The Uncontrolled Tongue (James 3:1-12)

James was obviously concerned about the way some of his readers were speaking to and about one another. His section on the misuse of the tongue extends into chapter 4 and there he writes about quarelling (v. 1), wrong prayers (v. 3), evil speaking about one another (v. 11) and about making assumptions about future intentions (v. 13).

James has already spoken about the tongue in this letter. In 1:19, he had told his readers that they should be 'slow to speak', and in 1:26 he had said that a person who could not control his tongue was deceiving himself about being a true Christian, which is a very startling statement. Such a warning clearly shows the danger of wrong speech and it is obvious that James wanted to look at it in depth, probably because as a pastor he wanted to help his readers in a spiritual way. If it was possible to deceive yourself, it would mean that the individual had a faith that was dead, the topic that James had dealt with just before he spoke here about the wrong use of the tongue.

James is not the only biblical author to refer to the use and misuse of the tongue. Paul tells us to speak the truth with our neighbours and to speak it with love (Eph. 4:25, 15). He urged the Colossians ‘to let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer each person’ (Col. 4:6). Peter tells his readers not to repay reviling with reviling but with a blessing (1 Pet. 3:9). Jesus reminded the people that ‘on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words yo will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned’ (Matt. 12:36).

Don’t be a teacher (vv. 1-2)

Those who face the biggest problem with regard to speech are those who need to talk the most, even for genuine reasons. Within the Christian church, teachers would come into this category. James begins his application here by referring to people like himself who are teachers of God’s Word. It is very possible for such to use a pulpit or platform to say things that are wrong, even if they said them unwittingly. Such could even tell the truth for wrong motives, as Paul says of some teachers in Rome that he mentions in Philippians 1.

We live in a society where a teacher is not required to practice what he teaches. There is nothing to prevent a teacher being immoral as long as he does not break the law. In contrast, a teacher in Israel had to practice what he taught, and he would not be regarded as a valid teacher if his lifestyle contradicted his words. It is interesting that the ministry of Jesus is described by Luke in Acts 1:1 as being what ‘Jesus began to do and teach’.

Probably James had a difficult dilemma here. He mentions that he is aware of the fact that he and all other teachers will be judged with greater strictness than other Christians. He knows also that the judge will be Jesus with whom he once lived in the family home. We can imagine that it would be difficult for family members to imagine themselves appearing before a relative who happened to be the judge of a case in which they were involved. Perhaps they might be before him on a minor matter and may assume that he would let them off. James however knew that would not be the case with Jesus. Instead, James knew that Jesus will do what is right when the judgement comes. This reality may have been one reason why James does not mention that Jesus was his brother. Although he had grown up in the same home as Jesus, James knew it would be a different matter when he appeared at the judgement seat.

Of course, this particular activity of teaching goes beyond those who are described as pastors. Anyone who has a teaching role in a church will face this reality. The obvious response should be one of carefulness about what one teaches, and also to make sure that one is doing it for the right motives. Those so engaged should always remember the reality of the judgement seat of Christ.

Some commentators suggest that people wanted to be teachers in the church because it carried with it a certain prestige and the possibility of influence. All they imagined that was necessary was the ability to talk. James wanted to deter unsuitable volunteers from taking on this role. Of course, he would have encouraged suitable people to engage in it. But such have to remember the judgement seat.

Delightful distinctive (vv. 3-5a)

Having pointed out the danger for those who teach, James notes that the ability to use the tongue correctly is the mark of a mature believer. When he says that such a person is perfect, he does not mean sinless. A sinless individual does not exist on earth. Instead the word translated as perfect has the idea of maturity or balance. If a person can use his tongue appropriately, he can be relied upon to use his other faculties correctly, says James.

James points out that the controlling feature of a person is his or her tongue. We can see that controlling is the concern of James from the illustrations he uses, that of the bits in a horse's mouth and of the rudder of a ship. We might be surprised by this understanding of the tongue because we might have assumed that the controlling feature would be the mind or the heart. Yet we know that it is the tongue that reveals what kind of person an individual is and perhaps more importantly it tells us where the person is going. After all, the reason why a horse has a bit and the ship has a rudder is for them to get somewhere. We can tell where a person is going spiritually by the way he speaks.

This is true when an individual speaks correctly. It may have been the case that James was thinking of Jesus and the ways he spoke in the family home in Nazareth. When we think about his perfection, we are full of wonder about his way of speaking in the many passages of the Bible that record his words. James had had the privilege of listening to Jesus for over twenty years and he had always spoken in a way that revealed he was consistent and upright. Moreover, his words also revealed his destiny. This was true when he was speaking of his earthly or when he was referring to his future after his resurrection.

Yet even if James was thinking of Jesus, he did not limit this role to Jesus. In addition, it could be said of any believer that he or she is mature if their tongue speaks gracious and truthful words. A person who is able to speak appropriately is an individual who can be trusted because others will know that he will speak the truth and help them find the right direction in life. This is the positive use of the tongue, designed for the benefit of others.

Developing disaster (vv. 5b-6)

But what if someone does not use his or her tongue correctly? Then nothing but terrible damage can be expected. James likens such a tongue to a small fire that eventually destroys a whole forest. When a person says something wrong, he or she does not know what the final outcome will be. One wrong statement about a person can destroy a lifetime’s work.

Moreover, such a tongue will damage all the misuser’s other faculties. He will need to use all of them in line with his wrong statement. Normally, when someone tells a lie, he has to use other lies in order to make his story seem credible. Before long, the memory, the decisions, the desires, the aspirations are all affected by the original wrong statement.

James develops the illustration and mentions that the stoker of such a fire is the devil. He is looking for flames that he can increase into a raging inferno. The tongue is an instrument he selects to use because it is very effective in a tragic way. He saw how effective it was in the Garden of Eden and he is aware of all the havoc that it has caused since.

Dangerous use of the tongue (vv. 7-8)

James points to the fact that humans have been able to tame wild animals. Before they were tamed, they were dangerous. But none were beyond the power of a human to control. In contrast, the story of the human race proves that no human has been able to control the tongue. While this is discouraging, it is also encouraging because James seems to suggest that there is someone who can control our tongues. The someone is God.

Having said that, we should not overlook the two details that James mentions about the tongue in verse 8. Since James has been referring to creatures, it may be that here he is using the example of a snake as it pursues its prey to illustrate the determination of a false tongue to destroy its target. When a wrong use of the tongue achieves its goal, there is nothing but death. All has been poisoned. So far, in using this illustration of the dangerous use of the tongue James has been describing what happens between people in the world. In verses 9-12, he turns and speaks about his readers.

Deplorable use of the tongue (vv. 9-12)

It is not entirely clear who it was that the readers were cursing. Maybe it was their persecutors, the ones who had caused all the trouble that his readers were facing. We could see how they would be tempted to do so. Or maybe they were annoyed with other Christians who would not help them in their need or annoyed with people in general who did not help them. Why was it wrong for them to use their tongues in such a way?

First, it is to forget who other people are. They are made in the image of God. Even their opponents have such a dignity. Although they were not acting like those made in the image of God, their behaviour did not excuse the believers from saying wrong words to them. Jesus had forbidden his disciples from cursing their opponents (Luke 6:28).

Second, it is to forget who God is. The titles that James uses of God here point to his authority. In ancient times, a lord and a father had complete and unquestionable authority. Perhaps James is telling his readers that God will provide for them, which is what a lord would do for his servants and what a father would do for his family. It was impossible for God to fail in this provision, which meant that the believers had no need to speak rashly about other people.

Third, it is impossible for a true Christian to use his tongue like this all the time. When James uses the illustrations of a spring, a fig tree, a grapevine and a salt pond, he is stressing that it is unnatural for something to also produce its opposite. James is not suggesting that a Christian may not occasionally misuse his tongue, but he is saying that a Christian will not consistently misuse his tongue. The implication is that he will use his tongue in the service of God.

Conclusion

James wants his readers, even if they are teachers, to use their tongues in a profitable way. He reminds them that how they use their tongues will reveal whether or not they are real Christians. When they speak to someone or about someone, they should remember that the other person is made in the image of God. The obvious deduction is that speech can do a lot of good or a lot of harm.