Summary (apologies for the delay)

James points out to us the glaring inconsistencies between what we say we believe and what we say, and even what we believe. All of this is revealed by a tiny little thing called the tongue

  1. The tongue reveals deep seated inconsistencies in the lives of every person.
  2. The inconsistencies revealed by the tongue go to the very source of the problem
  3. The inconsistencies revealed by the tongue must be reconciled

1. The inconsistency revealed by our tongues is quite bluntly and evidently put to us by James in Verse 9. He says you’re praising God one minute, and cursing people you know the next.

2. vs. 11 and 12 together as we seek the root, orsource of the problem James puts to us today.

“Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”

3. James even asks the question for us.

He says, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. How can there be reconciliation between a man and his wife, a child and his parents, a person and their God?

A fig tree cannot produce olives. How might we make it produce olives?

What if we were to rename it? We could take a sign and hang it on the branches or even nail it to the trunk. We could brand it into the bark. It would read, “OLIVE TREE”. Would that make the fig tree produce olives?

We see people try to do this. They try to call something or some group Christian when it’s not true at all. Americans answer in polls that they are 81 % Christian. This doesn’t make the claim any more true about their lives.

The tongue speaks from the heart. It reveals a grave inconsistency in our lives that must be mended spiritually, or we will die in our sin. God looks on the heart. He sees your heart. He knows your thoughts. How will you respond to his gracious invitation to be forgiven for how you speak to and of your brothers and sisters in Christ and indeed all of his creatures? There is life changing grace to be found in Christ today.