The power of the tongue! Lives have been both lifted and ruined by the tongue. Nations and civilizations have risen and fallen to the tongue. Goodness and mercy have streamed like a gentle river from our speech, but so has a cesspool of filth. The tiny tongue wields a mighty power in our lives.
Think of that one hurtful text message or a Facebook post that someone said, “You should kill yourself or KYS,” that led to someone actually doing something drastic (self-harm or attempted suicide). As parents, think of the unrealistic expectation that you place on your children – saying, “Why can’t you do this? Why can’t you be like this person?” and the effect that has on your child, or that one phrase that you say to your spouse in the heat of the argument – which you immediately regret saying right after, and wish you could take it back – but it’s already been said – the damage is done. Reputations ruined, relationships scarred, families broken – because of the tongue…
So, it is crucial for us as believers to control our tongues—before our tongues control our lives and wreak havoc—we need to conquer our tongues—before they conquer us. There is a technique called “grappling” in wrestling in which one attempts to take down their opponent and place them into a submission hold. And James, in our text today, emphasizes a similar idea as he speaks about the power of our words. He insists that we need to control our tongues… or tackle our tongues into submission, because if we let our words loose, not only will it grow increasingly difficult to control, but it will also wreak havoc in our lives.
In this message – I want to draw our attention specifically to the three metaphors in verses 3-6 that James uses to describe the different aspects of the tongue – to see the danger it poses if it is not controlled, but also the blessing that comes, as one finally brings the speech into submission…
First, we need to control the tongue because if you can control the tongue, you can control the whole body. In verse 3, James illustrates this by using the image of a horse. We know that a horse is an incredibly powerful animal; an average horse weighs about 1000 pounds and can pull a carriage that is two or three times its weight. Some horses bred specifically for pulling can even pull up to ten times their weight. Without a burden, that same horse can sprint a quarter mile in about 20-25 seconds. For reference, a Lamborghini completes a quarter mile in about 10 seconds. Thus, the horse epitomizes raw and uncontrolled power! James associates the tongue with this idea. However, put a bridle and a bit in its mouth, and place a one-hundred-pound child who knows what he is doing – and the horse can literally be made to dance…
So, what James is getting at is that the tiny little bit in a horse is tremendously important because that bit differentiates between constructive power and destructive power. The controlled horse can be used constructively to move things or get places quickly, while the uncontrolled horse will only bring destruction.
The tongue is the same—something as small as the tongue has tremendous power. It has the potential to create constructive or destructive power. If you can control your tongue to utter only God-honoring, people-loving words, you will wield tremendous power to do good in your lives. You can abstain from the most difficult sins or temptations, becoming a perfect (or whole) person, as James likes to emphasize in his letters. We will see shortly why speech is so important to James; it indeed has that much power!
The second reason is that if you can control your tongue, you will stay on course in your journey of faith. Your relationship with God will not be affected until the day you meet Jesus in heaven—all because you can control your tongue.
This is what I mean: the second image James uses is in verse 4, where he illustrates a ship and a rudder. It conveys the same idea as the horse. Ships, regardless of their size, are controlled by the rudder—a small part at the back of the ship, usually just a fraction of its size—that directs the entire vessel and its course. Control the rudder, and you control the entire ship. It’s a similar analogy to the horse and the bit.
But what I want to draw your attention to is this: James introduces the influences of outside forces. Verse 4 states that the ship is driven by strong winds—winds and waves that can take the ship off course or destroy it altogether. Here, the second analogy that James uses differs slightly because the weather and the wind exemplify outside influences on the ship. The person who maintains control of the rudder, much like the person who controls the tongue, can navigate difficult circumstances and stay on course.
So, James suggests that if you can control your tongue, you can endure external circumstances, navigate through temptations to sin and trials that Satan presents, and remain steadfast in your faith.
At this point, you might be thinking, I know the tongue can be destructive... but aren’t there other sins that are worse? What’s so bad about a little gossip compared to murder? Why does James prioritize issues of speech above everything else? What is it about controlling our tongue that’s so significant?
For James—this is what he emphasizes throughout the entire letter—that a speech problem is a heart problem. Genuine faith is demonstrated through our speech, and controlling our speech shows that we have mastery over our hearts. Even our Lord Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks"—so what you say reflects what is in your heart. Your speech acts as a window, revealing what your heart is truly like. The tongue is a tattletale that exposes the heart and uncovers the real person within you; it functions like a mirror. Speech reflects your heart, so pure and gracious speech indicates a heart that is in a right relationship with God. The person who controls their speech demonstrates their living faith through their ability to govern their tongue. Genuine faith is apparent through speech—that’s why, for James, controlling the tongue Managing the tongue is essential. It serves as evidence that we possess genuine faith and that our heart is whole.
Third, we need to control our tongue because it can be destructive. In verse 5, James uses the illustration of a small fire that can incinerate an entire forest. This is James’s biggest concern—the destructive power of the tongue. He makes a provocative statement in verse 6, saying that the tongue sets itself above the world of sin, meaning that it contains all the wickedness of the world system. It sets the entire course of life on fire, and the very destructive power of the tongue comes from hell.
I think the best illustration of this reality is what happened in Maui. A fire swept through the historic town of Lahaina, burning everything in its path and taking hundreds of lives in the process. This incident affected me personally because the exact area that was incinerated is where my wife and I went for our honeymoon last year. I remember the delicious seafood restaurant and the Dole Whip at the pineapple store—all those things gone in an instant.
That is the destructive power of the tongue—it incinerates everything. The gossip we spread, the empty flattery we offer, the lies we tell, the criticism we give, the hurtful things we say to others reflect an An uncontrolled tongue ultimately shows that we are not in a right relationship with God.
We need to control our tongue. However, as we revisit the verse, James concludes with this statement about the tongue: in verse 8, he says, “No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”
James is writing to a group of believers—Jewish Christians—yet he emphasizes that no human being can tame the tongue. We know we need to control our tongue before it causes destruction to ourselves and those around us, but it seems impossible. Due to our fallen nature and sin, fully controlling it is beyond our reach. I won’t illustrate this further; let’s reflect on our lives, and quickly, we will recognize how often we have acted as agents of destruction because we couldn’t control our tongue.
But my dear friends, that doesn’t have to be our life. We don’t need to continue living with an uncontrolled tongue. We can exert control over our speech and use it in God-honoring ways. Why? Because the problem with our speech is a heart problem. And Jesus Christ allows our hearts to be renewed and changed. The only one capable of changing our hearts is the one who created them.
Look to Jesus Christ. We have said many bad and sinful things, yet Jesus spoke a better word through his blood. Our words often condemn and bring death, while Jesus’ word proclaims life; in him, there is now no condemnation. Jesus Christ covered the cost of every wrong word we’ve ever uttered or will ever utter—every bit of gossip, every curse, every lie, every complaint, every angry word, and every sinful expression from the darkness of our hearts. Jesus bore the weight and died on the cross. We CAN control our tongues, church – because Jesus took our speech problem… our heart problem to the cross – and has given us the Spirit who helps us and empowers us to control our tongues and speak God-honoring and people-loving words. James calls us to closely examine our tongues – as believers, what kinds of words come out of our mouths? Let that be a reflection of the condition of your heart…
Church, if you find yourself unable to control your tongue – pray, pray, and pray. Ask God to cleanse your heart and your tongue with the blood of Jesus Christ… so that you can gain control over your tongue…
Then, church, if you find yourself struggling to control your tongue – let’s commit to disciplining ourselves regarding the use of our words – not to criticize, gossip, curse, or say hurtful things. Just run away from those situations. Or here’s a better option – simply don’t speak! As we end, the tongue, though tiny, is immensely powerful… With the Spirit’s help, control your tongue before it controls you. May we use our tongues to bring glory to God and love our neighbors. May we demonstrate our faith through our good speech.
