The Book Of James Pt. 30 An Unruly Tongue Is A Hellish Instrument.

James 3:1-2 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 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 previously studied these two verses. James is cautioning new believers in Christ against becoming a teacher too soon, for spiritual growth and maturity is needed. 

Then, he reached back to the idea of being slow to speak, so that we do not blurt out words and thoughts without having our mind engaged first. 

A well grounded, mature believer who has works accompanying his faith, is one well qualified to teach other Christians. 

Then, the apostle mentions that this man can bridle to the whole body. This is the idea of guiding his conduct according to scripture, or using the scriptures to check or restrain himself from doing evil.

Further, a man that offends not in word will not only prove himself a sincere Christian, but a very much advanced Christian. For the wisdom and grace which enable him to rule his tongue, will enable him also to rule all his actions.

James is going to illustrate this idea by referencing a horse's bit, and a ship's rudder, with reference to having our speech regulated. 

A small bit governs a horse's direction.

James 3:3  Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 

A rider uses slight pressure on the bit to cause a horse to turn, or change directions. Though the bit is a small piece of equipment when compared to the body mass of a horse, it governs the horse's direction for the rider. 

A small rudder changes a large ship's direction.

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. 

This is a model of a Roman merchant ship and you can see how small the rudder or "helm" is, compared to the rest of the boat. 

James is giving illustrations about a small horse bit or a small rudder effectively turning a much larger horse or ship in a different direction. 

A horse is very strong and can easily overpower a human, but they can be guided by a small bit, making them productive and useful in a variety of ways. 

For example, we live near a large concentration of Amish. Their horses provide transportation for the family, power for plowing, and strength to pull loaded wagons. 

By the same token, our tongues can be brutish, fierce and wayward. An ungoverned horse may run away or throw its rider. 

An unbridled tongue will throw off a Christian and ruin his testimony, by a torrent of unchecked words pouring out. 

An ungoverned tongue can ruin a Christian testimony.

Psalm 39:1  To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. 

King David picked up on the idea of governing our tongues. First, he vowed to guard his ways against backsliding away from Jehovah. 

Next, he determined that he did not want to sin with his tongue, especially when dealing with a wicked man.  

He said he would restrain his tongue with a bridle. A bridle refers to a muzzle, much like dog owners muzzle their dogs that are mean or prone to biting people. 

Is our tongue so bad that we need to put a muzzle on it? Jewish rabbis said that teeth were a fence to keep our tongue in check while the lips were a door to close it in. 

James will answer this question for us in an emphatic way. 

James is teaching us that we must resolve to guard our tongue, and to keep it under the sweet influence of the grace of God. 

If our tongue is thus bridled, then all the motions and actions of the whole body can be guided or overruled.

The tongue is small but it sets off the flames of hell. 

James 3:5-6  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. 

The apostle James compares our tongue with a horse's bit or a ship's rudder. Our tongue is a very small part of our body mass, but it exerts profound influence over us. 

The word "boasteth" means speaking foolishly, with an arrogant attitude, having a large ego. 

Words pouring out of an ungoverned tongue are compared to lighting a match in the midst of a dry, towering forest. One small match can rapidly destroy thousands of acres of trees. 

Thus, we are taught to dread an unruly tongue as one a great and most pernicious evil. It is compared to a little fire placed among a great deal of combustible matter, which soon raises a flame that burns all things around it. 

A world of iniquity is contained in an unruly tongue. 

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. 

How many defilements erupt from an ungoverned tongue! How many dreadful flames it can ignite!

This is an unusual form of speech, but the meaning is plain enough. "World" signifies a large mass or collection. 

We use the term in the same sense, like a world of troubles, a world of toil, or a world of anxiety. One who is in pain from an injury may say he is in a world of hurt.

These idioms express great troubles, oppressive toil, and distressing anxiety. 

Our tongue has the potential to defile our whole body. This is no doubt why James warned us earlier to be slow to speak. 

James shows us that there is great pollution and defilement in sins of the tongue. 

Defiling passions are kindled, vented, and cherished by this unruly member. And the whole body is often drawn into sin and guilt by the tongue.

A massive riot at Ephesus was caused by unruly tongues. 

Acts 19:23-27  And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. 24) For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; 25)  Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. 26)  Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: 27)  So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. 

Paul preached the gospel at Ephesus and the Holy Spirit did such a mighty work, that thousands of people turned from paganism and were converted to Jesus Christ.

Immediately, the silversmiths who made little statues of Diana, lost much revenue. Therefore, one of their leaders gathered all the craftsmen and with heated words, incited civil disorder and a riot. 

Act 19:28-29  And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 29)  And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. 

Ephesus was filled with verbal tumult, and the angry mob cried out in support of the goddess Diana. Confusion ruled and the mob rushed into the large theater, seeking vengeance upon Paul and his companions.

An unruly tongue can lead men into insufferable sin and destruction of others.  An unruly tongue sets on fire the course of nature, and affairs of mankind often go up in flames as a result of sinful speech. 

The rulers of darkness of this world, work hard to kindle fire in our tongue. It is often by diabolical design, that men's tongues are inflamed. 

The devil is expressly called a liar, a murderer, and an accuser of the brethren. Whenever men's tongues are employed in any of these ways, they are set on fire of hell.  

Thoughts to Ponder...

The lips of the ungodly are full of burning fire. 

Proverbs 16:27-28  An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. 28)  A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. 

Restrain your mouth from leading you to sin.

Ecclesiastes 5:6  Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? 

We know that our tongues can get us into much trouble, if they are not properly governed. 

James is going to teach more about the tongue before he provides instruction for dealing with the tongue. 

Let us pray that the bit and bridle of God's Spirit will restrain our impulses to speak, at those times when we should be quiet.

Let us pray that the Lord will help us be heavenly minded people and that our speech will be seasoned with grace.

Let us seek to use our tongues to worship God, to speak edifying truth to our brothers and sisters in Christ, as we seek to speak the truth in love. 

May the God of all glory impress upon us the need to avoid the contentious, foolish speech that has infected our culture. 

Bob