Controlling Our Tongues & What We Say |
James 3:1-18 The Epistle, [a.k.a. Letter,] of James [in Smaller Chunks] |
My brethren, [a.k.a. fellow-believers, don't have] many masters, [a.k.a. teachers,] knowing that we shall receive the [larger] condemnation. [Ephesians 4:14-15 That [from now on,] we are not [like] children, tossed [back & forth,] & carried [around] with every [different] doctrine, [a.k.a. teaching,] [like being blown by the] wind, by the sleight, [a.k.a. trickery,] of men, & [skillful sneakiness, by which] they lie in wait, [a.k.a. to ambush,] to deceive. But in all things, [speak] the Truth [through] love, [so] you may grow up into [faith in] Him, even Christ, [Who] is the head.] |
For if any man, [who] [isn't] [a believer in God's] Word [offends,] in [the] many things, [of which] we all offend. [Psalm 34:13 Keep your tongue from evil, [a.k.a. wickedness,] & your lips from speaking speaking [what is:] [deceitful.] |
[And] the same is also able to bridle, [a.k.a. restrain,] the whole body, & [becomes] a [perfected] man. [See,] we put bits in horses' mouths, [so] that they may obey us, & we [can] turn [around] their whole body. [Psalm 32:8-9 I will instruct & teach you in the way, which you [shall] go. With [My] eye [on you,] I will guide you. [Don't] be [like] the horse, or [like] the mule, [that] have no understanding. Whose mouth must be held, with a bit & [a] bridle in [it,] lest they [won't] come near you.] |
Also, [see] the ships are driven [by] fierce winds, [although] they are so [large.] [Still,] they are turned [around,] with a very small helm, [a.k.a. rudder,] & [go] [wherever,] the [captain wants.] |
[Even though,] the tongue is a little member [of the body,] & boasts great things. [Look,] [what] a little matter, [can] [kindle, a.k.a. start,] a [big] fire! [James 1:26 If any man among you, [seems] to be religious, & [doesn't bridle] his tongue, [he] deceives his own heart, & this man's religion is vain, [a.k.a. worthless.] |
And among our [body's] members, the tongue is a fire that [puts] the course of nature on fire, [which] defiles the whole body, [through] a world of iniquity, [a.k.a. wickedness,] [& these] [are] set [in] [the] [fires] of hell. |
For every kind of: [animal;] birds; serpents; & things in the sea, [are] tamed, & [have] been tamed [by] mankind; but no man can tame the tongue. [The tongue] is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. [With that] [same tongue,] we bless God, even the Father. And [with] [that tongue,] we curse men, [who] are made, [according to] the [image] of God. [Genesis 1:26-27 And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, [according to] Our likeness. And let them have dominion, [a.k.a. power,] over the: [birds] of the air; the cattle, [a.k.a. livestock;] over all the earth; & every creeping thing that [creeps] upon the earth. So, God created man in His Own image. In the image of God, He created him. He created them male & female.] |
My brethren, out of the same mouth [proceeds] [both:] blessing & cursing, & these things [shouldn't] be so. [Does] a fountain, [shoot up] [both:] sweet water & bitter, [from] the same place? My brethren, can the fig tree bear, [a.k.a. produce, olives?] Either [can] a [grape] vine [produce] figs? So, no fountain can yield both salt water & fresh. |
Who among you is a wise man, & [endowed, a.k.a. equipped,] with knowledge? Let him [demonstrate] his works, [deeds, through] good conversation, with [humble] wisdom. But if you have bitter [envy] & strife, [a.k.a. conflict, within] your hearts, [don't boast,] & [don't] lie against the Truth. [John 14:6 Jesus [said] to [Thomas,] I Am the Way, the Truth, & the Life. No man [comes] to the Father, [except] by Me.] |
[When you lie against the Truth,] this wisdom [doesn't come down] from above, but [it] is: earthly, sensual, [a.k.a. arousing lustful desires,] & [is] devilish, [a.k.a. wicked.] For where [envy] & strife [are,] there is confusion, & every evil work, [a.k.a. deed.] |
But the wisdom that is from [the Lord God] above, is 1st pure, then [peaceful; gentle;] easy to [be entreated, a.k.a. is easy to approach, & isn't stubborn;] [is:] full of mercy, & [produces] good fruits, [a.k.a. deeds,] without partiality, [a.k.a. favoritism,] & without hypocrisy, [a.k.a. saying one thing, & doing another.] |
And the fruit of righteousness is sown, [a.k.a. planted,] in peace, [from those, who] make peace. [Galatians 6:8 For he, [who sows] to his flesh, shall reap, [a.k.a. harvest,] corruption [from] the flesh. But he, [who sows] to the [Holy] Spirit, [harvests,] Everlasting Life.] |