James 3

Taming the Tongue

1 # Matt. 23:8; [Rom. 2:20, 21; 1 Tim. 1:7] Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2For #1 Kgs. 8:46; Prov. 20:9; Eccles. 7:20; 1 John 1:8 we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, #[Matt. 12:37] he is a perfect man, #See ch. 1:26able also to bridle his whole body. 3If we put #Ps. 32:9bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5So also the tongue is a small member, yet #[Ps. 12:3, 4; 73:8, 9]it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6And #Ps. 120:2-4; Prov. 16:27 the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, #Matt. 15:18staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,#3:6 Or wheel of birth and set on fire by hell.#3:6 Greek Gehenna 7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, #Ps. 140:3; Eccles. 10:11; Rom. 3:13full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people #See Gen. 1:26who are made in the likeness of God. 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,#3:10 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 12 these things ought not to be so. 11Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Wisdom from Above

13Who is wise and understanding among you? #ch. 2:18 By his good conduct let him show his works #ch. 1:21in the meekness of wisdom. 14But if you have bitter #ver. 16; Acts 5:17; Rom. 2:8; 2 Cor. 12:20; Gal. 5:20; Phil. 1:17; 2:3; [Rom. 13:13]jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15This is not #ch. 1:17 the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, #[1 Kgs. 22:22; 2 Thess. 2:9, 10; 1 Tim. 4:1; Rev. 2:24]demonic. 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17But #[1 Cor. 2:6, 7] the wisdom from above is first pure, then #Heb. 12:11 peaceable, gentle, open to reason, #[Luke 6:36] full of mercy and good fruits, #ch. 2:4 (Gk.) impartial and #Rom. 12:9sincere. 18And #Prov. 11:18; Isa. 32:17; Hos. 10:12; Amos 6:12; Phil. 1:11 a harvest of righteousness #Matt. 5:9; Gal. 6:7, 8is sown in peace by those who make peace.

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