The Tongue, Our Greatest Enemy

Introduction

This week, we are going to look together at a subject that concerns every human being, but before anything else, all believers, all those who are redeemed, saved and witnesses of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

The message for today is titled: “The Tongue, Our Greatest Enemy.”

Why “greatest”? Because it is the organ that, for most people, allows us to communicate and to make ourselves understood. 

Why “enemy”? Because, as the Apostle James says, “no one can tame it.”

The two words placed together form an antagonism, that is, two opposite ideas joined in one expression. For example, we can speak of a “distant closeness” to describe a relationship where hearts are close but distance separates them. Or a “painful joy”, when we feel joy in remembering something mixed with the sorrow of what has been lost.

Context of the Epistle

The Epistle of James is a practical letter written to Jewish Christians scattered across the nations. James, the brother of Jesus and the leader of the church in Jerusalem, wanted to encourage believers who were facing trials. His message is simple: true faith is seen in the way we live.

He explains that difficulties can help us grow and become stronger in our faith. James calls believers to listen before speaking, to receive the Word of God with humility, and to put it into practice, not just to hear it.

He reminds us that true religion is shown through compassion toward those in need and through a pure life. James forbids favoritism: we must not treat the rich better than the poor. He clearly states that faith without works is dead.

James also warns against the misuse of the tongue: our words can do great good or great harm. He encourages peace, humility, repentance, and trust in God rather than arrogance or conflict. Finally, he calls believers to pray with faith, to persevere through trials, and to help those who stray from the truth to come back.

Context of the passage

The passage we are learning from today shows us how we must act by the Spirit, and not according to the flesh, in the way we communicate with others. This applies to every believer, and even more to those who desire to teach or serve in Christ’s church.

James speaks about the tongue through many concrete examples taken from nature and the daily life, showing that even small words can have great consequences. He always connects his teaching to the Word of God, which remains the foundation of our faith as children of God, born again and renewed by the Holy Spirit.

“Do not become teachers in large numbers, my brothers, since you know that we who are teachers will incur a stricter judgment.” v.1

The Apostle James here makes a clear distinction between those who believe in Christ and those who not only believe but also serve the Lord. This is not meant to discourage anyone from entering the ministry, but rather to help each person truly discern whether their calling from God is genuine. For when one becomes aware of the difficulty and the cost that come with serving, true faith is revealed and tested. This confirms God’s calling for His people to be led by the Word of Truth, despite the cost and the suffering that may come along the way.

There is also a very clear distinction concerning the role of teaching in a general sense, for the word “brothers” is explicit and leaves no doubt. Yet, when it comes to the responsibility of spiritual leaders, such as pastors or elders, there is a greater level of judgment concerning their work. Because they are exposed in their ministry, they are more often tempted, attacked, and vulnerable. This means that the Lord holds His servants to a higher standard of accountability.

The Bible also exhorts us to “owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another.” All the more should this apply to our spiritual leaders, who have been set apart to serve. Therefore, in order to grow in wisdom and in love for the Lord’s flock, they must be kept from temptation, error, and confusion, so that they will not be judged more severely for their works. Pray for them.

«For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to rein in the whole body as well. » v.2

Yes, there is no one who can boast of having words or actions without error, or of having reached the perfect stature of Christ. We all stumble at some point during our day, through an unclean or harmful thought, a hurtful word, or an arrogant or proud attitude. It is true that the example given here shows the Apostle James’ desire to see every person strive toward this perfection. But at the same time, there is also a touch of irony, because no one is perfect in the eyes of God when compared to His only Son.

There is also a direct connection between our words and our actions. The tongue, being an organ, represents the very image of wisdom when it is used rightly. Words can only come out when the mouth opens and the body acts. In the same way, walking according to the flesh naturally leads the mouth to speak according to the flesh, and the words that come out will have consequences, good or bad, depending on the condition of our heart.

Psalm 34:12-13 tells us: «Who is the man who desires life And loves length of days that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit.»

To put it simply, if we want to enjoy happiness and live a peaceful, blessed life, we must guard our tongue from negative words, those that oppress souls instead of setting them free, those that are not true, meaning they do not come from God but from the enemy, the one who tries to deceive us through our emotions and our sinful reactions.

“Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their whole body as well.” v.3

The bit is used here as a symbol to show that a small object, placed in the mouth of a horse, can cause pain when pulled in order to guide the animal when it refuses to obey. This small instrument forces the horse to submit, even when its steps turn in a direction opposite to that of its rider.

The questions we must ask ourselves today are clear: Whom do we choose to obey? Our flesh, or the Spirit of God?

Because obedience to the flesh always produces pain, first in ourselves, but also in those whom we try to lead or persuade to follow our own will.

“Look at the ships too: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are nevertheless directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot determines. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our body’s parts as that which defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.” v.4-7

The Apostle James gives three more analogies about the tongue, each one vivid and easy to understand.

The first analogy is that of a ship. Even though a ship is large and powerful, it is steered by a small rudder in comparison. The direction of our words determines the direction of the situation. If our tongue and the words that come from it are guided in the right direction, the situation will be led by the Spirit, it will bring blessing and glorify God. But if everything is directed the opposite way, opposed to God and guided by emotions it will become a curse and will not glorify God. The storm will grow stronger, and our hearts, and the hearts of others, will sink into sadness and grief as a direct consequence of our actions.

The second analogy is that of a forest fire. The tongue is compared to a small flame that can set an entire forest ablaze through its nature, power, and destructive force. Fire in Scripture can have different meanings, but here it clearly refers to fire used to burn, to heat, or to transform through its strong effect. Comparing the tongue to fire means that, instead of calming a situation, it can inflame hearts with anger and reveal the destructive power of Gehenna (or hell). Here, Gehenna represents the destructive spiritual force of the tongue, its ability to cause lasting harm and lead us to sin against God.

The third analogy brings us back to Genesis, where humanity is given authority over all living creatures. This shows that God has given man authority over creation, and that through the tongue, we are called to reflect His character, love, compassion, and mercy.

Taming the tongue is not an act of human control or oppression, but rather the work of the Spirit within us, training us to master it and use it with wisdom.

“But no one among mankind can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” v.8

Here, the Apostle James tells us that no one can fully tame the tongue! This does not mean it is impossible to control it, but rather that even when we try to be careful, mistakes are unavoidable. Yet, it is possible to learn to limit its use, especially by choosing silence when speaking is not necessary, or as James himself says: “Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.”

The image of the tongue being full of deadly poison means that it can kill, spiritually or emotionally. Just like a kitchen knife that is useful for preparing food but can also kill if misused, the tongue can either bless or harm depending on how it is used. Poison is something invisible but powerful; it spreads and destroys; in the same way, careless or harmful words can deeply wound hearts and cause lasting consequences.

But we have a divine antidote for this deadly poison that lies within our mouth: the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. They renew our thoughts, bring us under God’s will, and transform us daily, enabling us to use our tongue to bless rather than to destroy.

“With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way."v.9-10

This comparison is profoundly true. It reminds us of God’s people in the wilderness, who constantly murmured and complained against the Lord, causing them to wander for forty years.

There are two distinct aspects here that reflect both earthly and heavenly realities, and they concern every one of us. Blessing the Lord with our mouth is just as important as blessing His creation with our mouth. If we bless God with our words, yet our tongue does not glorify Him through our actions or toward others, something is wrong. The religious leaders of old did the same: they blessed God in the temple, but their words outside the temple did not honor Him.

Today, we are the temple of God, we belong to Him, and Christ lives in us. And if Christ lives in us, we must be His living witnesses, reflecting His love and His glory through both our words and our actions.

“Does a spring send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, bear olives, or a vine bear figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh water.” v.11-12

When James says this, our thoughts immediately turn to Jesus and His teachings. The never-failing source of living water is Christ Himself.

In other words, the one who is in Christ cannot produce bitter water. If we are led by the Spirit of God, the words that flow from our mouths will be like fresh, pure, and clear water, refreshing our own soul and the souls of others, glorifying God through our testimony.

On the other hand, if the Spirit is not at work and our words are guided by the reactions of the flesh, the bitterness of that water will be evident. It will not be received by anyone and will instead be rejected, often becoming the source of conflict and confusion.

James also reminds us of what Jesus taught His disciples through the parable of the fig tree, comparing different trees and the fruit they produce. A tree is recognized by its fruit, just as a person is recognized by the fruit they bear in their life, the direct result of their words and actions.

This passage speaks especially to those who desire to teach, to spiritual leaders who, through their words and teaching, lead the people of God by the Spirit. The fruit of their conduct will be visible and confirmed by all, bringing glory and honor to God.

More broadly, this text teaches all believers that authentic faith and godly character are shown through actions and lifestyle. The image of the fruit also reminds us of the fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22–23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

The last part of these verses speaks about salt water, which cannot become, mix with, or produce fresh (or “sweet”) water, as some translations say. This picture completes the previous examples and shows that two opposite sources cannot flow from the same spring.

In the Bible, fresh water represents purity, truth, and life, the work of the Holy Spirit bringing blessing and encouragement. Salt or bitter water represents corruption, sin, and cursing, the result of the flesh and a heart not yet renewed.

James’ message is simple: the same mouth cannot produce both blessing and cursing. The words we speak reveal the true condition of our heart. We are either led by the Spirit, bringing living water that blesses, or led by the flesh, spreading bitterness and harm.

Conclusion

To close, I would like to quote a key verse from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which perfectly summarizes what we have just studied together: “Either assume the tree to be good as well as its fruit good, or assume the tree to be bad as well as its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, express anything good? For the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart. The good person brings out good things from his good treasure; and the evil person brings out evil things from his evil treasure.” Matthew 12:33–35

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to heal our hearts, the very place where our soul resides, so that we may share blessing instead of cursing, bear fruit that remains in our lives and glorifies our Lord in everything we do.