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James
3:7-8 All
kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed
and have been tamed by man, 8but
no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
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Matthew Henry Commentary:
We are taught to dread an unruly tongue, as one of the greatest evils. The
affairs of mankind are thrown into confusion by the tongues of men. Every
age of the world, and every condition of life, private or public, affords
examples of this. Hell has more to do in promoting the fire of the tongue
than men generally think; and whenever men’s tongues are employed in
sinful ways, they are set on fire of hell. No man can tame the tongue
without Divine grace and assistance. The apostle does not represent it as
impossible, but as extremely difficult. Other sins decay with age, this
many times gets worse; we grow more froward and fretful, as natural
strength decays, and the days come on in which we have no pleasure. When
other sins are tamed and subdued by the infirmities of age, the spirit
often grows more tart, nature being drawn down to the dregs, and the words
used become more passionate. That man’s tongue confutes itself, which at
one time pretends to adore the perfections of God, and to refer all things
to him; and at another time condemns even good men, if they do not use the
same words and expressions. True religion will not admit of
contradictions: how many sins would be prevented, if men would always be
consistent! Pious and edifying language is the genuine produce of a
sanctified heart; and none who understand Christianity, expect to hear
curses, lies, boastings, and revilings from a true believer’s mouth, any
more than they look for the fruit of one tree from another. But facts
prove that more professors succeed in bridling their senses and appetites,
than in duly restraining their tongues. Then, depending on Divine grace,
let us take heed to bless and curse not; and let us aim to be consistent
in our words and actions.
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