He uses a horse. Then James goes one step further and identifies the ultimate source of the problem, and is set on fire by hell. Hell translates the Greek gehenna, which is a transliteration of two Hebrew words meaning, Valley of Hinnom. This valley, just outside the walls of Jerusalem, was where the Jewish worshipers of Molech burned their children as sacrifices to appease this pagan idol (Jer. The first step to dealing with the problem is to acknowledge, I have a serious problem! Moses said to Aaron, This is what the Lord spoke, Leviticus10:3, and Ill tell you, that sticks in my mind, and has for a while; this is what the Lord spoke. We read about eyes of adultery, as if the eyes were guilty, when we know, of course, its the inner person. It is proud of its power to control, and it can really do it. Similarly, if you cannot go for twenty-four hours without saying unkind words about others, then you have lost control over your tongue (Imprimus [1/96], p. 1). We have a tremendous accountability to God when we teach at any level. 23:6-11): They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. If God has changed your heart through the new birth, the saving faith that He granted to you will inevitably show itself in a life of good deeds. Now, in this third chapter, James presents the matter of the tongue as another test of living faith, because true faith will be demonstrated by speech, and so will false faith. Ultimately, an evil tongue is the tool of an evil heart. This is not disclaiming that. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God., So we all sin, and we all sin in many ways. Now, what does he mean to become a teacher what kind of teacher is he talking about? It remains in a wet environment, making it slippery to control. Now, how do you come to that conclusion, James? Listen. Why do you know what she did? Etc., etc. It can lead to murder. 3 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness. Boy, its potent. Its a small thing what I think. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. Jesus was not teaching justification by works. It is so strong it can damage, destroyeven kill. James says that the one who is careless with his tongue is the first to be defiled. Nothing is more liable to reveal total depravity than our mouth. My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. And the whole context of what he says at the beginning, though he doesnt mention the tongue there, is this matter of speech. Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. To help us understand that, James gives us two illustrations. And what he is saying, then, in a general sense, is if a man does not continue to stumble with his mouth or words, the same is a mature man. Taming The Tongue Is it any wonder that John Knox, the first time he went into a pulpit, wept so uncontrollably they had to take him out, because he was so burdened with the task at hand? List those 3 illustrations and look up images online. Now, lets go back and look more closely at verse 1. 5. 6:8; Phil. But in the early church, apparently there was some format where people could rise up and give a teaching, a doctrine, a revelation, or whatever. Its difficult to outline this section, but we can organize it under four truths that we must recognize to tame our terrible tongues: 1. Its difficult to outline this section, but we can organize it under four truths that we must recognize to tame our terrible tongues: Apparently the churches to which James was writing had too many men who were self-appointed teachers. James 3 3Not many of you should become teachers,(A) my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged(B) more strictly. He mentions it in chapter 4, verse 11. You know what that says to me? 3 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. So James says, Control your tongue, because it has such potential to condemn. Secondly, it has such power to control. Only God can tame it. We all do it. And so, when James talks about the mouth and the tongue, it isnt that he in fact blames the mouth and the tongue as if they operated independently of any other impulse. If rabbi and parents needed help, it was a duty to help the rabbi first. And then there are many of you folks who teach. WebTaming the Tongue 1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. The tongue is a deadly arrow. Used by permission. It can lead to war. How can you, being evil, speak good things? It is a powerful instrument. With David (Ps. Still notes that James regards duplicity in general (note his critique of being double-minded, or literally two-souled [dipsychos], in You say, Does the Lord keep a record of everybodys words? Its easy for Him. WebJames 3 Taming the Tongue 1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. And yet surely there were people in the congregation to which James writes who pursued that place of teacher because they were enamored with the whole aura of being in that position. WebJames 3:3 A small, petite person can direct a powerful horse with just a little piece of metal in the horses mouth. And as I devote myself to a Spirit-controlled tongue, everything else will come into line. V 3-5. Taming the Tongue Part It would be a miracle if we got through the morning without anyone getting cut! He has asked audiences if they can go for twenty-four hours without saying any unkind words about, or to, anybody. Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. Also record when others do so, as well as your reactions when that happens. The tongue is like a rudder on a mighty ship. Start for FREE. Jesus confronted the Jewish leaders on this account (Matt. And here Jesus is in a very intense dialogue with the Pharisees, who have accused Him of doing His works by the power of hell rather than heaven. It can rip up a nation. And lets say that James could be saying if you dont ever do that with your mouth, youre perfect, and no one can be perfect. A huge ship, and you say, Well, they werent so big in that day. Well, the one in Acts27, if I remember right, had 276 passengers on it; thats a pretty good size ship, driven in tremendous Euroclydon, euroaquilo, that northeastern wind that came. Note on a piece of paper every time you say something negative about someone who is not present. 26 Jun 2023 11:46:28 You put a piece of metal in a horses mouth. Nothing is more telling on the heart than the tongue, and its of great concern to James. Verse 1: Knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment, and the we is the we of identification. He said, Theres no special honor in preaching, there is only special pain. The word is didaskalos, its the word that can be translated master in the gospels. The tongue, James tells us, is a fire, ignited by hell itself. The only explanation they had that made any sense as to how he picked it up on his television was the fact that scientifically once something goes out into the airwaves, it stays there, and somehow it found its way to his receiver. It was no doubt among the assembled saints to whom James writes that there were some aspiring to the role of teaching who had absolutely no idea of the possible implications of teaching error. But lets covenant together, and this has been on my heart all week, its just been unspoken. I live by my tongue. And Ive thought about that many times since. And in Romans, chapter 3, very familiar words, in verse 13, he says this is how you describe a sinner: Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of snakes is under their lips: Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. The focal point of our fallenness and depravity is the mouth. I went to the dentist to have my every-five-year checkup. It lays on his tongue. There St. James makes the same comparison about the tongue being like the thing that starts a wildfire. I really feel the Lord is going to instruct us as we go through the next portion of this next Lords Day. Thats what James is saying. So since speech is the mark of true faith, it should be a proper measure, then, of those who articulate the faith, those who teach the faith. Taming the Tongue: Bible Craft Ideas from James 3:1-12 Number one: James calls us to control the tongue because its potential to condemn is so great its potential to condemn. Back in Numbers, chapter 11, verse 26 through 29, we have an account, Moses talking. Thats why, in 1 Timothy, chapter 4, the apostle Paul tells Timothy, Look, be nourished up in the words of faith and good doctrine. It can do great things. And like the sea, it batters and bruises and does not rest. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Its a city, absolutely an entire floating city, thousands of people on it. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. He is not restraining the genuinely qualified. All rights reserved. When the Holy Spirit controls your heart on a daily basis, over time the fruit of the Spirit will appear. Because the tongue can sin so easily, because it is such a monitor of depravity, if you can control the tongue, the greater sinner in your body, then by virtue of controlling the greater, you have gained control over the lesser. Web1. I have not failed to declare unto you the whole counsel of God. Nowhere is the union of faith and works more visible than in your speech and my speech. But, like James, He was teaching that our works reveal whether our faith is genuine faith. It is an unruly evil, (K)full of deadly poison. The person who controls the tongue will also control the body, with all of its other impulses. 5Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. James 3 Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. I mean, just get it down to that. In fact, everywhere a rabbi went, he was treated with great respect. Its a frightening truth. Help Grace to You bring important resources like this to people in your community and beyond, free of charge. In building his case that all have sinned, the apostle Paul zeroes in on the sins of the tongue (Rom. Some people have said that men speak 25,000 words a day and women speak 30,000 words a day. Dont hurry into some official ministry where you become a proclaimer and a teacher of Gods Word. And among the Jews and you remember James is writing to those with Jewish heritage and Jewish background among the Jews there were official teachers. It can destroy relationships. 26 Jun 2023 11:46:28 For example (16:24), Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. If we all would read Proverbs frequently and pay attention to its wisdom, we would be a source of sweetness and healing in our homes and our church! Renew your mind by memorizing Scripture (Rom. We all do it commonly, and we all do it in many ways. Their tongue, their speech, will tell on their heart. Such self-seeking honor coming from ill-intended motives was to be foreign to any true follower of Jesus Christ. 6And (I)the tongue is a fire, a world of [c]iniquity. In November of 1980, after a very dry autumn, on an extremely windy day an arsonist lit a fire in the tinder-dry brush just above San Bernardino, California. If you cannot go for twenty-four hours without drinking liquor, you are addicted to alcohol. And I might conclude that in the early church there were also officially-called teachers. In fact, this is axiomatic enough that it may have been standard stock for writers and wise men in that time and place, and James may even be borrowing the illustration. She makes me sick! No man ever spoke like this man. He was perfect in His speech, absolutely without error. And James is saying the same thing, Let me see your tongue. The nurse puts a thermometer under your tongue and tells your physical temperature. Im only a member of Christs body whom He called to shepherd His flock and teach His Word. And in a year, we would probably produce about 66 800-page books. Neither can salt water produce fresh., His point is the same as that of Jesus (Matt. James 3 ESV - Taming the Tongue - Not many of you - Bible (Js. That small little rudder moves that massive ship. Stay away from profane and old womens fables. And further down in the same text, Give yourself to reading and exhortation and teaching. And further down, Meditate on these things. And again, Take heed to yourself and unto your teaching. Very, very, very important matter. Shes been waiting for that opportunity. He wants us to recognize the inordinate power of the tongue, either for good or for evil, so that we use it carefully. Taming the Tongue, Part 1 - Grace to You I dont know that we can be dogmatic as to exactly which one James means, but lets just take them both. And perhaps we ought to say at the very outset that James speaks of the mouth, and he speaks of the tongue, and in a sense he personifies them. Proverbs20, verse 9, says, Who can say I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from sin? The answer is nobody. Shes such a hypocrite. Lets go back to the verse and see what he says. And then you put a harness around that, pull it up over his head, take some reins, and when you pull that, you pull that metal bit against the horses tongue. But even one who endeavors to teach the truth must understand something of the tremendous responsibility that he undertakes in doing that. 3 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. I hope we can get to this just dramatic spiritual insight. Its kind of interesting, you probably remember as a child, I do, whenever I went to the doctor, my parents would take me to the doctor, the first thing the doctor would say is, Let me see your tongue.. James is stating that just a small word can sometimes control the destiny of a person. And thats the second point. 2 We all stumble in many ways. GDPR is the new European privacy regulation, which will replace the Data Protection Act 1998 in the UK and the equivalent legislation across the EU Member States. Proverbs15:28 says, The mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. So when you give your life to Christ, and your life is transformed, and you have a new heart, you have a new vocabulary. And one at the bottom is a master switch. James gets very direct (3:10b): My brethren, these things ought not to be this way., Then he points out that what often happens among Christians is contrary to all of nature. Why doesnt he say the heart is the problem, why does he say the tongue? This is a great liability. We should use them with the greatest care to bring healing, not injury. I have been, this summer I was on a 70,000 ton vessel. WebJames 3 Bible > James > James 3 eBibles Free Downloads Audio James 3 NIV NLT ESV KJV NKJ NAS BSB Parallel Chapters Taming the Tongue ( Psalm 64:110) 1 And if the Holy Spirit gets control of the most volatile and the most potent member, the rest will be subdued. If you want to tame the terrible tongue, the place to start is with your heart. And since God made His children by His Word, He assumes that they would be known by their words, and that there would be some connection between His Word, which produced them, and their word, which is the result of that producing. To tame this terrible tongue, you must daily walk in the Spirit, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. A horse, by the way, let me tell you, is useless without that. But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. 12:36-37), But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. Lets open our Bibles as we study Gods Word tonight to the third chapter of James, the third chapter of James. If youve been to Sea World, youve seen trained whales, dolphins, and seals. We dont even need to go into passages like 2 Peter2, and the book of Jude, where God pronounces terrifying judgment on a false teacher. Even so, the tongue is a little member, but boasts great things. Stop there. A classic illustration of that would be our Lord Jesus Christ, who rose in the synagogue of Nazareth, stood to read the Scriptures, and then sat down to speak. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. What a thought. Its forest fire season. Not only does it have potential to condemn, but it has power to control. Its interesting that he never gives any advice on how to control the tongue. As the people in the courtyard said to Peter, The way you talk gives you away. Well, they meant something different, but thats a truism. James says, Control your tongue. So lets just covenant in our hearts each day to start that day with a conscious effort that sustains through the day, to let my tongue be an instrument of grace, and blessing, and truth, to all who hear me speak. NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. In all kinds of ways, all of us continually fail to do what is right, and the tongue is one very, very dominant way in which we fail. Men like Nicodemus, who was recognized as a teacher in Israel. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Genuine believers have this sense of being accountable for their speech. WebTaming the Tongue. 2 For in many things we offend all. Everyone sins with the tongue. For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. Jesus also said (Matt. 6The tongue also is a fire,(J) a world of evil among the parts of the body. Listen to this: do you realize that in final judgment, your eternal destiny can be determined by your words? 3. Taming the Tongue James 3:1-18 | Bible.org
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james 3 taming the tongue