Subscribe for Free Bible Lessons

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.

    ​

    Press the back button to exit subscribe form.

    Built with ConvertKit

    James 3:1-12
    Lesson 441

    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this lesson:

    Control the tongue. 
    "The tongue is a fire." (3:6)  

    Study Tip:
      
    When reading the Bible, concentrate on how you can apply each passage to your life.
    Making ourselves better people by applying God's truth is a difficult part of Bible work
    and    sometimes requires days of thought and prayer.  But the results are worth the effort.

    The General Epistle of James

    The King James Bible    ​




    James 3:1-12
    Watch your tongue

    1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.  

    ​2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

    3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

    4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

    5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

    6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

    7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

    8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

    9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

    10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

    11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

    ​12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. ​

    ​

    Margin notes:
     
    "My brethren, be not many masters." (3:1) - "My brothers, not many of you should be (church) teachers." See what Jesus said in Matthew 23:8.
     
    "The greater condemnation." (3:1) - "The harsher judgment."  Woe to religious leaders who lead people astray.
     
    "In many things we offend all." (3:2) - "We all stumble (sin) in many ways."
     
    "If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man." (3:2) - "If anyone could control their tongue they would be a perfect person."
     
    "To bridle the whole body." (3:2) -"To control themselves."
     
    "Whithersoever the governor listeth." (3:4) - "Wherever the captain wishes."
     
    "Boasteth great things." (3:5) - "Has great influence."
     
    "The tongue is a fire." (3:6) - The tongue can do a lot of damage (Proverbs 16:27; Matthew 15:11).  It can destroy relationships and turn close friend into enemies.  Christians must learn to control their words (Proverbs 26:20; James 1:26).
     
    "A world of iniquity." (3:6) - "A world of sin."
     
    "Setteth on fire the course of nature." (3:6) - "Sets on fire the course of our life."
     
    "But the tongue can no man tame." (3:8) - That is, without the help of God.  What does an untamed tongue lead to?  Read Proverbs 17:20.
     
    "Which are made after the similitude of God." (3:9) - "Which are made in the likeness of God."
     
    "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing." (3:10) - What we say is reflects who we are.  We can be a blessing or a curse to others.  It's our choice. 
     
    "No fountain both yield salt water and fresh." (3:12) - "What would happen to the fresh water if fresh water and salt water flowed from the same spring?"  (An interesting question to ponder from the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books Colorado Springs, Colorado; page 71).
    For more on the human tongue, read Proverbs 6:16-19; 10:19; 12:22; 17:9; 17:27; 19:9; 20:19; 27:2.


                                                  New Living Translation 
     

    James 3:1-12   
    Controlling the Tongue
     
    1 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.

    2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.
     
    3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth.

    4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong.

    5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.
     
    But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.

    6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
     
    7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish,

    8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.

    9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.

    10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

    11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?

    ​12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can't draw fresh water from a salty spring.

    ​This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
    Today's question:
     
    1. What does the tongue tell us about ourselves? 
     
     
                          
    Study the Bible every day; it has much to teach us.
    Answer: (Do you agree?)
     
    1. "Our contradictory speech often puzzles us.  At times it is right and pleasing to God, but at other times it is violent and destructive.  Which of these reflects our true identity?  The tongue gives us a picture of our basic human nature.  We are
    good - made in God's image; but we are also bad - fallen and sinful.  God works to change us from the inside out.  As the
    Holy Spirit purifies our hearts, he also gives us self-control so that we will speak words that please God."  
     
    (From the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; page 2483) 
       
     
      
    Application thought for the day:
     
    "For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." (Matthew 12:37).
    How often do you say something kind or loving to others?     
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke.  Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible."  All were critical in putting these lessons together.
    ​    © 2023 evolke