The Book of James - Chapter 3

Verse 1-2, not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment. For we all stumble in many matters. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the entire body.

We all are called to be priests but some have the gift of preaching or teaching, given by Father.  Anyone having these gifts must ensure they teach from Yahuah’s word through His Spirit because if anyone misleads people away from the truth, that person will receive a higher judgement.

Verse 3-5, look, we put bits in the mouths of horses, for them to obey us, and we turn their body. Look at the ships too: although they are so big and are driven by strong winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot intends. So too the tongue is a little member, yet boasts greatly. See how a little fire kindles a great forest!

Just like a small rudder steering a ship, so is the small tongue steering people to or from the word of Yahuah. What we talk about to other people regarding Messiah will bring them to Him or lead them away. Be careful what you say! Think before you talk!

Verse 6, and the tongue is a fire, the world of unrighteousness. Among our members the tongue is set, the one defiling the entire body, and setting on fire the wheel of life, and it is set on fire by Gehenna (death).

The tongue can kill or it can bring healing! The tongue can destroy a marriage, a friendship and even destroy your walk with Messiah. The tongue is like a fire, burning down everything in its path if not controlled. An uncontrolled tongue on fire is straight from the wicked one!

 

Verse 7-8, for every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man is able to tame the tongue. It is unruly, evil, filled with deadly poison.

Every animal on this earth can be tamed by man or woman but the tongue is difficult to tame.

Verse 9-10, with it we bless our Elohim and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of Elohim. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be so.

The one moment we will say good things about people and then the next moment we will gossip about other people. With this same tongue we worship Elohim and we also talk bad things. As believers this should not happen! We cannot bless and curse from the same tongue, especially if we are followers of Yahusha Messiah.

Verse 11-12, does the fountain send forth the sweet and the bitter from the same opening? My brothers, is a fig tree able to bear olives, or a grapevine figs? So neither is a fountain able to make salt and sweet water.

An apple tree does not bear oranges, so too a believer does not curse when he should be blessing.

Verse 13, who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good behavior his works in meekness of wisdom.

As true believers in Messiah, we should only bear good fruit and this is shown by our behavior.

Verse 14-16, but if you have bitter jealousy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast against and lie against the truth. This is not the wisdom coming down from above, but it is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and self-seeking are, there is confusion and every foul deed.

If a person is self-seeking (self-praising or likes to be praised by other people), proud, un-forgiveness and have bitterness, then this is from the devil and is wicked.

Verse 17-18, but the wisdom from above is first clean, then peaceable, gentle, ready to obey, filled with compassion and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

The above verses are how true believers should react! With meekness, humbleness, kind, giving, gentle, compassion and bearing good fruit. Sounds easy! We can only do this through Messiah Yahusha and His Spirit living in us. Without Him, it is impossible. With Him, it is possible. There are 3 things we have to die to daily (1 John 2:16):

1)      The lust of the flesh (world entertainment)

2)      The lust of the eyes (covetousness)

3)      The pride of life (self-seeking)

The tongue plays a big role in the above list as to what we must daily die of.

1 John 2:15, do not love the world nor that which is in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Read this verse again and again, until you understand what Father wants from you. It is very clear!

Philippians 1:11, being filled with the fruit of righteousness (obedience), through Yahusha Messiah, to the esteem and praise of Elohim.

 Praise Yah always.