James 3:1-6 NKJV
3 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
St. James is inspired, yet again, to speak about the importance of taming the tongue. He did this back in his very first chapter “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.” (1:26)
The early Lutheran father, Johann Spangenberg writes this about man’s unbridled tongue: “Worthless talk is all that does not agree with the facts. Not only St. James forbids such blasphemy, but so does St. Paul when he says, “Let no unwholesome talk proceed from your mouth” (Eph. 4[:29]. Indeed, Christ says, “I say to you that men must give an account on the Last Day for every worthless word that they spoke” (Matt.12[:36]).
He means, “Among all sinful works, none so thoroughly corrupts the true service of God, along with all government, as an untamed tongue the is not kept bridled but expresses whatever comes to mind, whether good or bad, falsehood or truth, useful or harmful.” (Christian Year of Grace, Matthew Carver, Pg. 196, CPH)
How so, you might be wondering? Well, what is more harmful in common gatherings of men than a chattering tongue that does nothing but hurts people both secretly or openly; doing harm to their good reputation? What is more harmful in the Church and the communion of Saints than a wicked, poisonous tongue of a false preacher, who leads simple hearts astray and poisons them with his false doctrine.
Rejoice, dear Saints! You are blessed to have proper proclamation of God’s Word pronounced into your ears and right administered of God’s Sacraments to create and sustain your God-given faith. Give thanks for faithful pastors.
Let us pray: O Lord, since You never fail to help and govern those whom You nurture in Your steadfast fear and love, work in us a perpetual fear and love of Your holy name: through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.