A Warning About Our Words

James 3
¹ Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. ² For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

1. Words are .

³ If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. ⁴ Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.

2. Words are .

Death and life are in the power of the tongue… (Proverbs 18:21)

⁵ So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

3. Words can be .

⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

4. Words can be .

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself out of trouble. (Proverbs 21:23)

⁹ With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. ¹⁰ From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

5. Words are .

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34)

Some helpful Bible verses:

A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)

If one gives an answer before he hears,
it is his folly and shame. (Proverbs 18:13)

A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
but a wise man quietly holds it back. (Proverbs 29:11)

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ… (Ephesians 4:15)

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29)

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)