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.