Bible Version: New International Version (NIV)
Application Notes: Life Application Study Bible (NIV)
JAMES 3
Taming the Tongue
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Two Kinds of Wisdom
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
Application Notes
3:1 Teaching was a highly valued and respected profession in Jewish culture, and many Jews who embraced Christianity wanted to become teachers. James warned about the aspiration to teach because teachers have great responsibility. Their words and example affect others' spiritual lives. If you are in a teaching or leadership role, how are you affecting those you teach and lead?
3:2-3 What we say and what we don't say are both important. To control our speech, we must not only say the right words at the right time but also rein in our desire to say what we shouldn't. Examples of the sins of an untamed tongue include gossiping, insulting, belittling, bragging, manipulating, teaching what is false, exaggerating, complaining, flattering, and lying. Pause before you speak to ask yourself, Is what I want to say true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?
3:6 James compares careless and hurtful words to a raging fire. An uncontrolled tongue can do terrible damage. Satan uses words and speech to divide people and pit them against one another. When a person loses their temper, their impulsive and hateful words spread destruction quickly, and no one can stop the results once they are spoken. We dare not be careless with what we say, thinking we can apologise later, because even if we do, the scars will remain. A few words spoken in anger can destroy a relationship that has taken years to build. Before you speak, remember that words are like fire--you can neither control nor reverse the damage they do.
3:8 If no human being can tame the tongue, why bother trying? Even though we may not achieve perfect control over what we say, the Holy Spirit will help us deal with our emotions and exercise self-control. Remember that we are not fighting the tongue's fire in our own strength. The Holy Spirit will give us increasing power to monitor and filter what we say. Then, when we offend others or are offended ourselves, he will remind us of God's love, and we won't react in a hateful manner (Romans 5:5). When we are criticised, the Spirit will heal the hurt and help us not to lash out.
3:9-12 Our own contradictory speech often puzzles us. Sometimes our words are good and pleasing to God, but at other times they are hurtful and destructive. Which of these speech patterns reflects our true identity? We were made in God's image, but the tongue is a constant reminder of our sinful nature. God works to change us from the inside out. When the Holy Spirit works in our hearts, he gives us self-control so that we can speak words that please God. Ask God to stop salty water from coming out of you and to replace it with the refreshing water of the Holy Spirit.
3:13-18 Have you ever known anyone who claimed to be wise but who acted foolishly? True wisdom can be measured by the depth of a person's character. Just as you can identify a tree by the type of fruit it produces, you can evaluate your wisdom by the way you behave. Foolishness leads to disorder, but wisdom leads to peace and goodness. Are you tempted to escalate conflict, pass on gossip, or fan the fire of discord? Careful winsome speech and wise, loving words are the seeds of peace. God loves peacemakers (Matthew 5:9).
3:14-15 It is easy for us to be drawn into wrong desires by the pressures of society and sometimes even by well-meaning Christians. By listening to advice such as "Assert yourself," "Go for it," or "set high goals," we can be drawn into greed and destructive competitiveness that push us beyond the good intentions of the advice. Seeking God's wisdom delivers us from the need to compare ourselves to others and to want what they have.
3:18 James was known as a peacemaker (Acts 15:13-21; Galatians 2:9-10), so he stresses the importance of peace. Believers should create a climate of peace wherever they go. Jesus promised that God will bless peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). Whenever you help make peace, you will be rewarded by seeing relationships reconciled between people in conflict with one another and between people and God.
Taken from Life Application Study Bible - Third Edition - (NIV)