Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you realize that we will be judged more strictly, 2 for we all fall short in many respects. If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide their whole bodies. 4 It is the same with ships: even though they are so large and driven by fierce winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination wishes. 5 In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions. Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze. 6 The tongue is also a fire. It exists among our members as a world of malice, defiling the whole body and setting the entire course of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by Gehenna. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This need not be so, my brothers. 11 Does a spring gush forth from the same opening both pure and brackish water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can salt water yield fresh.
Teachers were important in the early Church (1 Cor. 12:28) and James warned those in the synagogue communities who desired to become teachers like him that everyone struggles and falls short in many respects, but teachers would be judged more harshly. Teachers must speak even though they will make mistakes. Not everyone was qualified to teach but many sought authority and prestige from teaching for selfish gain.
A mature teacher who can control his speech, even though he has faults, would also be able to exercise self-control over his entire being. He is perfect when compared to those who cannot bridle their tongues. James said, “Everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath (Jas. 1:19).” James used similes to illustrate that a mature teacher is like a farmer who directs the whole body of a horse with a bit in the horses' mouths or the captain of a ship who guides it by a small rudder. The small tongue of a teacher can have an immense impact on the community.
The tongue can be a destructive force similar to how a spark can set an entire forest ablaze. It is so difficult to control that it is called “a world of malice.” The tongue, whose destructive power comes from the devil, can corrupt the whole person and set his life in turmoil. It is easier to tame wild animals than to tame the tongue. The tongue can bless the Lord in one breath and curse man who is made in the image of God in the next breath. That produces opposition within the whole body and the person is double-minded and should seek God’s wisdom (Jas. 1:5-8). James reminds his listeners that they should always control their speech to avoid harming others. The tongue should be used for good not evil. It is important to speak and do what is morally good.
Almighty God, grant us the grace to control our speech so that we do not harm others. Teach us wisdom and kindness and help us speak and do what is morally good out of love so that we can live in harmony with others. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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