Here we see some warnings against selfish ambition and a judgmental tongue. This chapter shows us the importance of keeping our tongue in control. Words have power, especially our words because we profess to live our lives according to the gospel of Jesus. The truly wise will be considerate of others, avoiding strife and envy. The bible tells us to judge people by their fruit – the words that come out of our mouths is part of that fruit.
Taming the Tongue
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
In the previous chapter, we saw how faith without works was dead. Now, we are to add to that with our tongues. Just as faith without action is pointless, so is faith without our words. If our words are the opposite of what we profess or what we believe in faith, then your faith has nothing to work with. Verse one has always been a confusing scripture – in the English it implies that those who teach others will be judged more severely. This is true, however, there is so much more than this…. see how it mentions “my fellow believers”? This is because even those who do not teach officially will teach others. They must be careful in how they do this – if it is in a judgmental way, they will be judged harshly by God. If it is with the correct attitude, with compassion, their lives will still be examined by those they are teaching. When we take this into consideration, we should not be judgement of those who fall, instead we should gently restore them. Either way, we will be strictly examined. No teacher is perfect, we all stumble, but those who can control their tongues are better able to keep their entire bodies from falling into sin.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Here the apostle is using life examples to show how important a small thing, such as our tongues, can be. A bit for a horse is not a large piece of metal. But we can control the whole horse with it. Horses are powerful creatures, yet they are controlled by such a small item. Likewise the rudder of a ship is small in perspective to the size of the ship, yet it turns the huge ship. Our tongue is not large, but it can destroy or create with a single word. We have the power of creation or damnation in this small piece of our bodies. Just as a fire starts with a spark, so too can the tongue set off a fire of evil. Consider the way a rumor spreads like a fire. Or gossip. With our words we can send ourselves to hell. My parents always taught me “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” I’ve also heard this saying just recently. “If you argue with a fool, it becomes less evident who is the fool.” These sayings have been on my mind a lot lately with the upcoming elections, and I don’t mean just from listening to the candidates, but also from listening to their supporters.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
Again, it is impossible to be perfect. It takes great strength of character to tame the tongue and no one can do it 100% of the time. But it is the constant struggle against evil that we are called to do. It is not just the constant struggle against the obvious evils of sin, but also to control the evil of our words.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
When we use our tongues over and over daily to pray, to confess, to praise God, we are training it. We must always remember that it is not only ourselves that God created in his image, and sent his son to die for because he loves us… no, he did it for all mankind. So how can we praise God one moment and curse our fellow humans the next? If we are truly seeking to live a life worthy of Christ, it should be impossible. A truly righteous man will never allow evil by his words or his actions.
Two Kinds of Wisdom
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
Here it is. You can tell those who are wise by their fruit. It will show in their lives, in the things they do for others without the expectation of something in return. They don’t boast of what they do, but it is evident in everything they say, everything they do, and every aspect of their lives and their relationships. When those who have bitterness in their hearts, or envy, or selfishness deny the truth about what is in their hearts, or worse, boast about their evil thoughts…. they are hypocrites, imposters, false. Their wisdom comes only from unspiritual and earthly or demonic sources. It will be evident in their lives, even if they deny the truth and put on a “show” of righteousness around their brothers and sisters in Christ. The truth is always evident in their lives. Their lives will be full of chaos, their relationships will always be in turmoil.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
Jesus was the perfect example of what wisdom from heaven is like. David and Solomon, and many of the others mentioned in the bible are also examples, but like all humans, they had their failings. Here the scripture shows us what true heavenly wisdom should be like, and adds the promise of the heavenly reward to those who practice it. This is why their lives show this fruit, because it is the evidence of the wisdom from heaven that is pure, peace-loving, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Their lives will be a harvest of righteousness and peace.
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