Taming the Tongue - Part 1

Introduction

§  The tongue is a tattletale, it tells on the heart, and is the revealer of the heart.

• Psalm 64:3ܡܙܡܘܖ̈ܐ ܣܕ:3   

§  We find that the first actual sin after the fall was a sin of the tongue. 

• Genesis 3:12ܒܪܝܼܬܐ ܓ:12  
• Romans 3:14-15ܖ̈ܗܘܡܝܐ ܓ:14 – 15  
•  Isaiah 6:5ܐܫܥܝܐ ܘ:5  

James gives us five compelling reasons for the control of the tongue.

1)      The tongue has the potential to condemn (vs. 1-2a)ܓܲܪܫܵܢܵܐ ܠܕܝܼܘܵܢ

§  Let not many become teachers (vs. 1)

-          The word is didaskalos (did-as’-kal-os), it’s translated “master”

-          I Corinthians 12:28ܐ. ܩܘܖ̈ܢܬܝܐ ܝܒ:28 

-          Ephesians 4:11ܐܦܣܝ̈ܐ ܕ:11  

-          I Timothy 1:6-7ܐ. ܛܝܡܬܐܘܣ ܐ:6 – 7  

-          Leviticus 10:3ܟܗܢ̈ܐ ܝ:3  

-          Ezekiel 3:17-18, 33:7-9ܚܙܩܝܐܝܠ ܓ:17 – 18، ܠܓ:7 – 9 

§  Knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment (vs. 1)

-          II Timothy 2:15ܒ. ܛܝܡܬܐܘܣ ܒ:15  

§  We all stumble in many ways (vs. 2a)

-          Proverbs 20:9ܡܬܠ̈ܐ ܟ:9 

-          II Chronicles 6:36ܒ. ܕܒܪܝܡܝܢ ܘ:36 

-          Matthew 12:34-37ܡܬܝ ܝܒ:34 – 37 

2)      Tongue has the power to control (vs. 2b-5)ܚܲܝܠܵܐ ܕܙܲܒܛܸܢ

§  And able also to bridle his whole body (vs. 2b)

-          Psalm 39:1ܡܙܡܘܖ̈ܐ ܓܛ:1 

§  Illustration #1: Horse (vs. 3)

§  Illustration #1: Ship (vs. 4)

3)      And he sums it up in verse 5

§  Even so, the tongue is a little member, but boasts great things (vs. 5)

-          Colossians 3:8-10ܩܘܠܣܝ̈ܐ ܓ:8 – 10 

Conclusion: As I devote myself to a Spirit-controlled tongue, everything else will come into line.