Limitless Word

James 3

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📖 James introduction

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1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. ✦ 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body. ✦ 3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal. ✦ 4Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined. ✦ 5In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze. ✦ 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. ✦ 7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, ✦ 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ✦ 9With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. ✦ 10Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be! ✦ 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. ✦ 13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ✦ 14But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. ✦ 15Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ✦ 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice. ✦ 17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. ✦ 18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness. ✦

Tap any verse for its study page. Underlined terms mark a concept, person, or place; ✦ marks verses with cross-references.

Where this chapter connects

Jas 1 ·9Jas 3 ·8Gal 5 ·71 Pet 3 ·5Matt 5 ·51 Cor 3 ·51 Pet 2 ·41 Jn 3 ·4

Christ at the center

The wisdom from above and the royal law of love are the life of those who belong to 'our glorious Lord Jesus Christ' — faith in him made visible in works.

How James 3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Resources, by level

Lay

  • ★ Start hereAudioThrough the WordThrough the Word · ~10 min/chapter · Free · evangelical

    A clear ~10-minute audio teaching for every one of the Bible's 1,189 chapters — the most systematic free way to study chapter by chapter.

Pastoral

  • SermonChuck Smith — C2000 SeriesChuck Smith · Free · evangelical

    Free verse-by-verse audio through the entire Bible from the founder of Calvary Chapel.

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — James videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on James 3YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and chapter teaching from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — James 3David Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Readable, verse-by-verse exposition of the whole chapter.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on JamesMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceBlue Letter Bible — James 3Blue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Interlinear, lexicon, and study tools across the chapter.

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