Homilist James 1:26-27 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is vain.… I. NOTICE THE UNBRIDLED TONGUE AS IMPLYING FALSEHOOD. 1. Some men lie maliciously. (1) They may be actuated by a desire to be revenged for some real or fancied injury. (2) They may wish to benefit themselves at the expense of others. (3) They may desire to set two persons at variance, and therefore misrepresent the actions and motives of one to the other. 2. Some men lie indiscreetly. They garnish, modify, or magnify the story, so that it conveys a wrong impression. 3. Some men lie thoughtlessly. Such are tattling gossips, the news vendours of small communities. 4. The unbridled tongue is often the tongue of a hasty, choleric person. II. THE RELIGION OF THE MAN WHO DOES NOT BRIDLE HIS TONGUE IS VAIN. 1. He deceives his own heart. 2. He only seems to be religious. 3. He proves that one great ruling sin at least remains unsubdued. III. THE CONSEQUENCES OF AN UNBRIDLED TONGUE ARE SERIOUS. 1. To the person himself. (1) His mind must be unhappy, filled with jealousy, envy, and hate. (2) No one will trust him, give him his confidence, or listen to him without misgivings. (3) He gets irate trouble when his indiscretion or his falsehood is found out. (4) God knows his character 2. To others. (1) Misrepresentation, trouble, sorrow, injustice. (2) Men will hate and avoid the unbridled tongue as much as possible. (3) Lying is the grand characteristic, if not the root, of all vicious conduct, and of which Satan is an embodiment. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. |
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