Here James takes another illustration from nature to show the sinfulness of the tongue. He says all manner of wild animals may be tamed by man but not the tongue. This wild beast can only be tamed by the Lord Himself.

Fourfold classification: We have a fourfold classification of the inferior creatures. First we have the animals, such as the horse, the lion, etc. Then we have the birds, such as the eagle and the vulture; then creeping things, such as the snake, the eel, and all manner of fish. Some from each of these classifications have been tamed by man, although perhaps not each separate kind of creature.

"... every kind of beasts ..." Man has been able to tame the wild animals perhaps better than the birds, and the serpents, and the fish. He has been able to put to use the cow, the horse, the sheep, and others. Then there are the more difficult to train, such as the lion, the tiger, and the elephant. These take great patience and careful handling, and then careful watching because their strength far surpasses that of man.

"... and of birds ..." Birds have been tamed, too, such as chickens, ducks, parrots, canaries, etc. Others have been tamed as pets and for show purposes – even fleas and various bugs. Some birds, such as the vulture and buzzard, are unclean. The tongue is also unclean. From some there is a constant flow of filth.

"... and of serpents ..." "Serpents" would be better translated "creeping things". Men have shown special ability in taming these most difficult creatures. The tongue can be like that. How deceitful it can be, and how we need to watch it. We need to be watchful of our own as well as that of others. Like many serpents, the tongue can be very deadly. Perhaps many more have been poisoned by the tongue than by serpents.

"... and of things in the sea ..." Even sea creatures have been tamed. Some homes have aquariums. Who has not heard of performing seals, etc.? Even underwater creatures, by careful and patient training, can be made to do the will of man. But man's tongue is unpredictable. Just when we think it is trained, we find it is still uncontrolled. How quickly and easily it breaks out of its cage, starting on a rampage.

Man given dominion: The Lord made man to have dominion over the animals (Ps. 8:6-8). In some measure this was lost by the fall. Now it is an effort on man's part to keep animal life in subjection. God can tame them: "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them" (Is. 11:6). It is easy for the Lord to tame the wildest animals. We have examples of this in the Word of God. The Lord made lions in the den with Daniel as harmless as kittens. He told the ravens to feed Elijah, and caused that great fish to carry Jonah where He wanted him to be. In the measure that we yield ourselves to the Lord, our tongues will be tamed. Thank the Lord, when we get to glory, our tongues will no longer be wild.

Scripture Reading: James 3:8 (KJV)

Here we have strong language condemning the tongue. It is pictured as an untamable poisonous beast – fierce like the tiger, untrustworthy like the ape, and poisonous like the serpent. It may be trained, checked, and penned in, but given the least opportunity, it will break out showing its wild nature.

"... the tongue can no man tame ..." Ever since the fall, man has tried to train his tongue, but has made no progress. Today man's tongue is as wicked as Cain's. Today, we have: angry tongues like Cain's; profane tongues, filthy tongues, slanderous tongues, lying tongues and many others. Sometimes all are combined in one. Some time ago a man wrote a book entitled "How to Win Friends, and Influence People." Much of it is very good advice as far as unregenerate man can give it. Much of it is just advice on how to control the tongue – another attempt without much success.

Man's insubordination: Man can train the animals, but not the tongue. The resistance of animals to this training is a symbol of man's insubordination to God. In this respect man is as bad, perhaps worse, than the beasts. We see this in Jonah. The great fish was quick to do the bidding of the Lord, but not Jonah. Nothing shows man's insubordination to God as much as his tongue.

Man cannot but God can: No man unaided can tame the tongue. It is easier for a drunkard to leave his drink, a gambler to leave his cards, or a slave of tobacco, his cigarettes, than for a man to overcome, to hold in check, a wicked tongue. However, the Lord can tame it. He can take a lying tongue and cause it to spread abroad the truth. Blaspheming tongues have been changed to praising ones, and evil speaking ones, to speaking lovely words.

A Christian must guard his tongue: The tongue requires our constant guarding. Christians have two natures, both of which are constantly seeking expression. Too often the old nature gains the ascendancy, and then the tongue is apt to break loose. We need constantly to seek the face of the Lord and His help that we may be filled with His Spirit. When the Spirit has His proper place the tongue will be controlled.

The maniac of Gadara: The tongue is something like the maniac of Gadara. (Mark 5:1-15). This man had an unclean spirit, and made his home among the tombs. They could not tame him nor chain him. He was constantly screaming and cutting himself with stones. But he met the Lord Jesus, and what do we see now? He is sitting at the feet of the Lord, no longer in need of chains. He is clothed and in his right mind. The tongue is like that, wild and untamable except by the Lord Himself. "... an unruly evil ..." The Revised Version has "restless evil" rather than "unruly evil." This would tell us that the tongue is always looking for ways to express itself and that it is irrepressible. This is certainly true of many tongues. You could not keep them quiet no matter what you did. "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise" (Prov. 10:19).

"... full of deadly poison." Sometimes we see on a bottle or can the sign for "poison." James applies this sign to the tongue. He says, it is "full of deadly poison". How cautious we are with a container of poison. We not only label it, but we are careful to keep it out of the reach of children, and even with these precautions some get it by mistake and are poisoned. Unbridled speech poisons the speaker as well as the one spoken to. Evil speaking has often poisoned one's thoughts toward others. By it, lifetime friendships have been broken, and reputations ruined, even lives destroyed. "The poison of asps is under their lips" (Rom. 3:13). (Also see Ps. 58:4; Ps. 140:3). For many poisons there is an antidote, and oft times this is printed right on the bottle or can. But what antidote is there for the vile poison that is poured out by many a tongue? None has thus far been discovered. Oh, the tongue, what a sorrow it has caused in this world. Your tongue, dear reader, and mine what kind are they? Are they a source of joy and blessing, or of sorrow and trouble? Let us all put control in the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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