p. 13 | The Sunday School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 20, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 20.

The Sunday School

International Series.

LESSON X.—SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 1897.

SINS OF THE TONGUE.

NOTE.—Read chapter 3, committing verses 11 to 13. The teacher will do well to look through the Scriptures for references to the tongue and its different uses. The tongue is but the outward manifestation of the inward condition. It is the outlet to the heart. Of course the stream can not be purified as long as the source from which the water flows remains impure. "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." Figs do not grow on thorns; neither can good words (such as are acceptable to God) be the fruit of a tongue whose roots strike into the soil of a malicious heart. For an evil tongue see Ps. 52:2; Prov. 18:7; 25:18. For a good tongue see Prov. 15:4; 18:4; 25:11; 20:15; 16:24; 10:20, 21; 12:18; Luke 6:45.

Lesson Scripture, James 3:1-13, R. V.

1 "Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall 2 receive heavier judgment. For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able 3 to bridle the whole body also. Now if we put the horses' 4 bridles into their mouths, that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also. Behold, the ships also, tho they are so great, and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steers- 5 man willeth. So the tongue also is a little member, and boast- eth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how 6 small a fire! And the tongue is a fire; the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire 7 by hell. For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by man- 8 kind; but the tongue can no man tame; it is a restless evil, it is 9 full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we the Lord and Fa- ther; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the 10 likeness of God; out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet 12 water and bitter? can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? neither can salt water yield sweet. 13 "Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom."

Golden Text.—"Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile." Ps. 34:13.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) What admonition does James give to his brethren? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) What would they receive for the desire to be prominent? (3) What is the result of multiplying responsibilities? (4) What is the test of man's perfection? (5) What is he also able to do who can bridle the tongue? Verse 2. Note 2. (6) What forcible illustration does James use to teach the governing of the tongue? Verse 3. (7) What other example does he give to show the power which the tongue has over the body? Verse 4. Note 3. (8) What is one of the characteristics of the ungoverned or unsanctified tongue? (9) What illustration does James use to show the destructive power of the tongue? Verse 5. (10) In addition to being an agent of destruction, what else does the apostle call the tongue? (11) What is the work of such a tongue? (12) To what does he ascribe the actuating principle of such a work? Verse 6. Note 4. (13) What have been man's achievements in the taming of the lower orders of creation? Verse 7. (14) What has man found it impossible to tame? (15) Who only can tame the tongue? (16) What does God change, or renew, before the tongue is tamed? Note 5. (17) What is the ungoverned tongue? Verse 8. (18) What inconsistency does James point out in the work of this unruly member? Verses 9 and 10. Note 6. (19) What figure does he use to further illustrate this inconsistency? Verse 11. (20) What is the work of the fig tree? of the vine? of the fountain? Verse 12. Note 7. (21) How will the truly wise man show his works? Verse 13.

NOTES.

1. Be not many teachers.—The admonition is not against true teaching, or the desire to give to others what God has bestowed upon us. It is against the coveting of high positions, the desire to be over others, to rule. We should not seek to thrust our opinions upon others, or assume that our way is the only right way. And yet the gift of teaching is God-given; it was placed in the church by him for a purpose. Let the seeds of truth fall where they will, and let God give the increase, watering with his Spirit the seed sown.

2. Stumbleth not in word.—The tongue is the easiest outlet of the heart. It is an indicator of what is in the heart. If the tongue does not offend, it shows that there is in the heart no offense. If the heart is not subdued by the Spirit of God, the uncontrolled passions find expression in the tongue. Thus the governing of the tongue shows that the whole man is governable, and is being governed.

3. Whither the impulse of the steersman willeth.—The tongue is compared to the rudder or helm. The rudder turns the ship, and directs its course; the tongue may change the course of the life. But the rudder is subject to the will of the steersman,—it obeys his will, it works his will. So the heart is the

governor of the tongue; and the heart works out its desires by the tongue. The heart prompts the tongue, and the tongue indicates the course of the life.

4. The wheel of nature.—There are several interpretations of this phrase. It is generally considered to mean the whole course of life from birth to death. That is, the tongue is an ever-present, inflammatory evil.

5. The tongue can no man tame.—God only can tame the tongue; and he does it by changing, or renewing, the heart, the actuating power of the tongue.

6. Therewith bless we the Lord.—The writer here brings forth the strongest possible illustration of the inconsistencies of the tongue. It is natural to suppose that if we love an individual, we will have regard for that which he loves, especially his children. But the tongue will bless God, and then curse that which is made in God's own image. Surely, "such things ought not so to be;" for the curse which is uttered against an individual is an insult to his Maker. Christ would not bring even a railing accusation against Satan, but said, "The Lord rebuke thee." If Christ could conduct himself in such a manner toward him who is most worthy of such rebuke, we should certainly be very careful in accusing those who have not fallen after the similitude of Satan's fall.

7. Neither can salt water yield sweet.—Christ is the fountain of life. The heart that is in communion with that Fountain should speak words of life; and it will do that as long as it is yielded to God. The heart from which flow words of death and cursing is not in communion with that Fountain.