The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-05-27
THE POWER OF
THE TONGUE
Sunday School Lesson for Jun. 6. 1903
Specially Arranged for This Paper

GOLDEN TEXT-whoso keepeth his
mouth and his tongue. keepeth his soul
from troubles.-Prov. 21:23.
TIME-It il believed the epistle was
written between A. ID. 30 and 50.
PLACE.-Believed TO be at Jerusalem.
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
Philosophers have striven to discov-
er what faculty most clearly separates
man from the brute; as, that man is
the only animal that laughs, or the
only animal that cooks, or the only an
imal that stands upright. Most think
ers, however, agree that the power OF
speech. with all that has grown out of
1t. is the clearest and most important
distinction of mankind, and the surest
indication OF the superiority that God
has conferred upon the human race.
The passage we are to study is one OF
the finest in the Bible. and is the
crown of all writings upon the sub
ject.
VS.. /, "a. Why did James urge his
readers not to be many masters
(teachers, as in "schoolmasters") /.
Because the young church met that
danger continually (see Acts 1924;
/ Cor. 1;12; 1926; Gal. 2:12). In the
Jewish church the function of the rab-
bi was jealously guarded, but the lib
erty Of prophesying (teaching) in
Christianity was liable to become IL
cense. And the more the idea pre-
vailed that faith, without correspond
ing obedience, was all that is Deedful,
the more men would eagerly press for
ward to teach."-Alford. This thought
Joins our present lesson with the last.
To illustrate perfect speech, to
what does James compare the tongue?
To a horses bit or bride, which,
though small, turns and governs the
whole body OF the great animal; and,
similarly, to ships helm or rudder,
which, though so small in comparison
with the great ship, and so weak in
comparison with the fierce winds, yet
turns the ship, in the face OF the
winds, whithersoever the governor
Or. V. "steersman") listeth Or. V.
"willethO. Even so dixie the bride
and the rudder) the tongue is a little
member, and boasteth great things,
"vaunts great words, which bring
about great acts of mischief. Afford.
What is the point OF the COMPARE
son? The power of the tongue in the
guidance and direction of life-our
own lives and those of others. And
I'VE are never to forget that the
tongue includes the pen Deems.
What is the next comparison used
by James? The tongue-that world
OF OF iniquity-is fire, sprung from
the fires OF Gehenna. 1t is a little fire,
to the eye; but little fire can kindle
a great forest. So the tongue can ruin
the whole body-nay. the whole life.
in its revolving course from the cradle
to the grave" The tongue is called a
world OF iniquity because ALI kinds OF
evil that are in the world are exhibited
there in miniature. Barnes.
What is the point OF this compari-
son? II pictures the destructive power
of the tongue, as the first two compari-
sons pictured the tongues guiding
power. Little words, mere puffs of
air, are insignificant as small sparks;
but as the flame and smoke may
spread everywhere, so the baneful eff
feet of evil speech may penetrate all
life.
What is James next comparison of
the tongue? To an untamed beast; all
other living things have been mastered
by mankind-the four divisions Of ami
mails, according to James rough
zoology. namely. quadrupeds, birds,
reptiles and fishes. But the tongue is
an exception. No man can tame It;
only God, who made 1t, can keep ii
under control. 1T is an unruly (rest-
less) evil, full OF deadly poison" and
so to be classed with the animals most
hated and feared, the serpents.
What is the point of this COMPARE
SOM AS the first emphasized the
guiding power of the tongue and the
second its destructive power, SO this
comparison emphasizes its unre-
strained power.
II the tongue cannot be tanned, are
we to blame for our ungoverned
speech? Yes, as James himself says
". l0), "rhese things ought not so to
be-" IF we be truly Christ's, though
'reviIed' by the unruly tongues of
Others, We shall, like him, 'revile not
again Il Peter 1920. And as the
whole body is the Lords to be sancti-
fed TO him q Cor. 6:19, 20), so partic-
ularly must the tongue be kept from
'evilspeaking. lying and slandering,,
and used rightly for the service of
God. Thus may we truly offer the
calves of our lips (Hos. 14:2), more
acceptable than the blood of victims
slain on Thousand affairs. "-Ellicott.
Why does James drop comparisons
when he comes to his last point? Be
cause there are no comparisons in ma
ture to mans inconsistency in speech
only contrasts. The constancy of
nature was as we'll known in James
day as in ours. But the tongue is sadly
different! Out of the same mouth
proceedeth blessing and cursing!"
What is the point OF this contrast?
Evil speech has been pictured as Cd
influential. 90 destructive, go uncon-
trollable. and now finally as "a I'M
natural. Men E. are made after the