Study the Bible with Me | Kim Howard
James’ Third Letter to the Church
An Unruly Tongue
James 3:1, “1My brethren, be not many masters (teachers), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”
Personal Translation: My brothers and sisters, many of you should not become teachers, knowing that we who teach will receive greater condemnation.
This verse is sandwiched between James’ instruction about the kind of faith that produces good works and his warnings about our words, so we should view it within that context.
Many people desire to be teachers because this is an important and respected role in the church (1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11). Those who desire a teaching position within the church are held to a higher standard because of the influence they carry. A teacher’s words and actions have greater weight than those who are not teaching. If a teacher falls, they can lead many others astray. For this reason, God will judge teachers of His Word according to the impact their teaching and example had on those they were called to lead.
Maturity and appointed by God, is a key quality for those who would be appointed leaders in the church (Acts 6:2-6; Acts 13:2; Acts 14:23; 2 Corinthians 8:18-19).
Teachers should voluntarily hold themselves to a higher standard, knowing that they will be judged more strictly. If you teach God’s Word, do it carefully and prayerfully, with humility, faithfulness, and a life that matches your message.
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.”
Personal Translation: For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what they say, they are a mature person, able to control their entire body as well.
James begins with humility and honesty. No one is exempt from failure—every Christian struggles and falls short at times, this includes teachers as well. James is preparing to warn teachers—and all believers—about the power and danger of words. Since teaching relies heavily on speech, those who teach must be especially careful.
James focuses on the tongue because words are one of the most difficult areas to control. Speech reveals the condition of the heart and often exposes pride, anger, impatience, or carelessness.
“Perfect” here does not mean sinless. It means mature, spiritually complete, and well-disciplined. A person who can control their speech shows a high level of spiritual maturity. James is saying, that a leader or teacher, who has matured in Christ will exhibit self-control and discipline in other areas of life, and able also to discipline the whole body, or the church.
James is teaching that mastery over speech reflects mastery over self.
James 3:3-6, “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.”
Personal Translation: Look at how we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us and turn about their whole body. Likewise, ships, though they are very large and driven by strong winds, are steered by a very small rudder wherever the captain chooses. In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it boasts of great things. Consider how a small fire can set a great forest ablaze. The tongue is also a fire—a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, setting on fire their entire course of life, for it is set on fire by hell.
James continues teaching about the power and danger of the tongue by using vivid, everyday illustrations.
James points to two powerful examples:
- A bit in a horse’s mouth
- A rudder on a large ship
Though both are small, they control the direction of something very large and powerful. A horse’s entire body follows the direction of the bit, and a massive ship is guided by a small rudder even in strong winds.
In the same way, the tongue is small, yet it has outsized power. It boasts great things—not only in prideful speech, but in its ability to shape lives, relationships, and reputations.
James is not saying the tongue is evil by nature, but that when it is left unchecked, it becomes incredibly dangerous. Words can, lead people astray, destroy trust, damage faith, influence many lives. This is especially serious for teachers, which is why James addressed them first.
The destruction of a deceiving tongue to a church is compared to a small fire, though it starts small, it can grow quickly to a raging fire. The tongue that teaches false doctrine is a world of iniquity, it pollutes the whole body (an individual or congregation) and determines the destiny of all who follow it.
James is calling believers—especially teachers—to recognize the power of their words and submit their speech to God’s control.
Taming The Tongue
James 3:7-8, “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.
Personal Translation: All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea have been tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.
James continues his teaching on the power and danger of the tongue, using a striking contrast. He points out something remarkable about human ability: people have learned to control animals of every kind—wild beasts, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea. Humanity has exercised dominion over creation, just as Scripture says (Genesis 1:26). But the tongue no man can tame.
He uses strong language to describe the destructive potential of words.
- Unruly — uncontrollable, unstable, unpredictable
- Evil — capable of causing real harm
- Deadly poison — words can wound, corrupt, destroy relationships, reputations, faith, and even spiritual life
Just as poison can spread quietly and kill, careless or malicious words can do lasting damage.
It exposes a deep truth: We may control external things, but the tongue reveals the heart, and the heart needs transformation, not mere restraint. Only God is able to tame the tongue when one allows the Holy Ghost to influence their thoughts and speech. The solution is not silence alone, but submission to God.
James 3:9-12, “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.”
Personal Translation: With the tongue we praise God, even the Father, and with the same tongue we curse people who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth comes both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can a spring bring forth both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a spring produce both salt and fresh water.
James continues teaching about the serious inconsistency of the tongue.
James exposes a troubling contradiction. The same mouth that praises God also speaks harshly, cruelly, or destructively toward people—people who are made in the image of God. To curse or tear down another person is, in effect, to dishonor the God who created them. James is showing that our treatment of people reflects our true reverence for God.
James is clear: this behavior is not normal or acceptable for Christians. Praise and harmful speech should not coexist in a life transformed by Jesus Christ.
James uses examples from nature to make his point unmistakable.
- A spring does not produce both fresh water and bitter water.
- A fig tree cannot produce olives.
- A grapevine cannot produce figs.
Nature produces according to its source. What comes out reveals what something truly is.
In the same way, speech reveals the condition of the heart. If a person’s words are consistently harmful, unkind, or divisive, it reveals a deeper spiritual issue.
James is calling us to examine our hearts, not just our words, because the tongue reveals what truly rules within. Christians wanting to please God will allow the Holy Ghost to lead and guide them in their thoughts and speech.
James 3:13-18, “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. 14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Personal Translation: Who among you is wise and full of knowledge? Let them show it by their good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every kind of evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Who is a wise man full of godly wisdom among you? James answers the question. Godly wisdom is shown in a person by the way they live their life. One that has wisdom from above will always bring the peace of God with them wherever they go. They will be pure of heart, peaceable, gentle, and easy to talk to, full of mercy and good deeds. This is something natural for them to do, they treat everyone the same, because there is no insincerity within them. The peace makers are continually recommending this wisdom to others to make peace.
Worldly wisdom encourages us to be selfish and greedy, and to put our needs and interests before others. Those who live in malice, envy, and strife, live in confusion, and are liable to be provoked and hurried to evil work. This wisdom is not from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish.
The fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those that make peace (Matthew 5:9). James makes it clear: the source of wisdom is revealed by the fruit it produces.
Summary
In this chapter James focuses on the power of words and the nature of true wisdom.
James warns that teachers are held to a higher standard because words carry great influence. He explains that although the tongue is small, it has enormous power—it can guide, destroy, bless, or poison. No one can fully tame the tongue, which reveals the condition of the heart. this behavior is not normal or acceptable for Christians. Praise and harmful speech should not coexist in a life transformed by Jesus Christ.
James then contrasts two kinds of wisdom:
· Earthly wisdom, driven by envy and selfish ambition, which leads to disorder and evil.
· Heavenly wisdom, which is pure, peace-loving, gentle, merciful, sincere, and produces righteousness.
This chapter teaches that true faith and wisdom are revealed not by words alone, but by humble conduct, controlled speech, and lives that promote peace.
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