What are cloven tongues?

Cloven Tongues

On the day of Pentecost ‘there appeared to them parted tongues, as of fire, and it sat upon each one of them’ (Acts 2:3). This sign accompanying the coming of the Holy Spirit shows two aspects of His operation: (i) the purifying effect through judgment of evil (fire); and (ii) the power for testimony (cloven tongues): not to the Jews only but also to Gentiles.

But the manner of the Spirit's coming was quite different in the two cases. Upon the Lord He came like a dove; the form in connection with the disciples was "cloven tongues like as of fire." Why the difference? He came upon the Lord Jesus in a form suited to the character of the blessed One Whom He was sealing. Christ was the meek and lowly One, not quenching the smoking flax, nor breaking the bruised reed. What more apt emblem of meekness than a dove? As for the disciples, they were to be witnesses as the Lord told them; hence tongues. They were cloven, for the testimony was not to be confined to the Jews, as in the day of Matt. 10 — though it was to them first, as we shall soon see — but it was to branch out to Gentiles also, "to all that are afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call." The tongues were of fire, the usual symbol of divine holiness in judgment; for the testimony of God, while bringing blessing, nevertheless judges all before it, giving no quarter to all that is of fallen man.

But let none suppose from the fiery form that this is the baptism of fire spoken of by John the Baptist in Matt. 3. John said of Christ, "He shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." To these words doubtless our Lord alludes in Acts 1:5, "John truly baptised with water, but ye shall be baptised with the Holy Ghost not many days hence"; but with marked omission of "and fire." If Matthew 3 be examined, it will be seen that the baptism of fire is judgment — "He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." This is not yet; through God's longsuffering grace the baptism of the Spirit is an accomplished fact: the baptism of fire awaits another day.

The first great result of the coming of the Spirit was a striking testimony to the Jews: "To the Jew first;" "Beginning at Jerusalem." It was the feast of Pentecost, and many were in Jerusalem from far and near. To their utter surprise unlearned and ignorant men began to speak in other tongues, and to declare the wonderful works of God. This was plainly the hand of God. The men had not learned the languages; yet Parthians, Medes, Elamites, etc., heard them speaking in the tongues wherein they were born. Tongues are for a sign to unbelievers (1 Cor. 14:22). Thus did God surmount the confusion brought in at Babel. The day had not come for its removal; but God would have men of every tongue hear the glad tidings of His grace. The opinions as to the marvel were various. Some seemed thoughtful and said, "What means this?" Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."

So far our Lord's case differs, on Whom the Spirit came down like a dove, because there was a perfect absence of evil; no question of the smallest sin or taint, or anything to indicate corruption in our Lord. This could not be said about us, and therefore did the Holy Ghost descend in the form which He assumed for the disciples, "like as of fire." Fire always marks the judgment of God. The Holy Ghost could not have come upon the disciples if there had not been God's judgment dealing with their sin in the work of Christ. But there was more than this. There appeared cloven tongues, because it was to be a question of testimony. Not so in Christ's case; for He is the One testified of. We are called to be witnesses of Him. We know but are not the truth; He only and emphatically is the truth to be witnessed to. Cloven tongues formed a beautiful emblem of the power of the Holy Ghost put forth in making believers witnesses to our Lord Jesus Christ. Cloven tongues — no longer one language as of Canaan, but more, every tongue of every nation under heaven — point not to Jew only but to Gentile, so that the expressiveness of the symbol seems unmistakable.

The Spirit came then as an impetuous wind, filling all the house, and as cloven tongues of fire. The partition was symbolical of the diverse languages, the fire of the penetrating power of the word of God, discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart. It seems to us, that not only the apostles, but all the one hundred and twenty, were invested with this power. They were all together; and the explanation given by Peter of the prophecy of Joel confirms the matter (Joel 1:14-15; Joel 2:1, 17).

That this was not accomplished until He was glorified is plain from Acts 1:5, Acts 11:16. In the risen state, alluding to John's words, He said, "Ye shall be baptised with the Holy Ghost not many days hence" (Acts 1:5). John added, "and with fire," but this the Lord omits, as having no fulfilment yet. Fire is an emblem of divine judgment, as the forerunner himself explained; and Christ is the divinely appointed administrator of it. Israel is "His floor," and at His return He will purge it, dealing with the apostate mass of the nation — the chaff to be burnt with unquenchable fire, and blessing the remnant — the wheat for the garner. It is a serious mistake that the baptism of fire is in any way going on now. It is judgment pure and simple, but this is the day of grace. It has often been observed that when the Lord read in the synagogue (Isa. 61), He broke off in the middle of the second verse "the acceptable year of the Lord," leaving the words "and the day of vengeance of our God," for a day yet to come (Luke 4:18-19). Some may have found difficulty in the fact that the Spirit's descent was accompanied by tongues of fire. There is a great contrast between the form of a dove as in the case of the Lord Jesus, and tongues of fire resting upon the disciples. The form was suited to the character of the recipients and to the character of the testimony they were to bear. The Lord's testimony was marked by grace. He came not to condemn the world, did not cry out and shout, nor break the bruised reed or quench the smoking flax. Of such unassuming patient grace the dove was the suited emblem. The work of the disciples was of a very solemn, though blessed character. They charged sin home upon men, the word of God by their means, judging everything before it, while conveying eternal blessing to every soul who believed the gospel. They were to be witnesses — hence "tongues"; the testimony was to branch out to the Gentiles — therefore "cloven"; they were of "fire" for the reason stated. But this was in no way the baptism of fire as careful investigation of the passages will show.

The Holy Spirit’s descent was accompanied by a sound of a rushing mighty wind, which filled the house where the disciples were assembled. Cloven tongues like as of fire sat upon each of them. The sound would set forth the irresistible power of the Holy Spirit, the permeating power of His presence. “The cloven tongues like as of fire,” speaks of the Holy Spirit calling for separation in heart and ways in the believers, who form the church of God. The cloven foot was one of the distinguishing features of the clean animals in the Old Testament dispensation. “Fire” speaks of the judgment of the flesh in the believer, and the Holy Spirit helping to this end. Separation from the world, and the judgment of the flesh are the two marks of the Christian walking in the Spirit. Alas! how much power is lost by world-bordering on the one hand and carnality on the other.

That the coming of the Holy Spirit of God should be likened to “a rushing mighty wind,” would show that the Spirit’s power is irresistible. We have heard of winds reaching such high velocity as to tear up giant trees by the roots as if they were rows of ninepins. The word for wind and spirit is the same in the Greek language. The wind cannot be seen but its power is felt, so the influence of the Holy Spirit can be felt, and yet not seen in a corporeal fashion. So we read,

“Cloven tongues like as of fire” appeared, and sat upon each one of the believers, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spoke with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Holy Spirit coming thus upon the disciples stands in vivid contrast to His descending like a dove, an emblem of peace, upon our Lord at the time of His baptism by John the Baptist. Everything in our Lord was pleasing to the Father. There was nothing contrary to holiness in Him. With full complacency the Spirit could descend upon Him in this striking fashion.

In the case of believers the Spirit came upon them as “cloven tongues like as of fire.” The tongue is an organ of speech. It is the speaking tongue that marks man in contrast to the lower creation. We read that no man can tame the tongue (James 3:8). But here a new power comes into the believer, and the sign of that indwelling, the cloven tongue, sets forth separation from evil. One of the marks of the clean animals, which the children of Israel were allowed to eat, was that they had cloven feet. This teaches that the Holy Spirit of God must have separation in heart and ways in the believer, so that He be not grieved, but able to give joy and communion in divine things.

The cloven tongues were like as of fire, which speaks of judgment; that all of the flesh, and that which is contrary to the holiness of God, must come under His unsparing condemnation. If we refuse to judge ourselves the Lord will judge us; the fire must consume the evil. We read:

Baptism of the Spirit and of Fire. — The Baptist was but the forerunner. Great as he was thought, and great as he really was, he was nevertheless unworthy to stoop to the lowest office for the coming One — to loose even His shoe latchet. Nor was that all. He baptised with water; but the Christ would baptise with the Holy Ghost and with fire, i.e., He would bestow the fullest blessing, and execute judgment likewise — for fire is here emblematic of judgment, as the Baptist went on to explain — but the chaff He will burn with fire unquenchable. An outline we here get in a few words of that which the Christ would do. And addressing a mixed multitude John spoke to them of both, though the saints of God only share in the one, and the impenitent only in the other. For to baptise with the Holy Ghost is to bestow the fullest blessing that saints can enter into upon earth. There is nothing beyond the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the becoming members by the baptism of the Spirit of the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). Fire, on the other hand, as we have stated, is here emblematic of judgment. The reader may seize the full bearing of the Baptist's statement, if he compares Matt. 3:11 and Luke 3:16 with Mark 1:8 and Acts 1:5. In both the former gospels, judgment is a prominent thought, and in both is baptism with fire mentioned. But in Mark, where the theme of judgment is but sparingly touched on, and in Acts, where the faithful were alone for the moment in view, the fire is not mentioned. It would not be in place. The evangelists were evidently no copyists, but wrote with a design, that of the Spirit of God.

What we have said is confirmed by Peter's words to those of the circumcision in Jerusalem, subsequent to the outpouring of the Spirit on the Gentiles at Caesarea. He discerned that God had done for these last, what He had previously done for the others in the upper room at Jerusalem. "As I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that He said, John indeed baptised with water, but ye shall be baptised with the Holy Ghost" (Acts 11:15-16). Not a hint does he give of the baptism of fire having taken place. He speaks of that of the Holy Ghost. He is wholly silent about the other, and rightly so. That yet awaits its fulfilment. But were there not cloven tongues like as of fire seen in the upper room? Unquestionably. Was not that the baptism of fire? We firmly believe not. The Lord in the Acts did not mention it; and Peter never alluded to it. The Baptist, as we have said, has explained his own words. Let us learn from. him.

Cloven Tongues

Of the cloven tongues on the head of each of the disciples the multitude, as we have remarked, make no mention. Had they seen them, would they not have spoken of them, as well as of the utterances they heard in their several tongues? What did these tongues thus seen portend? Cloven (or, parted), like as of fire, - such is the description. Seen on that occasion, we never read of them being seen again. Cloven (or, divided), they seem to indicate that the recipients of the Spirit would be empowered to speak in more languages than one. And "like as of fire" may foreshadow the effect of the Word of God. The Word discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb.4:12). And those who persistently refuse obedience to it will find that it will judge them in the last day (John 12:48 ). The fire is an emblem of judgment. Of the power of the Word to act on consciences the three thousand bore testimony ere night closed on that eventful day, as, pricked in their hearts, they cried out in agony of soul, "Brethren, what shall we do?" The Word, reaching the conscience now, does act judicially within. Light shines in, and shows the person what he has never seen and judged before. Self-judgment it works now bringing blessing. Later it will judge the ungodly, rising up as a witness against them.

This must have been a wonderful scene. A company of a hundred and twenty believers are seen bowing in prayer before the Lord, and all of a sudden, there comes the sound of this rushing mighty wind. The sound is heard, but as far as the house is concerned nothing is visible. God attests the presence of this new Person — new, I mean, so far as His being on earth, after this kind, is concerned. A divine Person, in a totally new character, and manner, is on earth. God attests this first of all by "a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind" that made itself everywhere felt as "it filled all the house where they were sitting," and then, "there appeared to them cloven tongues, like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them." You have thus the unique truth of the Holy Ghost, personally dwelling in the bosom of the assembly, and next you have Him resting on each individual.

Why have we here the Holy Ghost, taking the form of "cloven tongues, like as of fire." When the Spirit came down upon Jesus, at His baptism, it had "a bodily shape like a dove" (Luke 3:22), sweetly in accord with the character of the Lord, and His mission. He was personally pure, and holy, and sinless, and His ministry was to be, if I might say so, of a non-aggressive character. You would naturally connect the thought of the dove with Christ. He was gentle, and quiet, and you know His voice was not to be heard in the streets. He was not to strive. The bruised reed He would not break, and the smouldering flax He would not quench. On the other hand, the "cloven tongues, as of fire," indicated testimony, bold, firm, unflinching, universal, world-wide testimony. I think that the tongue of fire which was seen on the head of each, was not merely a divided flame, or forked, as we should say, but that tongue of fire had a good many divisions. That is what the Greek would signify. Until now the testimony of God had been confined to one nation, and to one tongue. Now, by the Holy Ghost, the testimony of God was to go to the ends of the earth, and to every nation thereon. But why "cloven tongues, as of fire?" Many people believe that fire means power and blessing. That is never the thought in Scripture. Fire is always symbolical of the searching action of God's holiness. Here it would seem to be the testimony of the Word of God, and nothing can burn a man, like the Word in the power of the Holy Ghost. If you have been a convicted sinner you know that. Every saved man can go back to the time when God's Word, driven by the Holy Ghost, went like a red-hot iron through his conscience to the depths of his moral being. If, my friend, you evade the "fire" of God's Spirit on earth, you will know soon — ah! far too soon — in the depths of hell what fire means. You must know "fire," here or there. You must feel the fire of the Holy Ghost that breaks you down, convicts you of sin, and burns up your pride now, or the eternal fire, that is never quenched, and into which the impenitent sinner must go for his folly and sin, must be yours for ever. Mark you! you must meet "fire" somewhere. God grant that you may meet it in the day of the Holy Ghost — the day of grace — now. There is nothing but grace in this chapter.