Speaking Blessings and Cursing James 3:10

As James, the “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”, wrote to the “twelve tribes scattered abroad”, he had much to say about the power within the “tongue”. He likened it to a horse's bridle, a ship's helm and a small flame, and unlike the “tamed” “beasts and sea creatures”, the “tongue could no man tame” because “it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison”. In chapter three and verse ten of his letter, James continued to share how “blessing God” and “cursing men” “proceeds” from the same mouth where we read:

Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing.

My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

The verse begins, “Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing.” James began with the words, “Out of the same” or “from, by and with the person's own” “mouth” which refers to “the opening in the face where the thoughts of a man's soul finds verbal utterance” “proceeds” which means “comes or goes forth and departs” “blessing” or “praise, laudation, panegyric of Christ or God; polished language and fine discourse” “and cursing” or “execration, imprecation and penalty”. James sets forth the idea of “blessing and cursing” coming from the same person's voice.

The verse continues, “My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” James added, “My brethren” which refers to “James' fellow believers who were united to another by the bond of affection and in Christ”, “these things” which refers to “the idea that blessing and cursing come from the same mouth” “ought not” or “does not need or is not necessary” “so to be” which means “to happen, come to pass, become or come into existence”. James makes this point clear – there should not be “blessing and cursing” coming from the same “mouth”.

When we meditate upon these words of James, we understand his exhortation for our mouths not to “bless and curse” at the same time. We must turn our speech over to the Lord Jesus who has promised to “guide us into all truth” according to and through His Holy Spirit. James knew his readers were involved in these wayward practices, and he desired for them to disallow this in their lives. May God Almighty through His Holy Spirit remind us when we attempt to “bless” and “curse” at the same time, and like unto the “fountain” that brings forth “sweet” water, let our words bring life and peace to those with whom we have to do.

Next time James refers to a “fountain” that produces “sweet and bitter” water, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.