The "Untameable" Tongue

(James 3:2b-12) If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well. And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies. Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs. So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence – and is set on fire by hell.

For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind.But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God’s image. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters. A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it? Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water.

The tongue. Perhaps everyone can relate at some level to James' scathing critique of what we say - and understand that truly it is a mature person indeed who can control his tongue! James of course doesn't let us off the hook by explaining how difficult this task is; instead, he drives us to seek the wisdom of God.

James introduces this section with his admonition that not many should be teachers because of the stricter judgment incurred. Teachers have a special risk of causing adverse effects by not guarding their tongues. However, James applies this section to all believers, and that is the view we will take as we look at his teaching.

As we have seen, James frequently echoes the words of Christ. Here is no exception; our Lord said in Mt. 12:34-37 that we will be judged for our careless words. Our words condemn or justify us by revealing our hearts (Luke 6:34-35). James' teaching is not new! He illustrates his points, however, in quite powerful ways.

He compares the tongue to bits in horses' mouths and rudders on ships - things which are small but give direction to something much larger. The tongue, he teaches, is likewise the key to bridling our whole body. It's a small thing - but small fires destroy great forests. If not kept under control, it can destroy.

James continues by pulling no punches: he states that the tongue boasts of great things (v 5), is a world of iniquity (v 6), defiles the entire body (v 6), sets on fire our life's course (v 6), cannot be tamed (v 8), is a restless evil (v 8) full of deadly poison (v 8) and is used for both blessing and cursing (vv 9-10).

James zeros in on this last point, using two illustrations to show how unnatural it is for one thing to produce two divergent outcomes. Just as a fountain doesn't produce both fresh and bitter/salty water, and a fig tree doesn't produce olives or a vine produce figs, the tongue of a believer shouldn't produce both blessing and cursing.

"Blessing" is used here in the common biblical sense of blessing, praising, positive words of edification, or a concrete blessing or benefit. "Cursing" is used in the negative sense as the direct opposite of blessing. It's not so much "curse words" as it is the idea of speaking harshly words intended to "curse" the other person. These Jewish Christians were steeped in the Jewish worldview which had a strong sense of individuals' ability to bless or curse others. We can best see the meaning of this to the Jewish mind in David's encounter with Shimei in 2 Sam 16:

Then King David reached Bahurim. There a man from Saul’s extended family named Shimei son of Gera came out, yelling curses as he approached. He threw stones at David and all of King David’s servants, as well as all the people and the soldiers who were on his right and on his left. As he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Leave! Leave! You man of bloodshed, you wicked man! The Lord has punished you for all the spilled blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you rule. Now the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. Disaster has overtaken you, for you are a man of bloodshed!”

Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!” But the king said, “What do we have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? If he curses because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David!’, who can say to him, ‘Why have you done this?’” Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son, my very own flesh and blood, is trying to take my life. So also now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone so that he can curse, for the Lord has spoken to him. Perhaps the Lord will notice my affliction and this day grant me good in place of his curse.” (2 Sam 16:5-12)

This reflects what is meant by "cursing" very well. A humorous English equivalent might be "a pox be upon you". It doesn't mean we have a falsely positive view of things or never acknowledge things about others that are true - the very example of Scripture shows the opposite, as James indicates even within this letter. Instead, this is an admonition similar to that in Psalm 50:19-20:

You do damage with words,
and use your tongue to deceive.
You plot against your brother;
you slander your own brother.

James' teaching is consistent with both Paul and Peter, who apply the same principle specifically in times of persecution:

• Rom 12:14 Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse.

• 1 Pet 3:9 Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing.

James' overall focus, you will recall, is on the authenticity of our faith. As the fruit of a tree reveals its identity, our speech reveals our heart (Matt. 15:11, 18-20). And our heart is what God is concerned with. Bible teacher Bob Deffinbaugh from www.nextbible.org summarizes this point very concisely:

The heart is the key to controlling the tongue. James is not calling for more will-power and determination to control our tongues. If the tongue is set ablaze by hell, then only heaven can help us. And God has provided us with this help. He has given those who have placed their trust in Him a new heart. We are to be keepers of the heart, so that the thoughts of our heart are on Him who died for us. As our hearts are filled with Him, with His Word, with His salvation and grace, then our lips will reveal the overflow of our hearts.