The Tongue, Hyperbole and Sadness

Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness.  For we all make many mistakes, and if any one makes no mistakes in what he says he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.  If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us,

we guide their whole bodies.

Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.  

So

the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things.  How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!

And the tongue is a fire.  The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire

the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell.

For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being

can tame the tongue - a restless evil,

full of deadly poison.

With it we bless the Lord

and Father,

and with it we curse men, 

who are made in the likeness of God.

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.  My brethren, this ought not to be so.  Does a spring pour forth from the same opening fresh water and brackish?  Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a grapevine figs?  No more can salt water

yield fresh.

             James 3:1-12

Jesus said,  Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.  And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.  And

if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.  For every one will be salted with fire.  Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you season it?  Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.

Mark 9:42-49