James 3:1-12 Bible Study Notes

Bible Study Notes – James 3:1-12

We continue our study of the book of James, a New Testament study in wisdom.  James encourages the Jewish Christians of the first century with practical methods and means of persevering in the Christian faith despite the persecution they suffer.  In our study, we glean from his practical advice and appropriate these principles to our twenty-first century contexts.  This week’s passage concerns “Taming the Tongue.”  James draws an analogy between the tongue and the spark of a match in a dry forest.  Gossip and unsavory language have the potential to cause great damage.  He explores the difference that words and speech make in our lives.  He exhorts his audience to learn self-discipline, acquire purity and practice integrity as it relates to conversation and communication.

Consider the following ideas and questions as you study the text.

• In the first verse, James warns all believers against a zealousness to teach the Word of God.  What leads him to make this warning?  He issues the warning while also cautioning believers to guard their tongues.  What is the connection between the two warnings?
• The second verse of the passage says that teachers will receive a harsher judgment.  If they are misguided, in their blindness, they will lead other people in the wrong direction.  Also, as it is virtually impossible to tame the tongue, teachers bear a greater responsibility for verbal self-discipline because the people who uncritically accept their lessons.  On a more practical level, consider the people who learn racial prejudice and discrimination at the dinner table.  Perhaps, such ideas were reinforced at Sunday School and in the pulpits of many churches.
• James, in the third verse, uses the image of the bit in the horse’s mouth which turns the animal if the farmer pulls on the rein.  Likewise, the tongue controls the person if he or she possesses self-discipline.
• In the next verse, he extends the metaphor by referring to the power of the rudder to steer a ship although it is the smallest part of the ship.
• The first verse extends the imagery to its ultimate point.  An unrestrained tongue parallels a match in a dry forest.
• In the sixth verse, James characterizes the tongue as a “fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.”  The tongue has the potential to corrupt the whole person and derail his or her life plan.  Recall the comments of former Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi in 2002 on the occasion of the late Senator Strom Thurmond’s 100^th birthday party.  Also, recall the comments of the late Jimmy “The Greek” about Blacks and slavery, the fictional character of Kramer at a comedy club in Los Angeles when he was heckled, Mel Gibson when he was arrested for drunk driving, Jesse Jackson about certain residents in New York City, a candidate for Governor in Texas about women and rape, and former President of Harvard University, Dr. Lawrence Summers’, remarks about the ability of females to learn math and science.  All of these people’s lives and careers were altered fundamentally because of comments that they made. 
• Actually, James argues that the tongue can be set on fire by hell.
• James potentially lapses into hopelessness in the eighth verse as he states that no one can tame the tongue.  Simply, “it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”  Think of the destruction in marriages, families, churches, communities, work environments and nations that gossip, rumors and lies have wrought!  Is there any hope?
• The next three verses, James 3:9-11, offer a challenge to the believer to strive for integrity in speech.  Salt and fresh water to flow from the same source.  Likewise, foul, profane and hurtful language should not come out of the same mouth that praises the Lord.
• Essentially, taming the tongue is one of the most important practices of spiritual and self discipline that a believer faces.