New Testament
James 3
Overview
James turns to the tongue, warning first that not many should become teachers, since teachers face stricter judgment and all of us stumble in speech (3:1-2). He then unleashes a cascade of images for the tongue's outsized power: a small bit turns a great horse, a tiny rudder steers a vast ship, and a little fire sets a whole forest ablaze (3:3-6). The tongue is "a restless evil, full of deadly poison" (3:8), no man can tame it, and from the same mouth flow blessing and cursing—an inconsistency as unnatural as a spring pouring both fresh and salt water, or a fig tree bearing olives (3:9-12). In the second half James contrasts two wisdoms (3:13-18). Earthly wisdom is marked by "bitter jealousy and selfish ambition," which are "earthly, unspiritual, demonic," breeding disorder and every vile practice (3:14-16). The wisdom from above, by contrast, is "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere" (3:17), and the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace (3:18).
1Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.
2For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, 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.