The Soul-Reflecting Tongue

A 2007 study published in the journal Science found that people in the United States speak an average of about 16,000 words per day. That number highlights the constant use that we get out of our tongues, speaking to friends, family members, coworkers, and others. We say so much so often that it is easy for us not to consider what we are saying and not to understand that what we are saying reveals something about our souls.

In today’s passage, James concludes his argument concerning the tongue with several illustrations that make clear the truth that our tongues reveal the state of our hearts. James 3:11 first asks, “Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?” The answer, of course, is no. There are freshwater springs and saltwater springs, but not springs that pour forth both kinds of water. This image reinforces the inconsistency of using our tongues to bless God and curse people (vv. 9–10). The image also readies us to start considering the source of our speech.

James then gives three more examples from the natural world to demonstrate that what we say reveals the character of our souls. Like the spring of verse 11, these natural realities were well-known parts of the everyday experience of James’ original audience. The Apostle asks whether a fig tree can produce olives or a grapevine produce figs (v. 12). Again, the answer is no. A fruit-bearing tree produces the fruit according to its nature and none other. Fig trees bear figs and grapevines produce grapes. The point that James makes here is akin to what Jesus says in Matthew 12:33–37, that a tree is known by its fruit. If you want to know what kind of tree it is, look what you harvest from it. If it’s olives, then you have an olive tree. In a similar way, if we want to know the state of our souls, we need to look at what we say. Holy speech demonstrates holy hearts; wicked speech demonstrates wicked hearts.

The Apostle concludes by stating that a salt pond cannot yield fresh water (James 3:12). The words we speak correspond to our nature. Just as a salt spring cannot yield fresh water, a soul at war with God cannot speak good and holy words. Of course, this does not mean that regenerate people can never sin with their tongues. It does mean that those who have truly rested in Christ as Savior will in the main use their words to build up and not to destroy. When they sin with their tongues, they will repent.