James 3:5

So it is. "Even though the tongue is small, it can control us, just like the bit controls the horse or the rudder controls the ship." It can boast. Mayor says: "There is no idea of vain boasting, the whole argument turns upon the reality of the power which the tongue possesses." Can be set on fire! Bitterness existed in certain Synagogues (which were used by both Jews and Christians), fanned into flame by the ranting and raving of various "teachers." James wants to make peace. The tongue of one speaker can set ablaze all the combustible material which is created by fighting and quarreling! So it is vital to the survival of the messianic community that tongues be controlled!