When I am counseling couples before marriage, I encourage them to avoid discussing any important issues before 9:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. Most people are at their best in the 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. twelve-hour period. We think most clearly and are better at controlling our emotions. Too early in the morning or too late at night is when we tend to struggle. Additionally, I urge them to avoid such discussions when one or both are tired, sick, hungry, or stressed. When we are not at our best, we are more tempted to speak irresponsibly, using sarcasm, terse words, and even foul language. Speech is powerful, and it can remain in our consciousness for many years.
Judge with Greater Strictness?
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. (James 3:1–2)
James introduces the theme of sinful speech by addressing the vocation of teacher. Before proceeding with the remainder of the passage, it’s worthwhile to address two points in these initial verses that may distract or confuse the reader. James is aware that some of those with whom he works may not have the temperament to be teachers. While such individuals may be quite knowledgeable, they lack self-control and may be apt to speak in a sinful manner. While this is straightforward enough, be careful not to misread the words “We who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” Teachers do have a great responsibility to watch what they say, as they teach many. At the same time, remember that when Jesus returns to judge the quick and the dead, our Lord will do so with one criterion: Do we have Christ?
Second, verse two mentions “a perfect man” as someone who does not stumble in what he says. James is not saying that it is possible to reach perfect righteousness by controlling our speech. The word perfect can be used in two ways when reading the Bible. One is to have no sinful flaw. Through faith in Christ, we have this, but we cannot reach it through our behavior. A second is to be complete, to lack nothing. In this way, a puzzle can be perfect in that none of the pieces are missing. When James uses perfect in verse two, he means the second way—to lack nothing. In other words, such a teacher is perfect when he no longer stumbles in what he says. Finally, the verse stresses the reality that bridling the tongue is the most difficult task of all, even more difficult than bridling the whole body.
Is This Indeed about the Tongue?
What follows in the remaining verses is a set of analogies to help the reader grasp the powerful impact of the tongue. It is a rudder guiding the whole ship, a small fire to ignite an entire forest, full of deadly poison. The human tongue is a muscle, used not only for speech but also for eating and drinking. It is nothing more than a tool. It is the sinful heart that uses the tongue to lie, insult, and lead astray. “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery” (Mark 7:21). The tongue is merely the instrument a sinner employs to manifest Mark’s list of wicked acts. Although the tongue is part of a sinful body that is redeemed in Christ, it has no will of its own. Additionally, consider that there are other ways to convey sinful messages. Sign language, written word, and social media are examples.
Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. (James 3:12)
James’s point in the verse above is that, like a fig tree trying to bear olives, a sinful heart can never produce what is pleasing to the Lord. It is the sinful heart that needs to be tamed and, in fact, killed. For this, we return to our Baptism, the Holy Spirit drowning the Old Adam, my wicked nature which yearns to use my tongue in sin. The Holy Spirit further convicts me of sin and prepares me to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord leads us to His Word, the Bible, to fill our minds with what is righteous, that such holy words would flow from our tongues. He leads us to receive Holy Communion which forgives sins and strengthens faith. Further, we must never underestimate God’s gift of prayer. We pray to our Heavenly Father to convict us of sinful speech and to encourage us to blessed words.
Where we fail, the Lord succeeds. Remember that the Lord spoke Creation into existence. It was the Word, Jesus Christ, who took on human flesh. Jesus called Lazarus from the tomb and said “It is finished” on the cross of salvation. Through the pastor, Jesus speaks the words of Absolution, the words of our Baptism, and the Words of Institution of Holy Communion. When we reach heaven, Jesus will speak, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” It is with our tongues that we will sing eternal praise to the Lamb who sits on the throne.
Scripture: ESV®.
Read more about this passage and sinful speech in James by Curtis Giese, from the Concordia Commentary series.
