The Power of Words

James 3 opens with a caution about teaching: Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment. Speech is where everyone falls short. For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also. Words reveal and shape the whole person.

James gives three images. Bits in horses’ mouths guide their whole body. Ships, though large and driven by fierce winds, are turned by a very small rudder. So the tongue is a little member that boasts great things, and a small fire can set a large forest ablaze. Every kind of animal has been tamed by people, but no one can tame the tongue alone. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God. Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. Nature itself shows this is wrong: a spring does not give both fresh and salt water.

The chapter ends by comparing two kinds of wisdom. Earthly wisdom is marked by bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, and where these are, there is confusion and every evil deed. The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. James closes with a promise: the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.