This chapter is about the tongue; more specifically, it is about how the Christian uses his tongue in speaking. When this commentary speaks of the tongue, as in the book of James, it is a metaphor referring to a Christian’s speech. Some commentaries hold that only the first twelve verses of the chapter concerns the tongue, but a careful examination will show that all the verses relate to Christian speech and its effects on others in one way or the other.

The present-day movement for “free speech,” which some believe started in earnest at the Berkeley campus of the University of California years ago, continues to this day. It is now fashionable to say, within the bounds of “politically correct” terminology, just about any shocking or profane word or expression imaginable to man. It is unfortunate that along with “freedom of speech,” since we have two ears to every one tongue, we do not have “freedom of hearing” to filter out unruly and vulgar speech.

The Bible clearly teaches the Christian that unrestricted freedom of speech is nonexistent within God’s perfect Law of Liberty. A Christian who is under the control of the Holy Spirit will speak only that which honors God. And should he not be under the Spirit’s control, he still is accountable for every word and action. God hears every word a believer utters. How can He not? The Holy Spirit resides within the believer. The day is coming, a fact presented in the previous chapter’s commentary, when every Christian will be judged for the content of his Christian life. Many if not most of the judgments will pertain to the believer’s use of the tongue.

But since the words a Christian speaks only reflect his train of thought, the real issue in this chapter is the thought processes that dominate a Christian. The tongue (a believer’s speech) is something of a thermometer. It registers what is inside the mind. If the mind is allowed to be controlled by the Holy Spirit via a living faith, the tongue will only produce divine good (words). A person under the control of the Holy Spirit will also be able to daily, by the study of God’s Word, apply the instruction of the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

This is a chapter on a very practical matter. It is on a subject that touches every believer within every realm of his existence. It has particular application to the ministry and associations within local churches.

There is great honor and future reward for the person God calls into the ministry of His Word. But with the honor and possible reward comes grave responsibility. James cautions against the hasty desire to be a teacher of the Word of God. The Greek word for “teacher” in this passage is didaskalou, which may be translated instructor, master or teacher—all positions that use the tongue in the presentation of God’s Word.

This warning should not be taken as a prohibition against the use of his gift by one who has actually been called of God to teach. It is only a warning that (1) he should be certain of his calling and (2) he should take his calling with gravity. Why? It is because those who teach the God’s Word will be subject to a heavier judgment. And why is this? Because the teacher is in a position to significantly influence others to do that which is either right or wrong. The teacher is always in the “limelight.” All eyes are constantly upon him in a most unique way. As a presenter of God’s Word his conduct is expected to be exemplary. He must not only be careful to teach correct doctrine, but he must have a life that clearly validates the doctrine he presents.

Apostles and pastors are both given the gift of teaching. In fact there is ample evidence within God’s Word that pastors and teachers may be “one and the same” (Ephesians 4:11 and 1 Corinthians 12:28, 29). Prophets usually possessed the gift of teaching, and many are given it without being called into the full-time ministry. But one thing is for certain, anyone given the gift of teaching God’s Word will be held to a much higher standard when he appears before the Judgment Seat of Christ. Such persons are always a more widely read “open Bible” than those who do not teach and are not in the “public eye.”

James now moves from the specific, the ministry, in which the tongue plays a major role, to the general area of Christian conversation. It is a fact that all believers are subject to stumble in many things; all believers sin (1 Kings 8:46; 2 Chronicles 6:36; Proverbs 20:9; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8). But if anyone can control his tongue, it is and indication that (1) he is a mature Christian (the word for “perfect” in the Gk. is teleios, meaning adulthood, full-grown) and (2) he probably will have great success in controlling all other members of his body.

James next introduces five figures of speech, or pictures, in order to convey the power of the tongue, which follows:

The point James is attempting to make in all these descriptive images is that even though the tongue may be small and apparently insignificant in light of all other members of the body, it possesses the greatest power in the production of either divine good, human good or evil. He intends for the Christian to understand that as the tongue goes, so goes the body (Proverbs 16:27; Matthew 15:11, 18-20; Mark 7:15, 20, 23). A believer’s tireless efforts at creating a testimony of good can be completely decimated with only one improper use of the tongue. And he needs Christians to understand that the result of improper speech can quickly explode into a firestorm, a quagmire of evil from which no one escapes. Why? Because the tongue is a primary target of Satan. From the very depths of hell he sends forth his demons to influence every Christian in the use of his tongue. Satan loves nothing better than for God’s children to engage in gossip and in endless belittlement of other Christians. Nothing is more destructive to families, a society, a local church, yea, even the kingdom of God.

It is with the tongue that Christians find such ease in extolling their accomplishments and their virtues. Pride was the ruin of Satan; it is the ruin of many, many Christians in the service for God. Every believer, especially those called into the ministry, should be acutely aware of this trap. Every minister should guard his lips, being extraordinarily careful not to broadcast his spirituality or achievements lest he somehow start to believe his own words. Once a man of God starts down this road, he will find it is often most difficult to make a u-turn back to humility and a favored position with God.

But probably the most important phrase in this entire passage is found in verse 8, “But no man can tame the tongue.” If a Christian will simply realize he is powerless to control his thought processes that are so prodigiously revealed by his speech, he will have taken the first step in bringing his tongue under control. Within the “flesh” (by the power of the sinful nature) man has no ability to produce divine good with his tongue or any other member of his body. Upon this realization, a Christian’s only option is to adopt a true living faith, which is trusting God by the power of the Holy Spirit to control every aspect of his life. In so doing, he will find that his tongue will indeed come under control as well. He then will be “swift to hear and slow to speak.” (James 1:19)

Man is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26; 5:1; 9:6), so why is it that a believer can so easily bless (Gk. eulogeo, meaning to speak well of with ascriptions of praise and thanksgiving) God and with the next breath castigate a person in God’s image? It is incongruous for a believer to use the tongue for both good and evil purposes. It is inconsistent that a common source should produce such opposite results. It is unnatural. A spring does not produce both fresh and bitter (salty) water at the same time. A tree doesn’t bear two different kinds of fruit. It is simply unnatural!

One reason man, both the lost and the saved, is quick to criticize others is too place himself into a position of self-righteousness and self-importance. It is simply pride. The judge is always in a superior position over the one being judged. By criticizing another, the believer establishes himself as the “judge.” He therefore becomes, at least in his mind, superior to the target of his tongue. Christians often castigate others in order to demonstrate their superiority.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

Although the subject is primarily about “wisdom” in the next several verses, it should be understood within the context of the dialog about the “tongue.” James declares that a believer who is wise and understanding will demonstrate his works (both actions and words) in meekness of wisdom. The word “meekness” in the Greek is prautes, meaning an attitude of spirit whereby one accepts God’s dealings as good and does not dispute or resist them. The word “wisdom” in Greek is sophizo, meaning skillful and enlightened reason or “good judgment,” which is the quality of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action, based on knowledge, experience and understanding.

The point is that meekness (or humility) is born from wisdom, which in turn is born from the Word of God. The Word of God may only be absorbed by the soul (the thinking and emotional part of man) under the teaching of the Holy Spirit.

A Christian who has a living faith and thereby is controlled by the Spirit of God will always show humility (meekness) and consideration in his talk about fellow believers. He will not open his mouth without first engaging his mind, always considering the gravity and impact of his words on their lives and reputations.

The opposite of this is a Christian who has no living faith and who lives in envy and self-aggrandizement. In all matters he puts himself first. Such behavior comes from a mind that is always confused and is steeped in evil. He is always putting others around him down, sparing no effort to show his own superiority in spiritual and other matters.

This chapter comes to an end with James exalting the “fruits of wisdom,” which are not unlike the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23; Ephesians 5:9). The point being is that a person controlled by the Holy Spirit will demonstrate the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and his life and speech will always demonstrate the fruits of righteousness. When Christians realize their inability to perform any good under their own power and thereby trust the Spirit of God to control their lives, they will find (1) they are most productive in bringing others to Christ, (2) they will be fully accepting of others (not their sins, but “in love” their persons) and (3) they will endeavor to establish peaceful relations within their local assemblies (churches).

The Christian, by a living faith and continuous consumption of God’s Word, should daily clothe himself by putting off and putting on certain items of dress, concerning speech, which follow. (note: the following was compiled and distributed to the author without any listing of credit)

And finally, some practical scriptural advice.