Taming The Taming The TongueTongue

(Part 1)(Part 1)

James 1:19,26; 3:1-12James 1:19,26; 3:1-12

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More Than ProfessionMore Than Profession James 1:22 “Be ye doers of the word James 1:22 “Be ye doers of the word

and not hearers only, deluding your and not hearers only, deluding your own selves …”own selves …”

James 2:14ffJames 2:14ff – Saving faith is a working – Saving faith is a working faith.faith.

James 3James 3 – Is your tongue being controlled – Is your tongue being controlled by faith?by faith?cf. 2 Corinthians 10:5cf. 2 Corinthians 10:5 2

More Than ProfessionMore Than Profession

Regardless of how scrupulous Regardless of how scrupulous one might be about observing one might be about observing outward religious forms, if we outward religious forms, if we do not bridle our tongues, we do not bridle our tongues, we deceive ourselves; we displease deceive ourselves; we displease God; and our religion is vain. God; and our religion is vain. (cf. Matthew 15:8-9,19)(cf. Matthew 15:8-9,19)

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More Than ProfessionMore Than Profession

Taming the tongue is not just Taming the tongue is not just a matter of good taste or a matter of good taste or avoiding embarrassment.avoiding embarrassment.

It has to do with our It has to do with our salvation or damnation! salvation or damnation! (cf. (cf. Matthew 12:34-37)Matthew 12:34-37)

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““Ye Know This…”Ye Know This…” ““The tongue of the righteous is as The tongue of the righteous is as

choice silver” choice silver” (Proverbs 10:20).(Proverbs 10:20). ““Set a watch, O Jehovah, before my Set a watch, O Jehovah, before my

mouth; Keep the door of my lips” mouth; Keep the door of my lips” (Psalms 141:3).(Psalms 141:3).

““Whoso keepeth his mouth and his Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles” tongue keepeth his soul from troubles” (Proverbs 21:23).(Proverbs 21:23).

““A word fitly spoken is like apples of A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in network of silver” gold in network of silver” (Proverbs (Proverbs 25:11).25:11). 5

““Ye Know This…”Ye Know This…” ““In the multitude of words there In the multitude of words there

wanteth not transgression; but he wanteth not transgression; but he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely” that refraineth his lips doeth wisely” (Proverbs 10:19).(Proverbs 10:19).

““He that guardeth his mouth He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life; but he that openeth keepeth his life; but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction” wide his lips shall have destruction” (Proverbs 13:3)(Proverbs 13:3)..

““Seest thou a man that is hasty in Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him” fool than of him” (Proverbs 29:20).(Proverbs 29:20).

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““Ye Know This…”Ye Know This…” ““A soft answer turneth away A soft answer turneth away

wrath; but a grievous word wrath; but a grievous word stireth up anger” stireth up anger” (Proverbs (Proverbs 15:1)15:1)..

““Death and life are in the Death and life are in the power of the tongue” power of the tongue” (Proverbs (Proverbs 18:21).18:21).

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““Be not many of you Be not many of you teachers …”teachers …”James 3:1James 3:1 In some respect we are all teachers. In some respect we are all teachers.

Ephesians 6:4; Titus 2:3; Hebrews 5:12-Ephesians 6:4; Titus 2:3; Hebrews 5:12-1414

The teacher has a grave responsibility. The teacher has a grave responsibility. It is more than just a position. It is more than just a position. Matthew 23:7-Matthew 23:7-

1010 Must edify. Must edify. 1 Corinthians 14:26; Ephesians 1 Corinthians 14:26; Ephesians

4:294:29 Preparation and Faithfulness necessary. Preparation and Faithfulness necessary. 1 1

Timothy 4:13-16; cf. 1 Timothy 1:7; Romans Timothy 4:13-16; cf. 1 Timothy 1:7; Romans 2:17-242:17-24 8

““Be not many of you Be not many of you teachers…”teachers…”James 3:1James 3:1

Tragedy associated with the wrong Tragedy associated with the wrong kind of teachers.kind of teachers. Vain hope. Vain hope. Jeremiah 23:16-23Jeremiah 23:16-23 Turn people from God. Turn people from God. Jeremiah 23:26-Jeremiah 23:26-

27; 6:16; 5:30-31; cf. Isaiah 30:1027; 6:16; 5:30-31; cf. Isaiah 30:10 Preaching the message of God turns Preaching the message of God turns

people TO God. people TO God. Matthew 12:41; Matthew 12:41; Jonah 3:1-2Jonah 3:1-2

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““Greater judgment” Greater judgment” James 3:1James 3:1

Important message. Important message. 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians 1:21; cf. 1 Corinthians 2:31:21; cf. 1 Corinthians 2:3

Preach the word. Preach the word. 2 Timothy 4:2ff; 1 2 Timothy 4:2ff; 1 Peter 4:11Peter 4:11

What if I fail???What if I fail??? Acts 20:20, 27Acts 20:20, 27 Responsible for others. Responsible for others. Galatians 1:6-7Galatians 1:6-7 Anathema of God. Anathema of God. Galatians 2:5Galatians 2:5 Truth does not continue. Truth does not continue. 2 John 9ff2 John 9ff Fellowship with God severed. Fellowship with God severed.

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Eternal consequences for Eternal consequences for leading men in the wrong leading men in the wrong

direction.direction. 1 Timothy 1:3-41 Timothy 1:3-4 – – strife and strife and

questions follow such teaching.questions follow such teaching. Paul warned the Ephesian elders, Paul warned the Ephesian elders,

“And from among your own selves “And from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples things, to draw away the disciples after them.” after them.” (Acts 20:30)(Acts 20:30)

Those who taught the Gentiles to be Those who taught the Gentiles to be circumcised were circumcised were “subverting your “subverting your souls.”souls.”((cf. Acts 15:24)cf. Acts 15:24)

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Eternal consequences for Eternal consequences for leading men in the wrong leading men in the wrong

direction.direction. Hymenaeus and Philetus erred, Hymenaeus and Philetus erred, “saying “saying that the resurrection is past that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of already, and overthrow the faith of some.” (2 Timothy 2:14-18)some.” (2 Timothy 2:14-18)

Peter said of false teachers, Peter said of false teachers, “And “And many shall follow their lascivious many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of.” of the truth shall be evil spoken of.” (2 Peter 2:2)(2 Peter 2:2)

Paul wrote, Paul wrote, “This I say, that no one “This I say, that no one may delude you with persuasiveness may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.” (Colossians 2:4)of speech.” (Colossians 2:4) 12

Eternal consequences for Eternal consequences for leading men in the wrong leading men in the wrong

direction.direction.

Little comfort in Little comfort in saying, “But I didn’t saying, “But I didn’t know …”know …”

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Effect NOT Determined By Effect NOT Determined By Motive Motive

Of TeacherOf Teacher Philippians 1:15-18Philippians 1:15-18

Motive Wrong – Teaching right.Motive Wrong – Teaching right. Galatians 1:13-14; Acts 23:1; Galatians 1:13-14; Acts 23:1;

26:9; 26:9; 1 Timothy 1:131 Timothy 1:13

Motive right – Teaching wrong.Motive right – Teaching wrong.

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