"Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you realize that we will be judged more strictly, for we all fall short in many respects. If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide their whole bodies. It is the same with ships: even though they are so large and driven by fierce winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination wishes. In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions. Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze. The tongue is also a fire. It exists among our members as a world of malice, defiling the whole body and setting the entire course of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by Gehenna. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This need not be so, my brothers. Does a spring gush forth from the same opening both pure and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can salt water yield fresh. (Js. 3:1-12)."
The author of James said, “Know this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain (Js. 1:19,26).” Teachers were important in the early Church (1 Cor. 12:28) and James warned that those who sought authority and prestige from teaching for selfish gain would be judged more harshly. Since teaching is effected through speech the author gave warning about the evils of the tongue which is the instrument by which speech is effected. A great deal of harm can be caused by sins of the tongue which are easy to commit. Wild beasts can be tamed but the human tongue cannot be tamed. We bless God and curse others with the tongue. From the tongue comes both good and evil. If we can learn to control our tongue, we can learn self-control which will help us to avoid other temptations. We should always control our speech so as to avoid harming others.
Almighty God, we ask that you help us to control our thoughts and our speech so that we do not intentionally or unintentionally harm others. In your mercy grant us the strength of will to control our words and deeds so that we may praise you with our tongues and lead others to salvation by our deeds. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References:
Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, (Eds.). (1990, 1968). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentis Hall, Inc.
Jose M. Casciaro, Santiago Ausin, Gonzalo Aranda, Claudio Basevi, Vincente Balaguer, Francisco Varo, James Gavigan, Brian McCarthy & Thomas McGovern (Eds.). (2017). The Navarre Bible - New Testament. Dublin 8, Ireland: Four Courts Press.
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