The Power of Your Words

¹My dear brothers and sisters, don’t be so eager to become a teacher in the church since you know that we who teach are held to a higher standard of judgment.

²We all fail in many areas, but especially with our words. Yet if we’re able to bridle the words we say we are powerful enough to control ourselves in every way, and that means our character is mature and fully developed.

³Horses have bits and bridles in their mouths so that we can control and guide their large body.

⁴And the same with mighty ships, though they are massive and driven by fierce winds, yet they are steered by a tiny rudder at the direction of the person at the helm.

⁵And so the tongue is a small part of the body yet it carries great power! Just think of how a small flame can set a huge forest ablaze.[#3:5 Or “boasts of great things.” The Aramaic can be translated “the tongue has dominion.”]

⁶And the tongue is a fire! It can be compared to the sum total of wickedness and is the most dangerous part of our human body. It corrupts the entire body and is a hellish flame! It releases a fire that can burn throughout the course of human existence.[#3:6 As translated from the Latin Vulgate. The Greek is “a world of wrongdoing.”; #3:6 It is possible that the body Jacob refers to here is the body of believers (a local church).; #3:6 Or “is set ablaze by gehenna [hell].” The Aramaic does not mention gehenna but is simply “burns with fire.” Gehenna is taken from the concept of “The Valley of Hinnom” where rubbish was burned outside the city of Jerusalem, becoming a Hebrew metaphor for the fires of hell.; #3:6 The Aramaic can be translated “a fire that passes through successive generations, rolling on like wheels.”]

⁷For every wild animal on earth including birds, creeping reptiles, and creatures of the sea and land have all been overpowered and tamed by humans,[#3:7 Implied in the Greek and made explicit in the Aramaic.]

⁸but the tongue is not able to be tamed. It’s a fickle, unrestrained evil that spews out words full of toxic poison!

⁹We use our tongue to praise God our Father and then turn around and curse a person who was made in his very image![#3:9 Some Greek manuscripts have “Lord and Father.” The Aramaic can be translated “Lord God” ( MarYah , the Aramaic equivalent to ).; #3:9 The Aramaic can be translated “we curse a person and pretend to be God!”]

¹⁰Out of the same mouth we pour out words of praise one minute and curses the next. My brothers and sisters, this should never be!

^11-12Would you look for olives hanging on a fig tree or go to pick figs from a grapevine? Is it possible that fresh and bitter water can flow out of the same spring? So neither can a bitter spring produce fresh water.[#3:11–12 As translated from the Aramaic.]

Wisdom from Above

¹³If you consider yourself to be wise and one who understands the ways of God, advertise it with a beautiful, fruitful life guided by wisdom’s gentleness. Never brag or boast about what you’ve done and you’ll prove that you’re truly wise.[#3:13 As translated from the Aramaic.]

¹⁴But if there is bitter jealousy or competition hiding in your heart, then don’t deny it and try to compensate for it by boasting and being phony.

¹⁵For that has nothing to do with God’s heavenly wisdom but can best be described as the wisdom of this world, both selfish and devilish.[#3:15 Or “unspiritual.”; #3:15 Or “behaves like a demon.”]

¹⁶So wherever jealousy and selfishness are uncovered, you will also find many troubles and every kind of meanness.[#3:16 The Greek word for jealousy implies an obsession to promote one’s self at the expense of others.; #3:16 The Aramaic can be translated “chaos.” The Greek can be translated “instability” or “disorder.”]

¹⁷But the wisdom from above is always pure, filled with peace, considerate and teachable. It is filled with love and never displays prejudice or hypocrisy in any form[#3:17 Or “holy.”; #3:17 A beautiful concept that means “easy to correct” or “ready to be convinced” or “willing to yield to others.” Is this true of your life?; #3:17 As translated from the Aramaic. The Greek is “mercy.”; #3:17 Or “never wears a mask.”]

¹⁸and it always bears the beautiful harvest of righteousness! Good seeds of wisdom’s fruit will be planted with peaceful acts by those who cherish making peace.