“Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment. For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. Behold, we put the horses’ bridles into their mouths that they may obey us; we turn about their whole body also. Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whithersoever the impulse of the steersman may will. So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, the world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind: but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, it is full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God: out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet water and bitter? can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? so can no fountain yield salt water and sweet.” (James 3:1-12)
These verses provide us with a powerful reflection on the grave responsibility that comes with teaching and the immense power of the tongue. James warns that those who take on the role of a teacher will be judged more strictly. This is because of the influence their words can have on others. He acknowledges that all of us stumble in many ways, but particularly emphasises the dangers associated with the tongue. He uses vivid imagery to illustrate the tongue’s potential for both good and evil. He compares it to a small rudder that can steer a large ship and a bit in a horse’s mouth that directs the entire animal. These comparisons show how something as seemingly insignificant as the tongue can have a serious impact on a person’s life and the lives of others.
James likens the tongue to a small fire that can set a whole forest ablaze. This is a warning about how our words, if not controlled, can lead to widespread destruction. The tongue is a “world of iniquity” and “full of deadly poison.” It is an untamed evil, capable of both blessing God and cursing men, who are made in God’s image. This duality should not exist, as it is inconsistent with the nature of true faith. Just as a spring cannot produce both fresh and salt water, nor a fig tree bear olives, so too should our speech be pure and consistent, reflecting our faith in Christ.
James is reminding us of the power of words and the need for self-discipline. Christians, especially those in positions of teaching and leadership, to guard their tongues and ensure that their speech is in accordance with the will of God. The ability to control one’s tongue is a mark of spiritual maturity, and without this control, the entire body is susceptible to sin. Reflect on how you can use your words and the impact they have on others.
