James 3:1-12

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. ³ Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 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. ⁵ 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. ⁷ For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: ⁸ But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. ¹¹ Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? ¹² Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

The book of James is a series of tests of what authentic faith looks like. Over the last two weeks, from James 2:14-26, we learned the differences between false faith and true faith. The essential difference is that true faith manifests itself in a changed life. The issues that surround that section in the rest of the letter serve as tests of what conduct, motives, and attitudes belong and do not belong in the life of a professing believer. This week, we come to one of the most practical, convicting, and universally applicable matters of our faith, the use of our tongues. James 3:1-12 will teach us very clearly that how we use our tongues is a clear indication of the genuineness of our profession of faith. The tongue is a very powerful part of our body. You could argue that it is the most powerful in the effects that it brings. In this section of Scripture, there are five things that we are told that the tongue has the power to do. This week we will look at the first and we will cover the other four next week.

The first verse of James 3 is very helpful in assessing the core issue that he addresses with everything he writes from James 3:1-4:10. James 3:1 serves as both a warning to those who are truly called to teach, preach, and lead the church and those who aspire to do so for the wrong reasons. It starts off this section on the use of the tongue because it is primarily with speech that leaders and teachers exercise their role. The issue raised in verse one here will be made more clear beginning in verses 13-18 where James addresses the differences between worldly wisdom that consists in selfish ambition and God’s wisdom that is manifest in Godly motivations and actions. His warning to “masters” (Greek didaskaloi), or “teachers,” is not just about how they speak, but also why they do what they do. Their speech is really a symptom that rises from the motivations of their heart. Therefore, he teaches us that the tongue has a great power to convict and condemn. It reveals who we are and why we do what we do.

The New Testament is full of warnings about doing things with wrong motivations. In Matthew 23, Jesus rebukes the “scribes and Pharisees” for desiring places of prominence and being seen and recognized by people. They did what they did for power and influence, not because they truly wanted to please God. Paul writes to Timothy about those who would “desire the office of bishop (pastor or elder)” (1 Timothy 3:1) and that they not be “a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil” (1 Timothy 3:6). He spoke to the maturity of the pastor being evident so that it would be clear that the pastor was not motivated by pride or self-exaltation, but truly desires to please God. One point that James makes here is that if a person aspires to teach to gain a following or to exalt themselves then they should avoid it because all teaching brings is a greater responsibility and accountability to God, or what he calls a “greater condemnation.” Teachers will have a greater accountability on judgment day (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). To do so with wrong motives will not serve them well on that day.

Since teachers primarily influence and carry out their role with their tongues, it is directly attached to this section on the use of the tongue. We have many instructions regarding the responsibility of pastors and teachers to teach the Scripture faithfully and accurately (1 Timothy 4:13-16). This includes preparation (2 Timothy 2:15) as well as consistency (2 Timothy 3:14-4:5). In contrast to those calls to faithfulness, there are countless warnings about false teachers who teach the church with wrong motives or with erroneous doctrine. They are often called “wolves” and they come to take advantage of churches (Acts 20:26-31; Matthew 7:14-20).  They bring in heretical teaching that distracts, confuses, and misleads the body (1 Timothy 1:3-7; 6:3-5; 2 Peter 2:3). They may come in and divide the church to lead people after them in their sinful ways (Jude 3-4). The may outwardly appear righteous and like they are sent from God but inwardly they are driven by worldly motives (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

While this verse addresses teachers, it is applicable to all believers because it speaks to the influence that we have with our tongues and how we will be held accountable for what we do with them. In Matthew 12:36-37 Jesus said, “every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Will our words condemn us? Do we use our tongues as a positive influence on others or a sinful one? Do we tell people things we cannot validate with Scripture or do we guide others with the Word of God? Do we influence people to be like us or to be like Jesus?