Before James talks about our tongues, he talks about judgment and sin. First, he says those who teach others about God “will be judged with greater strictness” (James 3:1). He warns teachers they really need to use their words wisely! Right after that, James talks about sin: “For we all stumble in many ways” (3:2). We are all sinners and sin in a lot of different ways. James says: “If we keep all the commandments but disobey just one, we are guilty in God’s eyes of breaking all of God’s commandments” (see 2:10). Whoa! That means if one day you pray to God, go to church, obey your parents, share your toys, and don’t scream and beg for a candy bar at the checkout counter, but you yell at your friend, “You’re so dumb!” after she loses the board game, you are totally guilty. You are a sinner! That means we’re all guilty. And this is why we need Jesus, the Snake Crusher. Only Jesus never sinned with his tongue. He used his words to encourage people and praise his Father in heaven. And because he tamed his tongue, he was able to offer his body as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. For all our mean and unkind words. And if we believe in him and what he has done for us, then all our sins are forgiven. What good news!