The Christian and the Tongue
By Pastor CG
1. The Mark Of Perfection.
(James 1:26; 3:1-12; Proverbs 12:18; 13:3; 15:4; 18:8, 21; Luke 6:45; 1 Peter 3:10; Romans 3:13)
James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
A careful follower of his belief. This is a religious person. Religion is translated Religion and Worshipping.
But to cheat; outwit; to be deceived. Means one that is deceived in his own heart. Vain is Translated vain and vanity.
Pure and undefiled religion is twofold:
1. To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction (James 1:27)
2. Keep self unspotted from the world. True religion consists of universal benevolence and purity of heart and life (Matthew 5:16,44; 2 Cor. 9:8; Col. 1:10; 1 Tim. 1:5; Titus 2:7,14; Titus 3:1,8; Hebrews 12:14; James 1:27; James 3:13,17; 1 Peter 2:12; 1 John 3:17)
Proverbs 12:18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
Proverbs 13:3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
Proverbs 15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
a [A wholesome tongue] A gentle tongue speaks truth and life, but a piercing tongue kills the soul.
b[tree of life]
The Tree of Lives
Tree of lives, because it produces constant and eternal life (Proverbs 15:4; Proverbs 3:18; Proverbs 11:30; Proverbs 13:12; Genesis 2:9; Genesis 3:24; Rev. 2:7; Rev. 22:2,14). In these passages a literal tree of life is meant.
Sixteen Sources of Life:
1.The tree of life (see above)
2.The path of life (Psalm 16:11; Proverbs 5:6)
3.The fountain of life (Psalm 36:9; Proverbs 13:14; Proverbs 14:27; Rev. 7:17)
4.The well of life (Proverbs 10:11; John 4:14)
5.The way of life (Proverbs 10:17; Proverbs 15:24)
6.The wellspring of life (Proverbs 16:22)
7.The bread of life (John 6:35)
8.The ways of life (Acts 2:28)
9.The Prince of Life (Acts 3:15)
10.The Spirit of life (Romans 8:2; Rev. 11)
11.The savor of life (2 Cor. 2:16)
12.The Word of life (Phil. 2:16; 1 John 1)
13.The promise of life (2 Tim. 1:1)
14.The hope of life (Titus 3:7)
15.The grace of life (1 Peter 3:7)
16.The water of life (Rev. 22:1; Rev. 22:17)
Four Figurative Trees of Life:
1.Wisdom and understanding (Proverbs 3:18)
2.Fruit of the righteous (Proverbs 11:30)
3.Hope and desire fulfilled (Proverbs 13:12)
4.A wholesome tongue (Proverbs 15:4)
Proverbs 18:8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
The words of a slanderer are like poison in dainty morsels that are quickly swallowed but cause destruction to the receiver (Proverbs 26:22)
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Death and life are greatly determined by the power of the tongue, and he who uses this power rightly shall live because of it (1 Peter 3:10-11). Five examples of death by the tongue:
1. The ten spies (Numbers 14:36-37)
2. Doeg (1 Samuel 22:9-10)
3. Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:28-35; 2 Kings 19:22-35)
4. The Ammonites (Ezekiel 25:3-7)
5. Annanias and Sapphira (Acts 5:5-10)
Three examples of life by the tongue:
1. Esther (Esther 7-8)
2. Paul (Acts 16:28-34)
3. Believers (Romans 10:9-10; 1 Peter 3:10)
Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
1 Peter 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
Romans 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
By malicious and cutting words they kill and bury the reputation of people. As a tomb is opened and the stench of putrefaction is unbearable, so their throats spue forth poison (Romans 3:13-14).
James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
Master can be translated "doctor" in Luke 2:46 and "teacher" in John 3:2.
Always "teacher" in the epistles, except in James 3:1.
James 3:2 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.
We all stumble or trip over many things.
2. The Nature of the Tongue
James 3:3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
a [bits in the horses’ mouths] Small things that are powerful:
1. Bits that guide horses (James 3:3)
2. Helms that guide great ships (James 3:4)
3. Little fires that kindle great ones
4. Tongues that boast great things (James 3:5-8)
James 3:4 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.
James 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
James 3:6 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.
a. [course of nature] The circle of human life is continually excited by the tongue unless it is kept sanctified. Evil surmisings, misrepresentations, falsehoods, jealousies, envyings, wrath, and malice, all form part of the destroying flames of fire from the tongue of the ungodly.
b [hell] The whole course of life is set on fire of hell. This refers to the anger and violent passions of wrath related to the vile language of the tongue. It also pictures the confusion and misery caused by the tongue—like the misery of hell.
3. The Tongue Uncontrollable.
James 3:7 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:
James 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
A [But the tongue can no man tame] All species of beasts have been tamed by man, but the tongue cannot be tamed by any cunning, persuasion, or influence of man. Salvation alone can help a man control the tongue (2 Cor. 5:17-18).
B [tongue can no man tame]
1. A little member (James 3:5)
2. Boasts great things (James 3:5)
3. Is a fire (James 3:6)
4. A world of iniquity (James 3:6)
5. It defiles the whole body (James 3:6)
6. Sets on fire the course of nature (James 3:6)
7. It is untameable (James 3:7-8)
8. An unruly evil (James 3:8)
9. Full of deadly poison (James 3:8)
10. Used to bless God and curse men (James 3:9)
11. Capable of good conversation (James 3:13)
12. Capable of bitter strife (James 3:14)
C. [poison]
Fifteen Kinds of Tongues
1. Viper’s tongues (Job 20:16)
2. Flattering tongue (Psalm 5:9)
3. Proud tongue (Psalm 12:3)
4. Lying tongue (Psalm 109:2; Proverbs 6:17)
5. Deceitful tongue (Psalm 120:2)
6. False tongue (Psalm 120:3)
7. Froward tongue (Proverbs 10:31)
8. Wholesome tongue (Proverbs 10:31)
9. Healthy tongue (Proverbs 12:18)
10. Naughty tongue (Proverbs 17:4)
11. Perverse tongue (Proverbs 17:20)
12. Soft tongue (Proverbs 25:15)
13. Stammering tongue (Isaiah 28:11; Isaiah 33:19)
14. Backbiting tongue (Proverbs 25:23)
15. Poison tongue (James 3:8)
4. Ungodly Use Of The Tongue.
James 3:9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
a.[similitude] making like; image. Only here, but in the Septuagint in Genesis 1:26; Ezekiel 1:10; Daniel 10:16; etc. This refers to outward or physical image.
James 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
James 3:11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
Nothing has been found in nature that can compare to the double use of the tongue—to the blessing and cursing out of the same mouth.
Four Comparisons (James 3:11-12):
1. A fountain cannot produce sweet and bitter water at the same time
2. A fig tree cannot produce olives
3. A vine cannot produce figs
4. The ocean cannot produce sweet water
James 3:12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
5. Christians Can Control The Tongue.
(Gal 5:22-23; 1 Peter 3:10)
James 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
a[wise man] One who can bridle his own tongue and is qualified to teach others.
b[conversation] Greek: anastrophe (GSN-391), conduct; behavior. See pt. 2, Six Things in Which to Be an Example.
c[with meekness of wisdom] True wisdom is always accompanied with meekness and gentleness. Scholars are sometimes proud, overbearing, and disdainful. Such men have education, but not true wisdom.
6. Nine Marks Of Human Wisdom.
James 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
a[But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts] If you have this condition of heart, you don’t have true wisdom. Even if you defend religion, you are false in your profession and lie against the truth.
b[bitter envying and strife in your hearts] Eight characteristics of false wisdom:
1.Bitter envying (James 3:14,16). Greek: zelos (GSN-2205) (See pt. 9, Seventeen Works of the Flesh)
2.Strife in the heart (James 3:14,16)
3.Glory in profession (James 3:14)
4.Earthly, having this life only in view (James 3:15)
5.Sensual, living only to satisfy the animal appetites (James 3:15)
6.Devilish, inspired by demons (James 3:15)
7.Confusion (James 3:16)
8.Every evil work (James 3:16)
James 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
7. Nine Marks Of Divine Wisdom.
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
a [wisdom that is from above is first pure] Eight characteristics of divine wisdom:
1. Pure—chaste, holy and clean
2. Peaceable (Hebrews 12:14)
3. Gentle—meek, modest, and kind
4. Easily entreated—not stubborn or obstinate, but yielding to others
5. Full of mercy—always forgiving and performing acts of kindness
6. Full of good fruits (Galatians 5:22-23)
7. Without partiality—having no respect of persons (James 2:1-10)
8. Without hypocrisy—open, honest, genuine, and true
James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Peacemakers are continually recommending this divine wisdom to others.
