James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
James 1:26 "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is vain." Taming the tongue is something very difficult for God’s people to do.
Matthew 5:37 "But let your communication be, Yea, yea; nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." James tells us if a man does not offend by his words, this is a perfect man. A mature man in thinking before he speaks.
Matthew 5:48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." If our words reflect purity, honor, and kindness we have reached a maturity like that of Jesus Christ. And we have the capacity to control the most difficult member of our body; the tongue. If we control the tongue, we control the other members of the body. The words that a person speaks reveals the natural tendencies of his thoughts. If we control our thoughts to the point that our words are like the words of the Messiah, the whole body will be well dominated, subject to the will of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 12:36-37 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
James 3: 8-10 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the likeness of God. Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. He who desires to curse others with words of dishonesty is he that has seeds of evil planted in his heart.
Matthew 13:25 "But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way." But the believer who rejects cursing, or speaking evil of others, is a believer that has the Holy Spirit. Praising and blessing is complimenting the best, not the worst, in our fellow believers. It is the same with the Almighty. Would a believer dare to speak evil of the Creator? Surely not! We cannot say, ‘We love you, Lord’ and curse our brother. The religious believer deceives himself, thinking that God will incline his ear to listen to his praises. But God closes his ears when we curse and speak evil of our neighbor, who is made in the image of God. Genesis 1:26.
The believer who speaks evil degrades himself. James 3:5 "Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles." James shows us here the potential of this organ whether it be for good or for evil. With something so small much can be lost. The believer should avoid speaking words of destruction.
James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a word of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
Matthew 15:11 Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man, but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man. Cursing comes from hatred and demonstrates the very spirit of Satan. He who curses is full of hatred and this comes straight from hell. Revelation 12:10 calls Satan the accuser and liar that speaks evil of and degrades our fellow believers. Choose today the blessing or the curse. The mixing of blessing and cursing signifies the lack of sincerity. The believer that speaks with a double tongue is not sincere. Proverbs 18:21 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue…"
Today let us take every thought captive, to the obedience of Christ, and speak words of blessing. In Jesus Christ. Amen
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