James 3:7-18 NKJV
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
“Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”
We learn in the explanation to the first article of the Creed that “God has made me, along with all created things; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still preserves them;” Not just everything we have, but everything we are, is all a gift of God. It should all be used to His glory.
We are specifically warned against the misuse of our tongues in the explanation to the Second Commandment: “We should fear and love God, that we do not curse, swear, practice witchcraft, lie, or deceive by His name;” Cursing is actually more specific than just using bad language. It involves calling down the wrath of God upon a situation, or people or person. It is, clearly, the opposite of a blessing, wherein one calls down the favor of God on someone or something.
St. James admonishes us: our mouths ought not to speak both blessing and cursing. Our Lord even tells us “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you” (Matthew 5:44). While we were God’s enemies, Christ died for us. God grant us to repent of the careless use of our mouths, faithfully to receive forgiveness through faith in Christ, and to confess that faith by speaking thoughtful and righteous words.
As the explanation to the Eighth Commandment exhorts the new man to do: “We should fear and love God, that we do not falsely deceive, betray, or slander our neighbor, or give him a bad reputation; but defend him, speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything.”
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.