notes

Main point summary

The natural state of the tongue is untamable and capable of complete destruction in our own lives and others, but this ought not to be the case for the regenerate... we are new creatures who produce fruit that matches our new nature.

James 3:5b-12

editing

NT

James 3:5-12

esv

mine

So also the tongue is a small member, yet h it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze

Action- a great forest is set ablaze

by such a small fire!

BY a small fire

actionmanner

And i the tongue is a fire,

The tongue is a fire

a world of unrighteousness.

THAT IS its a world of unrighteousness

ideaexplanation

The tongue is set among our members,

AND the tongue is set among our members

j staining the whole body,

WITH THE RESULT THAT it stains the whole body

setting on fire the entire course of life, 1

MOREOVER setting on fire the entire course of life

progression

actionresult

and set on fire by hell. 2

and its set on fire BY hell.

For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed

Every kind of creature can be tamed

and has been tamed

AND has been

by mankind,

BY mankind

but no human being can tame the tongue.

BUT no human can tame the tongue

alternative

It is a restless evil,

BECAUSE it is a restless evil

k full of deadly poison.

THAT IS, full of deadly poison

With it we bless our Lord and Father,

With it we bless our Lord and Father

and with it we curse people

ON THE OTHER HAND we curse people

l who are made in the likeness of God.

THAT IS those made in the likeness of God

From the same mouth come blessing

Mouths can bless

and cursing.

OR they can curse

bilateral

series

My brothers, 1 these things ought not to be so.

These things ought not to be

Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?

Does a spring have both fresh and salt water?

Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives,

Can a fig tree bear olives?

or a grapevine produce figs?

or grapevines produce figs?

Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

The answer is no.

questionanswer

negativepositive

I think James is yet again warning the brethren. He goes into great detail describing the damage (its a fire, a world of unrighteousness) amount of control (its untamable) and hypocrisy (blessing the Lord and cursing men) the tongue is capable of. 10c is where the check point comes in.... as if James is saying "If this resembles your life.... it ought not to" We are new creatures who bear fruit that resemble that new creature. Luke 6:43 "For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit" We produce what we are.... if we are a fig tree we produce figs, not olives..if we are a salt pond we produce saltwater not fresh...if we are a good tree we produce good fruit, not bad... if we are a new creature in Christ behold new things have come, old things have passed away. (2 Corinthians 5:17). So again I think its warning that if our life resembles a destructive, untamed, hypocritical tongue...then we may want to really examine ourselves. I again think of "what proceeds out of the mouth comes from the heart". How can we be so sure our heart has been changed if our tongue is untamed. Sure, no man can tame the tongue, but with Christ, yes! We are no longer slaves to sin but slaves to righteousness. Although the christian will struggle with sin in this area, its not a pattern... its no longer a poison, world of unrighteousness or untamable. Praise Jesus that through Him, we can have tamed tongues that can be used for His glory.

discourse