James 3
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1Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment. 2For in many things we all stumble. If anyone doesn’t stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. 3Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body. 4Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires. 5So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest! 6And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna. 7For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind; 8but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God. 10Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water? 12Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water. 13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom. 14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth. 15This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
World English Bible (public domain)
“So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!”
James 3:5
Summary
James chapter 3 addresses the power and the peril of the tongue, exploring how something small can have a significant impact. James compares the tongue to a bit that controls a horse or a rudder that directs a ship, emphasizing the importance of controlling what we say. He notes that the tongue, though small, can set the course of life by igniting destructive fires, illustrating the potential for words to cause great harm. He also points out that while humans are able to tame many creatures, the tongue remains untamable and full of deadly poison. Inconsistencies arise when the same tongue praises God and curses others, highlighting the need for integrity in speech. James then transitions to wisdom, contrasting earthly, unspiritual wisdom, characterized by bitterness and selfish ambition, with the wisdom from above, which is pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere. The chapter concludes with the assertion that a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace, encouraging believers to cultivate a spirit of peace in their interactions.
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