Immanuel Lutheran Church, Mankato
Study of James -- Lesson #11
March 12, 2000
James 3:7-12

James 3:7-12 [NKJV]

For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

Verses 7-8: For every kind of beasts/wild animals and birds, reptiles and sea creatures is being tamed [–—] and has been tamed [•—] by the human kind; but the tongue…no one among men is able to tame it – an unstable evil full of death-bearing poison.

• KIND: "kind" (in the verses above) refers to the natural endowment or condition of something; the natural characteristics and disposition, the natural order of things. "Kind" is used both of the variety of animals that humans are able to tame, and also of "human-KIND."
• --Animals: When referring to the animals "every kind" it combines with the listing of animals (beasts, birds, reptiles, sea creatures) to point out that animals of all types, characteristics, dispositions, etc. have been tamed/subdued.
• --Human beings: By using the same word in "the human kind" James :
1. creates a contrast between the animals and man. It’s human kind taming animal kind, not one of the animals training a "brother" (cf: evolutionary theory and scientific classification that human beings are part of the animal kingdom).
2. reminds that part of the God-established "natural order" of things is that man subdues and governs the rest of creation (cf: Genesis 1:26,28)
3. emphasizes the dramatic power of the tongue because if the taming of animals is "natural" and possible, and the tongue can’t be likewise tamed; it is almost as if the tongue is unnaturally wild!
• "…is being tamed and has been tamed…" – James expresses the taming of animals in two different kinds of action: 1) a taming that is presently going on/continuing; and 2) taming that has been done but the results of which continue. In other words, mankind has SUCCESSFULLY tamed animals –but can’t do the same with the tongue!
• "…unstable evil…" The tongue is "unstable/restless" in the same way that James described a double-minded man as "unstable in all his ways" (James 1:8, cf: notes on that verse). "Evil" refers to a flawed character; not just evil deeds but evil in its nature. Something that would be either unstable or evil would be cause for caution. A tongue that is BOTH is indeed dangerous!
• "…full of death-bearing poison…" The "poison" literally refers to "something active." The NT Greek uses the same word for "rust" because of its corrosive action at destroying metal. In the case of poison it would indicate a most serious kind of poison, one that eats away at tissue and destroys life. It is not simply a potentially deadly poison, it is a death bearing poison.
• The poison of the tongue comes in different "flavors." Sometimes the poison is the tongues laughter, sometimes its silence, sometimes its lies. The poison can take the form of gossip, bragging, belittling others, etc.
• No one among men is able to tame the tongue -- James doesn’t say that the tongue is untamable, rather, he says no one among men can tame it. The wild-fiery tongue is tamed by Christ Jesus and the even greater power of His Word. A tongue guided by a heart that is ruled by Christ is a tongue in control.
• Don’t be deluded into thinking that any man can tame his tongue.
• Read: Psalm 140:1-4 (Romans 3:13)

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Verse 9: With the tongue we are speaking well of the Lord and Father, and with the tongue we are cursing (our fellow) men who are made in the likeness of God.

• James points out the sinful inconsistency of our tongues. On the one hand we use our tongues to praise God; but on the other hand we use the same tongues to curse one another. "Cursing" does refer to "full-blown" cursing but may also include any kind of expression that either speaks or wishes something negative upon another person.
• The inconsistency of a tongue that both "blesses" and "curses" is something James discusses still further in the next three verses. The repetitiveness of James’ illustrations of this single point demonstrate great emphasis—James (by inspiration) clearly felt very strongly about this misuse of the tongue.
• By grammatical rule of the Greek NT, "Lord" and "Father" refer to the same person, i.e. Lord = Father. Cf: 1 Chronicles 29:10: "Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever."
• "speak well of" = the more familiar "blessing," cf: eulogy
• That a tongue would BOTH bless and curse is sinning because of the inconsistency. However, just the cursing itself is condemned as sinful BECAUSE it is directed toward fellowmen who were created in the "likeness of God."
• God created mankind in His image (Genesis 1:26-27; cf: Genesis 5:1) i.e., in righteousness, perfection, and with a happy, fearless, peaceful knowledge of God (cf: Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10)
• The "image of God" was lost when sin entered the world
• The Image of God is regained through Christ by the creation of the New Man within the converted sinner (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10). HOWEVER, even apart from this "re-creation," because man was created in the image of God (even though he lost it through sin) makes it a sin to curse him. It is on this same basis that God protects human life and prescribes punishment for murder: Read Genesis 9:6.
• CARE NEEDS TO BE EXERCISED lest we leave the impression that unregenerate/unconverted man is still in "God’s Image." There are prominent people who strive for social perfection on the basis of what they believe an ongoing condition of "being in the image of God." The very social ills they are trying to cure are evidence that this is not the case.
• Why should people created in the image of God curse their fellowman also created in the image of God?
• In the 2^nd commandment cursing is forbidden because it is a misuse of God’s name. Here cursing is forbidden also because it is an "attack" on the special creation of God.
• The "double-tongue" described by James contradicts what both Jesus said (Luke 6:28) and the what the Apostle Paul wrote (Romans 12:14).
• "Thus the tongue is made an instrument of evil in calling down God’s wrath and punishment upon a fellow-man. There is no excuse for this, neither loss of temper nor heated controversy. It is a vile transgression, an evil habit, aggravated by the fact that blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth." [Kretzmann, p. 508]

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Verses 10-12: Out of the same mouth come out blessing and cursing. NOT, it is fitting, my brothers, for these things to be this way. A spring out of the same hole in the ground doesn’t pour forth both sweet (water) and (sharply) bitter water, does it? (OF COURSE NOT!). My brothers, a fig tree is not able to produce olives or a grapevine produce figs are they? (OF COURSE NOT!). Neither is a salty (spring) able to produce sweet water.

• "blessing" "cursing" and "not" are all emphatic (v. 10)
• The praising and blessing is as it should be. The cursing is the pollutant in the well.
• The two questions which James asks both EXPECT "No" for an answer. So, although the "of course not" answers are not in the text, they are implied.
• The illustrations of the spring "producing" a kind of water, again alludes to the truth that what the tongue spews forth is really a product of what lies beneath. Read: Matthew 15:11,18,20

SAD CONCLUSIONS

" …we all stumble in many ways…the tongue is a fire…no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil…out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing…" (James 3:1ff)

JOYFUL CONCLUSIONS:

"Where sin abounded (even the abundant sins of the tongue) grace abounded much more!" (Romans 5:20)

"For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." (1 Peter 2:21-25)