JAMES lays his finger on real and deep issues of human behaviour, and failure in love and holiness in Christians. The one he brings before us in these verses is the matter and problem of the 'tongue'.

By the 'tongue' James is drawing our attention to speech, and he uses the organ of tongue, because it is the organ that enables us to produce intelligible speech.

James points out that our tongue is a very small organ of the body, but has extraordinary power for good or evil. James illistrates this by speaking of how horses can be controlled by the small bit put in their mouths; and the largest ships can be controlled by such a small thing as the rudder. The power which the tongue has is out of all proportion to its size.

James then causes us to consider how hard it is to control our tongues. A fire can be started by a small spark, and soon grows in size to a proportion which is out of control. James likens the tongue to a spark, which soon gets out of control.

James also causes us to consider the unnatural nature of the tongue, not as a physical organ, but in its use and operation. James asks us to consider that in nature it is impossible for a fig tree to bear olives, or a grapevine to bear figs. Nature is such that the trees and shrubs can only fulfill the purpose for which they were created, and produce the fruit they were created for. In contrast the tongue can bring forth praise to God, and at the same time curse other human beings. The tongue can bring forth good and evil. This is so unnatural. The tongue illustrates our fallen nature, and the corruption within us, more clearly than anything else.

In the light of all this James tells us in verse 2 that if we are able to control our tongue, then we will be someone who is able to control all the influences of our sinful nature.

It is good to consider something of the danger of the our tongue. James commences with the preacher and the teacher. The teacher is in a very dangerous position. The good of others, and even the eternal destiny of others, is in the power of the preacher. If a preacher uses his tongue to declare error, or neglects to use his tongue to speak the truth of God, then souls are in danger of eternal damnation, because they are not told the way to be saved from death and hell. The preacher who uses his tongue wrongfully will come under greater and most severe judgement. The tongue can be used to lead people astray, morally and spiritually. The tongue can be used either to lead people into the way of truth, or to leave people to believe all is well with their soul when it is not.

There are so many ways by which we can use our tongue for evil. Gossip, and speaking of people behind their backs, can destory a persons character, and so turn people away from a person, to judge them, and despise them. Gossip is a horrid thing.

The tongue can be used to destroy a persons confidence by unkind words, bring great unhappiness and even cause depression. The tongue can be used to undermine a persons authority, or destroy a character in the mind of another person. The tongue can be used to persecute people, which does real harm and goes deeper than physical harm. These are some of the way the tongue is destructive and evil. Well does James say that the tongue is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

On the other hand the tongue can be used for good. Praise can build a person up. Kind words can bring comfort. Wise advice can bring healing, and so on. With the tongue we can praise and give thanks to God.