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James 3:1-12 contains the single most sustained discussion in the New Testament on the use of the tongue. I take the author of this little book to have been James, the half-brother of our Lord Jesus. It is clear that he is steeped in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament Scriptures and also in the teaching of the Lord Jesus, to which his own teaching has many parallels. Both the book of Proverbs and our Lord Jesus spoke with searching clarity about the nature and use of the tongue. James walks in their footprints. Much of what he says is a powerful exposé of the sin and failure that mar our speech.

In this way James’s words exemplify the central purposes of the teaching and preaching of God’s Word. The resulting effect will be to “reprove, rebuke, and exhort” (2 Timothy 4:2). But James’s message also exemplifies what Paul calls the profitability or usefulness of sacred Scripture: “teaching . . . correction . . . [child-]training.”

In a word, the immediate focus of James’s teaching — one might say the same of all apostolic teaching — is to bring Christian believers to maturity. Here, as well as in other places, he is completely in harmony with the way the apostle Paul employed all his God-given powers: “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me” (Colossians 1:28-29).

In fact, this is one of James’s burdens also. His five chapters constitute an extended piece of pastoral preaching, laced as it is with words of wisdom and warning. All along his goal is to lead his readers and hearers — men and women who were possibly once under his direct pastoral care but are now widely scattered — to full spiritual maturity, so that their whole being, without reservation, should be wholly Christ’s.

We find that this motif runs through the entire book. As we come upon it in chapter 3, he has already shown (1) how spiritual maturity develops through response to suffering, and (2) how spiritual maturity is enhanced by response to the Word. Now he goes on to show that (3) spiritual maturity is evidenced by the use of the tongue. The mastery of it is one of the clearest marks of a whole person, a true Christian. Tongue-mastery is the fruit of self-mastery.

We will examine this teaching in order to accomplish three goals: (1) to “walk” through James 3:1-12 in order to feel the weight of its appeal; (2) to set this teaching in context of the whole book of James to discover that it is, in effect, only the tip of the iceberg of what he has to say about our speech; (3) to place these words in the broader gospel context that lies behind the book of James.

Doubtless that most, if not all, have not heard the name of the man who is the author of this month's Article of the Month; Sinclair Ferguson. His subject, as you can plainly see from the above quote from the introduction of this lecture, concerns something which we all are involved; our speech. When sinners are made anew by the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit one of the first sins that is brought to our attention that is need of repentance is that of our words, how we speak. What horror resides in our depraved nature and spewed out by the use of our tongue. And thus, when that sin-laden nature is regenerated and the process of sanctification occurs what we think and thus speak is changed. Yes, it is a process to be sure and not a complete radical change. But nevertheless, that which once proceeded out of our wicked hearts is far different than it once was. IF this is not the case for you, then perhaps a serious self-examination is called for concerning your soul. Dr. Ferguson deals with the difficulty in taming the tongue and the power it has both in our witness and how it effects those who hear our words. This is a lecture which we ALL need to hear/read regardless of where we stand before God. Grow in grace or groan in disgrace. wink

You can read this article now by simply clicking here: The Tongue, The Bridle, and the Blessing: an Exposition of James 3:1-12.

Or, for later reading you can visit The Highway website and click on the "Article of the Month" logo. There you will find this month's article and all past Article of the Month articles.

In His service and grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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