James 3:1
1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
James 3:1 NLT
Dear brothers and sisters, NOT MANY of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged by God with greater strictness.
James 3:2
2For 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.
James 3:3-13
3Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4Behold 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. 5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6And 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. 7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. 13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
The Power of the Tongue
The Power to DIRECT: The Bit and the Rudder. 3-4
James 1:3 NLT
3We can make a large horse turn around and go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth.
James 3:4
4And a tiny rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot wants it to go, even though the winds are strong.
Proverbs 18:21a
Death and life are in the power of the tongue:
Psalm 141:3-4a
3Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. 4Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
Power to DESTROY: The Fire and the Animal
James 3:5-6
So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
James 3:7-8
7People can tame all kinds of animals and birds and reptiles and fish, 8but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil, full of deadly poison.
Power to DELIGHT: The Fountain and the Tree. 9-12
James 3:9-12 NLT
9Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it breaks out into curses against those who have been made in the image of God.
James 3:10-12
10And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12Can you pick olives from a fig tree or figs from a grapevine? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty pool.
Proverbs 18:4
4The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked
Proverbs 13:14
14The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death