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The tongue is centrally located. It can turn the world around for good or for evil; out of the
mouth comes blessing or cursing. First, it is able to kindle a small fire and then an entire
forest fire. The tongue can defile our body; it can set sickness, poverty, and oppression in
motion, and even open the door for demonic activity. The destruction does not stop with
our body, but continues on to bring destruction to every aspect of the world system that
surrounds us. Entire churches, cities, and nations have been toppled and overthrown by
the use of a single tongue.
The origin of this “fire” is hell itself. Satan ultimately caused sin to erupt in eternity past
(Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28). He is the one who tempted the woman in the garden and introduced
the nature of the flesh into the human race (Romans 5:12). Satan is the silent one who
continues to seek control of the entire human race. He accomplishes this today through
man’s tongue, especially those in the body of Christ.

3. The Impossibility of Taming the Tongue (7‐8)

James continues by teaching that the tongue is more difficult to tame than any animal
created by God and that it can be evil and full of deadly venom.

Jas 3:7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is
tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

For every kind (phusis: species) of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the
sea, is tamed (damazo: subdued), and hath been tamed of (by) mankind
(phuseithanthropine: the human species):

Man was commanded by God to subdue the planet and take authority over every class of
animal God had created (Genesis 1:26, 9:2; Psalm 8:6‐8). The word for “tamed” (damazo)
is found in Mark 5:4 in reference to the demon‐possessed man in Gadera.
Jas 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

But the tongue can (dunamis: is able, has the power) no man tame; it is an unruly
(akatastaton: restless) evil, full of deadly poison.

In his own natural strength, man cannot subdue the tongue. It is only through knowledge
or God’s Word and being doers of the Word that the tongue is controlled. The longer we
walk with the Lord, the easier it becomes to control the tongue. As a member of the human
body, the tongue is cursed more than any other body member, or even any creature on the
face of the earth. No creature is directly linked to Satan in the way man is, which is a
consequence of the fall. The tongue can be directly linked to hellfire and Satan’s control
(verse 6). The tongue of the serpent is considered poison in the Word of God (Psalm 58:4,
140:3).

4. The Inconsistency of the Tongue (9‐12)

James observes his congregation lifting their hands in praise and worship to God one
moment and judging and backbiting each other the next. He strongly chastises the