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Taming The Tongue

James 3:1 - 18 (NASB) CHAPTER 3The Tongue Is a Fire3 1aMatt 23:8; Rom 2:20f; 1 Tim 1:7 Let not many of you become teachers, bJames 1:16; 3:10my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a [X]Or greater condemnation stricter judgment. 2For we all aJames 2:10 stumble in many ways. bMatt 12:34-37; James 3:2-12 If anyone does not stumble in [Y]Lit word what he says, he is a cJames 1:4 perfect man, able to dJames 1:26bridle the whole body as well. 3Now aPs 32:9if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 5So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it aPs 12:3f; 73:8f boasts of great things. bProv 26:20fSee how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6And aPs 120:2, 3; Prov 16:27 the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which bMatt 12:36f; 15:11, 18f defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our [Z]Or existence, origin life, and is set on fire by [A]Gr Gehenna cMatt 5:22hell. 7For every [B]Lit naturespecies of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human [C]Lit naturerace. 8But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of aPs 140:3; Eccl 10:11; Rom 3:13deadly poison. 9With it we bless aJames 1:27 our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, bGen 1:26; 1 Cor 11:7who have been made in the likeness of God; 10from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 11Does a fountain send out from the same opening both [D]Lit sweetfresh and bitter water? 12aMatt 7:16Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce [E]V 11, note 1 fresh. Wisdom from Above 13Who among you is wise and understanding? aJames 2:18 Let him show by his b1 Pet 2:12good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14But if you have bitter aRom 2:8; 2 Cor 12:20; James 3:16 jealousy and [F]Or strife selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against b1 Tim 2:4; James 1:18; 5:19the truth. 15This wisdom is not that which comes down aJames 1:17 from above, but is b1 Cor 2:6; 3:19 earthly, [G]Or unspiritual c2 Cor 1:12; Jude 19 natural, d2 Thess 2:9f; 1 Tim 4:1; Rev 2:24demonic. 16For where aRom 2:8; 2 Cor 12:20; James 3:14jealousy and [H]V 14, note 1 selfish ambition exist, [I]I.e. in that place there is disorder and every evil thing. 17But the wisdom aJames 1:17 from above is first b2 Cor 7:11; James 4:8 pure, then cMatt 5:9; Heb 12:11 peaceable, dTitus 3:2 gentle, [J]Or willing to yield reasonable, eLuke 6:36; James 2:13 full of mercy and good fruits, fJames 2:4 unwavering, without gRom 12:9; 2 Cor 6:6hypocrisy. 18And the [K]Lit fruit of righteousness aProv 11:18; Is 32:17; Hos 10:12; Amos 6:12; Gal 6:8; Phil 1:11seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace [L]Or for by those who make peace. James 3:1 - 18 (NASB)