Taming the Tongue

James 3

1 My brethren, a let not many of you become teachers, b knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For c we all stumble in many things. d If anyone does not stumble in word, e he is a 1 perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 2 Indeed, f we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.

5 Even so g the tongue is a little member and h boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And i the tongue is a fire, a world of 3 iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it j defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of 4 nature; and it is set on fire by 5 hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, k full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made l in the 6 similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a m fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? 7 Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

  1. Cross References
    Matthew 23:8
    But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.
    Romans 2:21
    You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?
    1 Timothy 1:7
    Desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
  2. Cross References
    Luke 6:37
    Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
  3. Cross References
    1 Kings 8:46
    When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to the land of the enemy, far or near.
  4. Cross References
    Psalms 34:13
    Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit.
  5. Cross References
    Matthew 12:34 - 37
    Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
    James 3:2 - 12
    For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
  6. Cross References
    Psalms 32:9
    Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you.
  7. Cross References
    Proverbs 12:18
    There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
    Proverbs 15:2
    The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
    James 1:26
    If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless.
  8. Cross References
    Psalms 12:3
    May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, And the tongue that speaks proud things.
    Psalms 73:8
    They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily.
  9. Cross References
    Psalms 120:2
    Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips And from a deceitful tongue.
    Psalms 120:3
    What shall be given to you, Or what shall be done to you, You false tongue?
    Proverbs 16:27
    An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire.
  10. Cross References
    Matthew 12:36
    But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
    Matthew 15:11
    "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."
    Matthew 15:18
    But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.
  11. Cross References
    Psalms 140:3
    They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; The poison of asps is under their lips. Selah
    Ecclesiastes 10:11
    A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; The babbler is no different.
    Romans 3:13
    Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit"; "The poison of asps is under their lips".
  12. Cross References
    Genesis 1:26
    Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.
    Genesis 5:1
    This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God.
    Genesis 9:6
    Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.
    1 Corinthians 11:7
    For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.
  13. Cross References
    Matthew 7:16 - 20
    You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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