James 3:1-12 Taming the Tongue

WATCHING WHAT WE SAY

In our last Bible study we talked about the new life in Christ. Along with that we talked about the old self and the new self, the Old Adam that we struggle with and the new Adam that lives in Christ Jesus each day. Living in Christ each day, there are things that go on that challenge us as Christians. This week, we are going to spend a little time in the epistle of James. I would encourage you to have your app open or your Bible handy. Today we are going to James 3:1-12. James talks about how we talk as Christians. Let’s jump in and see what he has to say to us.

James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with great strictness. 2. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 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. 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. 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, these things should not 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.

I printed out the text for you in case you are at your desk or someplace where you don’t have the Bible handy. This was we can refer back to it regularly. I also will try to be shorter this time!

1.      The opening verse talks about teaching the people. Yes, it should be said that our teachers should be careful that they do not teach anything false. It is deadly for the souls of the people. Why is it deadly for the souls of those who head false teaching? Why would James include this in this section on taming the tongue?

2.      We saw last time that it is true that we, as Christians, stumble in many ways. Temptations do come from all directions. We are both saint and sinner at the same time. Here, James is trying to help us focus on one area – how we talk. What does he say about the one who is able to control his tongue? Who is the only One that is able to do that?

3.      What are some of the examples that James uses of small things controlling big things? How does he relate that to how a person talks?

4.      What are some areas in which you find it hard to control your tongue? (These do not need to be posted online as they are personal.)

5.      How does James describe the tongue in verse 6? Do you agree with his assessment? How would you describe the work of the tongue?

6.      James talks about the tongue being “a restless evil.” What do you think about that? What would you say in response (either for or against what he says)?

7.      The tongue is full of “deadly poison.” What does James mean here?

8.      What is James talking about in vs. 10? How do you feel about what he writes?

9.      When it comes to how you talk, what is the area that you have the most challenge? Is it at work, play, with friends? Do you find yourself gossiping about others? Why do you think that you do that?

1A. If the religious teacher is giving false doctrine, false teachings, he would be pointing the person to the wrong place. For example: to say that a person is saved by what he does, would point the person back to himself. It would take his eyes off the cross of Christ, taking the Gospel and making it not a gift but something the person earns. Paul talks about this in Galatians 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. The reason? It has an eternal consequence for the hearer. Anything but the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ leads a person to their damnation.

James includes this here because the teacher needs to watch what he says. Don’t let the tongue get carried away when teaching.

2A. He is a perfect man. There was only one perfect man, Jesus Christ, and He did control His tongue. He spoke the will of the Father, not His own will. He did not lie or tell false teachings to anyone. In Luke 4:32 we read, and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. Jesus taught like no one else.

3A. He uses the example of the bit in the horse’s mouth, the rudder guiding the ship and a spark that sets a forest on fire. It is amazing how such a small thing can have such an effect on something so large. James points out how the tongue can do the same thing. In fact, it does do that same thing. We might say, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” But that isn’t the truth. Words, that which comes from the “tongue,” is more hurtful and has a longer lasting effect on a person.

4A. Here, I have no answers. That is for you to figure out yourself.

5A. “Setting on fire, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.” These are mighty hard words. Think about times when you were hurt by what was said or when you hurt someone else by what you said. Or think about the problems in an office that are started because of someone’s tongue (gossip).

6A. Once again, I would encourage you to answer this for yourself. You can post what you think in the responses if you feel comfortable.

7A. Like poison, the tongue is able to cause a lot of harm. It only takes a little poison to cause problems in a person’s life, perhaps even to take a person’s life. It only takes a few words to cause a person harm. It only takes a little bit of innuendo to destroy a person’s reputation. 

8A. James is writing to the Christian, the person who believes in Jesus as his/her Savior. He is talking about how a person can at one moment praise the Lord and the next moment talk poorly about someone, gossiping or hurting his/her reputation. This is where non-Christians tend to have problems with Christians. They see the Christian praying or praising God, but then they also hear them cussing, gossiping or saying off-color, nasty things. Blessings and curses from the same mouth. Can salt water flow from a fresh water spring? Can grapes produce figs? Why then do we think that it is all right for us to do both blessings and curses from the same mouth? That is the point James is getting at here.

9A. This is really up to you. You can post your answer or keep it private. 

COLOSSIANS 3:1-17 Bible Study.

 I begin our study with this section of Scripture because it talks about living the life of the Christian. I am approaching this section as one who has been reborn in Christ Jesus through the waters of Baptism which means that my old sinful self has been put to death and a new self has been given life through Christ Jesus. I will print out each of the verses that we are going to study, just in case you do not have access to a Bible while you are going through this study. I would encourage you to open your app or get out your personal Bible. I will not address everything in each section and my thoughts will be listed at the end of the study so that you will have a chance to think it through yourself. . If you have a question about something I do not address, please ask it.

COLOSSIANS 3:1-17

Colossians 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3. For you have died, and your life is hidden in Christ in God. 4. When Christ appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

1.      Who do you think Paul is addressing when he starts this section of the letter?

2.      When is a person “raised with Christ”?

3.      What are you to be “seeking”? What does it mean “things above”?

4.      When did you die?

Colossians 3:5 Put to death therefore what is early in you; sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander and obscene talk from your mouth.

5.      When you look at this section, what jumps out at you?

6.      How is a person supposed to overcome these things?

7.      Why does Paul say, “On account of these the wrath of God is coming?”

Colossian3:9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10. and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11. Here there is not Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

8.      What is meant to guide our lives in how we act? Is it following the Law (with the commands)? Or the Gospel?

9.      What does Paul mean when he says there is neither Greek and Jew.”

Colossians 3:12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13. bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

10.  What are we to put on? How is this possible for us to do?

11.  Why do you forgive? Simple question but challenging.

12.  Love – what love do we have? When you think about love in vs. 14, what are you thinking? What does it mean for you in your life?

13.  “Be thankful.” What are you thankful for in your life? What is Paul talking about when he writes this little sentence? How can you apply that into your life?

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

14.  Paul is bringing this section to a “close.” What does he encourage you to have in your heart? He says to let it dwell “richly” in your heart. How can you do that?

15.  We are to admonish one another. With Paul, the focus is to do all things in the love of Christ. How can you help out your fellow man “in all wisdom”?

16.  Singing. Paul tells us to sing. What do you sing? Where do you do this? What are some of your favorite hymns or spiritual songs that you like to sing?

17.  Whatever you do, as you live each day, how does he encourage you to live? This can be difficult. Who helps you? How can you encourage one another to live in this way?

Pastor Schuessler’s thoughts and insights into this passage of Scripture.

1A. As I read this, I see that Paul is talking to those who are Christians, those who believe in Jesus as their Savior.

2A. Look back at Colossians 2:12. “…you have been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith.” Paul continues to point the Christian to his/her Baptism as the point in which he/she comes to a new life in Christ. The “old self” is the sinful nature that we are born with and the “new self” is the person we are in faith through Jesus Christ. We may explore this more in another study.

3A. The Christian lives through Christ Jesus. It is only in Christ that one is able to try to live in the way that is different from the sinful world around him/her. It is a challenge. When the person lives for himself/herself, he/she often does not think about Christ or living in Christ. This is what Paul means when he writes verse 2.

4A. Paul once again is pointing you to your Baptism. He is wanting the Christian to focus not on his/her former life but on the new life in Christ, which was given in the waters of Baptism and also in the Word of God. Another topic for a Bible study might on Baptism and the way that the Holy Spirit works faith.

6A. You can’t, not on your own. It is only Christ in you that gives you the strength and guidance to overcome such sinful actions. Why are they sinful? Not because someone decided to say they were but because God decided that they were. These actions do nothing to build up the individual or another person. Actually, the end up tearing apart a person or a relationship.

7A. Actually, it is not just these actions that bring the wrath of God. They are that which shows the deeper problem that people have. That problem is sin and not sinful actions. Yes, these actions show the problem. This brings us back to original sin, sin that people are born with because of the sin of Adam and Eve. It is not the sinful actions that condemn a person. It is the sin in the person. Christ Jesus came to pay the price of that sin. His death on the cross was because He took upon Himself the sin of mankind. 2 Corinthians 5:20 For our sake he (God) made him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Jesus took our sin to the cross, paid the price of that sin and through faith, He has given us His righteousness. So it isn’t because of a specific “type” of sin that the wrath of God is coming but because of sin in general.

8A. Here the challenge becomes to separate Law and Gospel. The Law focuses on us while the Gospel focuses on Christ. Here Paul seems to be focusing us on ourselves, as we begin in verse 9, but as we read the entire sentence, we see that which guides us in our new life in Christ, the new self. Life is not lived trying to be a better person. We are already that good person in Christ Jesus. Our lives are lived following the Gospel of Christ, reflecting the love of Christ, moving us toward that sanctified (holy) life. So here, the Law serves as the handmaid to the Gospel, showing us how to live in order to move us toward that sanctified life in Christ.

9A. Paul is not saying that the separate nationalities cease to exist here on earth. No, before Christ, in Christ, and through Christ, we are all one in Him. One is not better than another, nor does one have a better standing before God. Each is precious and on the same footing. Salvation is given in the very same way – through faith in Christ.

10A. We are called to reflect Christ in our actions. Notice that this follows the section talking about being new in Christ. As new people, made new not by what we do but by what Christ does for us, we now live our lives according to the Gospel. The Holy Spirit makes these actions and attributes a part of our lives to the end, that He is making us holy. We live each day trying to reflect the light of Christ to those around us. We do that by living as He lived, following His example, knowing that we have already been made holy by grace through faith.

11A. We forgive because we are forgiven. We do not make this a new law to follow (You Must forgive!) for then we will have destroyed the Gospel. We are forgiven in Christ. He makes us new people in that forgiveness. We reflect that new self/life as we then forgive others even as we have been forgiven.

12A. This is the love that is found first in Jesus. The apostle John writes, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7) The love that we share is the love we are given. Thankfully it is not our love because if it was, then it would be corrupted, selfish and self-centered. The love we are to share is the love that we are given when we are made new in Christ. Once again, taking us back to the new self that we receive when we are brought to faith, the new self we are to live in each day.

13A. “Be thankful.” That is a difficult thing for us to do especially when things are not going like we planned. “How can I be thankful when…” What Paul is pointing us to is that which is found in our Lord Jesus Christ. We have that love given to us by Christ, shown in His death and resurrection. We have the promise of His presence given in our Baptism. The Lord tells us that in Christ, we overcome sin, death and the devil. Even death cannot overcome us when we are in Christ. There is much to be thankful for. I could go deeper into this topic but that might be best left for another study.

14A. Paul encourages you and me to have the love of Christ in our hearts. This is difficult because we often let our own “love” or lack of love fill our hearts. Our faith in Christ is meant to rule our lives, to guide how we treat others. Living in Christ’s love, we are given the guidance and strength to love others.

15A. We look at “admonishing” as berating or tearing down others. That is not what Paul means. We all struggle with sinful actions, words and desires. Paul is encouraging us to help one another through this sinful times, not to hurt or tear apart the other person, but to build them up. We let the wisdom of Christ guide us. That wisdom is given to us through the Word and the guidance of the Spirit. Before you speak or admonish another, it is always good to pray that the Holy Spirit will give you wisdom and will guide your thoughts and your lips to help the other person and not to hurt them.

16A. This is entirely up to you. Each of us have some favorite hymns and songs. Those are meant to build up our walk of faith. Singing, you might not be good at it, but let it fill your heart and your life in a special way. I have my favorite hymns and songs but I won’t put them out there. Think of your own.

17A. Living each day with Christ in your heart is the focus. Whatever you do, in word or deed, encompasses our entire life. Letting Christ guide your words is always important. Your deeds need to reflect the love of Christ too. That includes work, home, play, alone time, group time, etc. Whatever you do. This is where we turn back to that understanding that we are made new in Christ. We don’t let the old man rule our words or deeds but it is Christ who rules us. He guides us. He leads us with His love. And we reflect that love in our daily lives.

Prelude to March 6 Bible Study

Here begins our online Bible study. I would invite you to pick up your Bible or to open your Bible app in order to join in this study. I use the YouVersion Bible app. It gives you good versatility as well as a variety of translations.

As we do these Bible studies, I will be using the English Standard Version of the Bible. Why? I have several reasons. It is the version used widely in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. We use it for our readings each week in church. It is also the version in the Lutheran Study Bible, which is the standard Bible that I use. I also find that it has corrected some of the problems that developed in the later editions of the New International Version.

As a reminder: You are welcome to post your comments and/or questions. I will do my best to answer any questions that you have. Please try to keep them on the topic that we discussing at the time. If I find that your question is one that needs further study, it may well show up as the topic of another of our Bible studies.

I will not allow personal attacks. If you disagree with something I said, you may state that. If you disagree with a comment that someone makes, you may state that. But do not attack the person or say derogatory things about them or their comment. Also, please do not let your political thoughts come through in this Bible study. I do not want to hear if you agree or disagree with the current administration, if you think that a certain law should be overturned or anything in that vein. If I deem a comment inappropriate, I will remove it.

I don't want to come off sounding harsh, but I do want this to be an open forum/Bible study where people feel safe to make their comments or ask their questions. I will also be coming from the POV of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. I do not apologize for that nor will I change the doctrine of the church to fit a personal feeling or desire. I am a Lutheran pastor and will remain a Lutheran pastor.

OK. I think that covers the bases. I am working on the Bible study that will be posted on March 6. The topic is Living in the New Self, based on Colossians 3:1-17. I would encourage you spend a little time reading through this section in prayerful meditation.

See you Monday.