruin everything it touches. It has the potential to defile the whole body and turn it into a blazing hell. Hence, it must be used wisely. If you want to avoid the dangers of the tongue, keep the following tips in mind. Just make sure you never use it for malicious purposes.
The tongue can destroy your life and ruin others. James describes it as a “giant ship” that can steer us toward evil or good. Its untamed tongue represents the sinful world. James does not name specific areas where this is a problem, but rather, describes it as a “world of iniquity” that permeates all members of the body.
The Difficulty of Taming the Tongue
James 3:7-12 “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. 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,[a] these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and saltwater? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
Man Can Control All Creatures But Not The Tongue
James talks about the tongue’s power to destroy and destroying others. It can steer the giant ship toward good or evil. A man can tame every other creature, including the animals and birds in his kingdom, but the tongue is beyond our control.
The tongue is a vehicle of sinful man’s ungodliness. Like fire, it carries the intention to destroy. Its inherent vileness is a sign of its potential to destroy. But the tongue is also a tool of the flesh. Its power is vast – it can destroy everything around it, including our own bodies. James explains that we cannot tame the tongue. The tongue is the one area of the body that we can’t control.
In one verse, James compares the tongue is a tool of the devil. Its purpose is to pollute, divide, undercut, accuse, and deceive. In addition, he uses the tongue to spread lies. All these goals are the same for both. Consequently, we should try to control the tongue and avoid the temptation to deceive others.
It Is An Unruly Evil Full of Deadly Poison
Scripture has long warned us against using our tongues as weapons. The Bible equates the tongue with the venom of snakes, and St. James compares it to the tongues of slanderers, calumniators, backbiters, whisperers, and tale-bearers. While we cannot control our tongues, we can control our reactions to others. A tongue that is ready to inject poison can wreak havoc on our relationships.
The word ‘unruly’ comes from the Greek word akatastatos, which means “restless.” Just like a snake’s venom, the tongue is restless and unstable, always poised to strike. This makes it easy to provoke its behavior. In ancient mythology, the tongue is portrayed as an instrument of death and poison, always prepared to inject venom.
A bad tongue is an unruly evil thing that destroys life. It slanders, maligns, and judges people. It also corrupts the soul. So, it is vital to control our tongues if we desire to stay on the right path. The Bible also tells us that our tongues are like unruly snakes that can wreak havoc on the lives of others.
With It We Bless God And Then Curse Man
“With the tongue, we bless God and curse man” is a well-known biblical quote. The tongue is a powerful instrument. It can bless God and curse man, created in God’s image and likeness. However, this dual use of the tongue is wrong. Neither is acceptable. We must resist the temptation to use our tongue to curse others. If we wish to honor God, we must make sure that our tongues are in line with his will.
“With the tongue, we bless God and curse man” is an example of how the tongue can be a powerful weapon for worship. We can bless God and curse man with the same word, or by using different words for different purposes. The tongue is a tool that gives us the freedom to say what we feel is right. The tongue is also a powerful weapon in the hands of the Lord. If we use it right, we can make a difference in the lives of others.
Thoughts To Ponder
The victory entry of Jesus to Jerusalem on the day of Palm Sunday is one of the key events of his earthly ministry. It is a reminder that Jesus’ coming is not a victory for the Romans, but a victory for the people of Israel. The people of Jerusalem welcomed him with the gesture of royalty and placed leafy branches and cloaks on the road to welcome him. As a king, this gesture was worthy of the highest honor. The crowd is shouting “Hosanna” and laying down their palms. But guess what happened after 5 days, same crowd shouted “crucify Him.”
The Bible says “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing” James 3:10
How Do You Tame Your Tongue?
Matthew 15:11 “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
Psalm 37:30 “The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
How do you tame your tongue, you ask? By knowing when to speak and when not to speak, you can learn to control your tongue and avoid speaking out of turn. Taming your tongue also involves accepting responsibility for your words. People make mistakes, so it is OK to ask forgiveness for your words and make a commitment to speak more lovingly. It takes the Holy Spirit to help you learn to control your tongue.
A wise man sees a gentle tongue as giving life, whereas an evil one breaks a person’s spirit and resistance to a perversion. Your tongue and words are both important and personal. Whether they are profane or grace-filled depends on your choice. A wise tongue commends knowledge, while a foolish mouth pours out folly. Learn to control your tongue and be the voice of wisdom.
First, think about what you are saying. Are you hurting someone’s feelings without meaning to? If so, make sure you consider the impact of your words. Remember, you’re more likely to offend someone when you’re in a stressful situation. Try to think about why you are saying something, and then choose a more appropriate word. It will make a big impact on your relationships. You can also start by asking yourself how you intend to make a particular statement.
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