Control Of The
Tongue
Js. 3:1-12
1
2
•I. Caution to
teachers, v 1
3
3:1
• [1] My brethren, be not many
masters, knowing that we shall
receive the greater
condemnation.
“Be not many of you teachers”
4
(ASV) -3:1
• James is not discouraging
brethren from teaching – but he
warns about the great
responsibility the teacher has
• Greater condemnation = teachers
will come under strict judgment
for what they teach
5
•II. Control of the
tongue, vs. 2-6
“In many things we offend all”
- 3:2
6
• [2] For in many things we offend
all. If any man offend not in word,
the same is a perfect man, and
able also to bridle the whole
body.
7
• The man who does not offend or
stumble in his words is a
spiritually mature man
An illustration
3:3-4
• [3] Behold, we put bits in the horses'
mouths, that they may obey us; and
we turn about their whole body.
[4] Behold also the ships, which
though they be so great, and are
driven of fierce winds, yet are they
turned about with a very small helm,
whithersoever the governor listeth.
8
9
• We can control large horses or
large ships with very small
objects
• In like manner we can control our
bodies if we can control our
tongues
The Application – 3:5-6
10
• [5] Even so the tongue is a little member,
and boasteth great things. Behold, how
great a matter a little fire kindleth!
[6] And the tongue is a fire, a world of
iniquity: so is the tongue among our
members, that it defileth the whole body,
and setteth on fire the course of nature;
and it is set on fire of hell.
11
• “setteth on fire the wheel of
nature, and is set on fire by hell.”
(ASV)
• The “wheel of nature” is a
figurative description of human
life
12
• “Is set on fire by hell” (ASV) –
“…the fire which (figuratively)
issues from our tongues when
improperly used originates in
hell, and will lead us there if we
do not learn to extinguish it.” (Guy
N. Woods)
13
•III. Continual taming
of the tongue is
required, vs. 7-12
14
3:7-8
• [7] For every kind of beasts, and
of birds, and of serpents, and of
things in the sea, is tamed, and
hath been tamed of mankind:
[8] But the tongue can no man
tame; it is an unruly evil, full of
deadly poison.
15
THE PROBLEM --- 3:7-8
• “The tongue can no man tame”
--- Man can tame animals of all
types but not the tongue
• NO MAN CAN ONCE FOR ALL
CONTROL THE TONGUE
16
• He does not mean we cannot
control the tongue --- he means
that we cannot so tame it that we
never have to worry about it
again
• Concerning the tongue --- we
must constantly be on guard!
“These things ought not so to
be” ----- 3:9-12
17
• [9] Therewith bless we God, even the
Father; and therewith curse we men,
which are made after the similitude
of God.
[10] Out of the same mouth
proceedeth blessing and cursing. My
brethren, these things ought not so
to be.
18
• James writes “that it is both
wrong and unnatural for both
blessings and cursing's to
proceed out of the same mouth”
19
• [11] Doth a fountain send forth at
the same place sweet water and
bitter?
[12] Can the fig tree, my brethren,
bear olive berries? either a vine, figs?
so can no fountain both yield salt
water and fresh.
The tongue can be beautifully
good!
• Our confession with the tongue
expresses the faith of the heart
(Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Tim. 6:12)
• Our preaching/teaching of the
gospel --- here the tongue is
essential (1 Cor. 1:21; Rom.
10:13-17)
20
21
• Our singing praises to God (Eph.
5:18-19; Js. :13)
• Our praying to the Almighty
(Rom. 10:1)
22
• Our comforting those in sorrow
and bereavement (1 Th. 4:18)
• Elders comforting the church (1
Th. 5:14)
The tongue can be maliciously
evil!
23
• Profanity and swearing (Eph.
4:29; Mt. 5:33-37)
• Lying and false witness (Prov.
6:16-19; Col. 3:8-9)
• Shameful speaking (Col. 3:8; Eph.
5:11-12)
24
• Jesting (lewd stories – things not
befitting a Christian) and foolish
talking (Eph. 5:3-4)
• Slander and back-biting (Ps. 15:13; Js. 4:11-12)
25
• Judging others (Mt. 7:1-5; Js.
4:11-12)
• Murmuring and complaining (1
Cor. 10:10)
26
Euphemisms
• “Euphemisms also often take the
place of profanity.” Dictionary.com
Euphemisms often used as slang
or by-words
• Golly – a euphemistic substitute
for God (Webster)
• Gosh – A softened form of God; a
mild oath (Webster)
27
28
• Gee = euphemism for Jesus
• Gee whiz = a mild oath in which
Jesus and something unusual or
extraordinary are joined together
29
• Heavens, My heavens, for
heaven’s sake, good heaven's =
here the heavens are called to
witness to the truth of the
statement made – the problem is
that the phrases are often used
as by-words, as slang
30
• Darn
• Dang
• “A tame curse word”
• Means “damn”
31
Mt. 5:34
• But I say unto you, Swear not at
all; neither by heaven; for it is
God's throne:
32
Conclusion
• Use your tongue for the glory of
God and the blessing of your
neighbors, family and friends – if
you can control your tongue for
good use, you can control your
whole being!