Taming The Tongue (Part 1 – Review) James 1:19,26; 3:1-12 1

Taming The Taming The TongueTongue(Part 1 – Review)(Part 1 – Review)

James 1:19,26; 3:1-12James 1:19,26; 3:1-12

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More Than ProfessionMore Than Profession

James 1:22 “Be ye doers of the word James 1:22 “Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding your and not hearers only, deluding your own selves …”own selves …”

James 2:14ffJames 2:14ff – Saving faith is a working – Saving faith is a working faith.faith.

James 3James 3 – Is your tongue being – Is your tongue being controlled by faith?controlled by faith?cf. 2 Corinthians 10:5cf. 2 Corinthians 10:5 2


Matthew 12:34-37 “…for out Matthew 12:34-37 “…for out of the abundance of the heart of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.the mouth speaketh.

35 The good man out of his 35 The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.”bringeth forth evil things.” 3


Matthew 12:34-37 “36 And I Matthew 12:34-37 “36 And I say unto you, that every idle say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.in the day of judgment.

37 37 For by thy words thou shalt For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemnedthou shalt be condemned.”.”

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““Ye Know This…”Ye Know This…” ““The tongue of the righteous is as The tongue of the righteous is as

choice silver” choice silver” (Proverbs 10:20).(Proverbs 10:20). ““Set a watch,O Jehovah, before my Set a watch,O Jehovah, before my

mouth; Keep the door of my lips” mouth; Keep the door of my lips” (Psalms 141:3).(Psalms 141:3).

““Whoso keepeth his mouth and his Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles”tongue keepeth his soul from troubles”(Proverbs 21:23).(Proverbs 21:23).

““A word fitly spoken is like apples of A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in network of silver” gold in network of silver” (Proverbs (Proverbs 25:11).25:11). 5

““Ye Know This…”Ye Know This…” ““In the multitude of words there In the multitude of words there

wanteth not transgression; but he wanteth not transgression; but he that refraineth his lips doeth that refraineth his lips doeth wisely” wisely” (Proverbs 10:19).(Proverbs 10:19).

““He that guardeth his mouth He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life; but he that keepeth his life; but he that openeth wide his lips shall have openeth wide his lips shall have destruction” destruction” (Proverbs 13:3)(Proverbs 13:3)..

““Seest thou a man that is hasty in Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him” fool than of him” (Proverbs 29:20).(Proverbs 29:20).6

““Ye Know This…”Ye Know This…”

““A soft answer turneth A soft answer turneth away wrath; but a grievous away wrath; but a grievous word stireth up anger” word stireth up anger” (Proverbs 15:1)(Proverbs 15:1)..

““Death and life are in the Death and life are in the power of the tongue” power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21).(Proverbs 18:21).

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““Be not many of you Be not many of you teachers…”teachers…”James 3:1James 3:1

Tragedy associated with the wrong Tragedy associated with the wrong kind of teachers.kind of teachers. Vain hope. Vain hope. Jeremiah 23:16-23Jeremiah 23:16-23 Turn people from God. Turn people from God. Jeremiah 23:26-Jeremiah 23:26-

27; 6:16; 5:30-31; cf. Isaiah 30:1027; 6:16; 5:30-31; cf. Isaiah 30:10 Preaching the message of God turns Preaching the message of God turns

people TO God. people TO God. Matthew 12:41; Matthew 12:41; Jonah 3:1-2Jonah 3:1-2

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““Greater judgment” Greater judgment” James 3:1James 3:1

Important message. Important message. 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians 1:21; cf. 1 Corinthians 2:31:21; cf. 1 Corinthians 2:3

Preach the word. Preach the word. 2 Timothy 4:2ff; 1 2 Timothy 4:2ff; 1 Peter 4:11Peter 4:11

What if I fail???What if I fail??? Acts 20:20, 27Acts 20:20, 27 Responsible for others. Responsible for others. Galatians 1:6ffGalatians 1:6ff Anathema of God. Anathema of God. Galatians 2:5Galatians 2:5 Truth does not continue. Truth does not continue. 2 John 9ff2 John 9ff Fellowship with God Fellowship with God

severed.severed. 9

Eternal consequences for Eternal consequences for leading men in the wrong leading men in the wrong

direction.direction. 1 Timothy 1:3ff1 Timothy 1:3ff – – strife and strife and

questions follow such teaching.questions follow such teaching. Paul warned the Ephesian elders, Paul warned the Ephesian elders,

“And from among your own selves “And from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.” disciples after them.” (Acts 20:30)(Acts 20:30)

Those who taught the Gentiles to be Those who taught the Gentiles to be circumcised were circumcised were “subverting your “subverting your souls.” souls.” ((cf. Acts 15:24)cf. Acts 15:24) 10


direction.direction. Hymenaeus and Philetus erred, Hymenaeus and Philetus erred, “saying that the resurrection is “saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the past already, and overthrow the faith of some.” (2 Timothy 2:14-18)faith of some.” (2 Timothy 2:14-18)

Peter said of false teachers, Peter said of false teachers, “And “And many shall follow their lascivious many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of the truth shall be evil spoken of.” (2 Peter 2:2)of.” (2 Peter 2:2)

Paul wrote, Paul wrote, “This I say, that no one “This I say, that no one may delude you with may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.” persuasiveness of speech.” (Colossians 2:4)(Colossians 2:4) 11


direction.direction.

Little comfort in Little comfort in saying, “But I didn’t saying, “But I didn’t know …”know …”

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Effect NOT Determined By Effect NOT Determined By Motive Motive

Of TeacherOf Teacher Philippians 1:15-18 Philippians 1:15-18

Motive Wrong – Teaching Motive Wrong – Teaching right.right.

Galatians 1:13-14; Acts 23:1; Galatians 1:13-14; Acts 23:1; 26:9; 26:9; 1 Timothy 1:13 1 Timothy 1:13

Motive right – Teaching wrong.Motive right – Teaching wrong.13

Taming The Taming The TongueTongue

(Part 2)(Part 2)James 1:19,26; 3:1-12James 1:19,26; 3:1-12

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““For in many things we all For in many things we all stumble …” James 3:2 stumble …” James 3:2

Sin is universal Sin is universal (Romans 3:23),(Romans 3:23), YET YET among all men, the sins of the tongue among all men, the sins of the tongue seem to be most universal and the seem to be most universal and the most difficult to control. most difficult to control.

Teachers must be careful for …Teachers must be careful for … WHATWHAT they teach they teach

andand HOWHOW they teach they teach

cf. Ephesians 6:19; Colossians 4:4-6cf. Ephesians 6:19; Colossians 4:4-6

Man who tames his tongue is a “perfect man.” 15

Tongue is small but Tongue is small but powerful… powerful… James 3:3-6James 3:3-6

Illustrations:Illustrations: Bit in horses mouth.Bit in horses mouth. Small rudder of a great ship.Small rudder of a great ship.

Speak a lie, live a lie.Speak a lie, live a lie. Speak suggestively in an Speak suggestively in an

immoral manner, live immorally.immoral manner, live immorally.16

Tongue is small but Tongue is small but powerful… powerful… James 3:3-6James 3:3-6

““How much wood is kindled by how small a How much wood is kindled by how small a fire! The tongue is a fire: the world of fire! The tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the iniquity among our members is the tongue.”tongue.” (James 3:6)(James 3:6)

Truly, Truly, “Death and life are in the power of “Death and life are in the power of the tongue …” the tongue …” (Proverbs 18:21)(Proverbs 18:21)

““An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire. A perverse man his lips like a burning fire. A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends”best of friends”(KJV Proverbs 16:27-28).(KJV Proverbs 16:27-28). cf. Galatians 5:15 cf. Galatians 5:15

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Difficulty Of Taming The Difficulty Of Taming The TongueTongue

James 3:7-8James 3:7-8 ““The tongue can no man tame …”The tongue can no man tame …” Hyperbole (of language) deliberately Hyperbole (of language) deliberately exaggerated.exaggerated.

NOTE: Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:6NOTE: Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:6 David said,David said, “Keep thy tongue from evil, and “Keep thy tongue from evil, and

thy lips from speaking guile”thy lips from speaking guile” and then and then prayed that God might prayed that God might “set a watch... before “set a watch... before my mouth, and keep the door of my lips” my mouth, and keep the door of my lips” (Psalms 34:13; 141:3).(Psalms 34:13; 141:3).

Peter wrote, Peter wrote, “For he that would love life, “For he that would love life, and see good days, let him refrain his and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile speak no guile (1 Peter 3:10).(1 Peter 3:10). 18

Difficulty Of Taming The Difficulty Of Taming The TongueTongue

James 3:7-8James 3:7-8 ““It is a restless evil …”It is a restless evil …” Unstable. Like Unstable. Like

a caged beast, it seeks opportunity to a caged beast, it seeks opportunity to break forth and cause havoc and break forth and cause havoc and destruction.destruction.

““It is full of deadly poison …”It is full of deadly poison …” ““They have sharpened their tongue like They have sharpened their tongue like

a serpent; adders’ poison is under their a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips”lips”(Psalms 140:3).(Psalms 140:3).

Quoting from Quoting from Psalms 5:9Psalms 5:9,, he uses a similar he uses a similar metaphor: metaphor: “The poison of asps is under “The poison of asps is under their lips” their lips” (Romans 3:13).(Romans 3:13). 19

The perverse tongue is The perverse tongue is inconsistent.inconsistent.James 3:9-12James 3:9-12

What arrogance: one looks up to What arrogance: one looks up to God with blessing, then down to God with blessing, then down to man, made in God’s image, with man, made in God’s image, with cursing.cursing.

The Psalmist wrote of those who The Psalmist wrote of those who “delight in lies,”“delight in lies,” who who “bless with “bless with their mouth, but they curse their mouth, but they curse inwardly” inwardly” (Psalms 62:4).(Psalms 62:4).

““These things ought not so These things ought not so to be.”to be.” 20

General Applications:General Applications: Swearing.Swearing.

““Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain, for Jehovah will not hold thy God in vain, for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in him guiltless that taketh his name in vain”vain”(Exodus 20:7).(Exodus 20:7).

““Bring forth him that cursed without the Bring forth him that cursed without the camp … and let all the congregation camp … and let all the congregation stone him” stone him” (Leviticus 24:14).(Leviticus 24:14).

““Let no corrupt speech proceed out of Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be that it may edifying as the need may be that it may give grace to them that hear” give grace to them that hear” (Ephesians (Ephesians 4:29)4:29).. 21

General Applications:General Applications:

Gossiping and Talebearing.Gossiping and Talebearing. ““Thou shalt not go up and down Thou shalt not go up and down

as a talebearer among thy people as a talebearer among thy people …” …” (Leviticus 19:16).(Leviticus 19:16).

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General Applications: General Applications: One's thoughts should pass three gates

before they are spoken.

IS IT TRUE? “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). “Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah …” (Proverbs 12:22). – God hates “… a lying tongue” (Proverbs 6:17). “Lie not one to another seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings” (Colossians 3:9). “… All liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone …” (Revelation 21:8).

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General Applications: General Applications: One's thoughts should pass three

gates before they are spoken.

IS IT NEEDFUL? “… A talebearer revealeth secrets …” (Proverbs 11:13).“He that repeateth a matter separateth very friends” (KJV Proverbs 17:9).

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General Applications: General Applications: One's thoughts should pass three gates

before they are spoken.

IS IT KIND? “The words of a talebearer are as wounds …” (KJV Proverbs 18:8). “And be ye kind one to another …” (Ephesians 4:32).

The worthy woman … “She openeth her

mouth with wisdom; and the law of kindness is on her tongue” (Proverbs 31:26).

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General Applications: General Applications:

Murmuring.Murmuring. ““Neither murmur ye, as some of Neither murmur ye, as some of

them also murmured, and them also murmured, and perished by the destroyer”perished by the destroyer”(1 Corinthians 10:10; cf. (1 Corinthians 10:10; cf. Numbers 16 and Numbers 21).Numbers 16 and Numbers 21).

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Criticism.Criticism. Jesus admonished, Jesus admonished, “Judge not “Judge not

according to appearance, but according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” judge righteous judgment.” (John (John 7:24).7:24).

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Contentious wordsContentious words ““A soft answer turneth away A soft answer turneth away

wrath: but a grievous word wrath: but a grievous word stirreth up anger” stirreth up anger” (Proverbs (Proverbs 15:1).15:1).

““He that is slow to anger is better He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” taketh a city” (Proverbs 16:32).(Proverbs 16:32). 28

Taming The TongueTaming The Tongue The tongue is a useful and beautiful gift, but The tongue is a useful and beautiful gift, but

we must learn to control itwe must learn to control it.. ““Let your speech be always with grace, Let your speech be always with grace,

seasoned with salt, that ye may know seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one“ how ye ought to answer each one“ (Colossians 4:6).(Colossians 4:6).

““The tongue of the righteous is as The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver” choice silver” (Proverbs 10:20).(Proverbs 10:20).

““Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the sweet to the soul, and health to the bones” bones” (Proverbs 16:24).(Proverbs 16:24).

““A word fitly spoken is like apples of A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in network of silver” gold in network of silver” (Proverbs (Proverbs 25:11).25:11). 29

Taming The TongueTaming The Tongue The tongue, however, is capable of The tongue, however, is capable of

great destructiongreat destruction.. Let us, therefore, watch and pray.Let us, therefore, watch and pray.

““Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin” flesh to sin” (Ecclesiastes 5:6).(Ecclesiastes 5:6).

““Set a watch, O Jehovah, before my Set a watch, O Jehovah, before my mouth: keep the door of my lips” mouth: keep the door of my lips” (Psalms 141:3).(Psalms 141:3).

““Let the words of my mouth, and the Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Jehovah, my rock, and in thy sight, O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer” my redeemer” (Psalms 19:14).(Psalms 19:14). 30

Taming The TongueTaming The Tongue

If you want to tame your If you want to tame your tongue, then TAME YOUR tongue, then TAME YOUR HEARTHEART!!

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Taming The TongueTaming The Tongue

Remember,Remember, “… every idle word “… every idle word that men shall speak, they that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” thou shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37).(Matthew 12:36-37).

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Taming The Tongue (Part 1 – Review) James 1:19,26; 3:1-12 1