GlobeMost of us have a world globe somewhere in our homes.

Few of us realize we have one in our mouths as well.

That’s what James says in his second R-Rated picture of the tongue. He calls it “a world of iniquity” (James 3:6).

Just as the world is characterized by vastness and variety, so our tongues have such a variety and vastness of sin in them that they are rightly compared to a world globe. Calvin said that “a slender portion of the flesh contains the whole world of iniquity.” It’s a microcosm of the world’s evil.

If you want a flavor of the world of evil in the tongue, have a look at the Westminster Larger Catechism’s list of the sins forbidden in the ninth commandment:

The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neighbors, as well as our own, especially in public judicature; giving false evidence, suborning false witnesses, wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause, outfacing and overbearing the truth; passing unjust sentence, calling evil good, and good evil; rewarding the wicked according to the work of the righteous, and the righteous according to the work of the wicked; forgery, concealing the truth, undue silence in a just cause, and holding our peace when iniquity calls for either a reproof from ourselves, or complaint to others; speaking the truth unseasonably, or maliciously to a wrong end, or perverting it to a wrong meaning, or in doubtful and equivocal expressions, to the prejudice of truth or justice; speaking untruth, lying, slandering, backbiting, detracting, tale bearing, whispering, scoffing, reviling, rash, harsh, and partial censuring; misconstructing intentions, words, and actions; flattering, vainglorious boasting, thinking or speaking too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others; denying the gifts and graces of God; aggravating smaller faults; hiding, excusing, or extenuating of sins, when called to a free confession; unnecessary discovering of infirmities; raising false rumors, receiving and countenancing evil reports, and stopping our ears against just defense; evil suspicion; envying or grieving at the deserved credit of any, endeavoring or desiring to impair it, rejoicing in their disgrace and infamy; scornful contempt, fond admiration; breach of lawful promises; neglecting such things as are of good report, and practicing, or not avoiding ourselves, or not hindering: What we can in others, such things as procure an ill name.

That’s about fifty different continents of evil, all of which most of us will have visited by the end of our lives. All without leaving our homes!

There’s only one tongue that has never vacationed in any of these places, not even for a second. Instead, Christ’s tongue was described as “full of grace and truth.” A world of grace!

No wonder those who heard him “wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth” (Luke 4:22) and hardened Roman soldiers admitted, “Never man spoke like this man” (John 7:46).