September 15, 2026
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Ezra and James? Here’s today’s reading:
James 3 (NIV)
Taming the Tongue
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.…..Continue Reading
How important the tongue is when we consider its ability to communicate good things or bad. And when we teach, we are accountable for the things we say and thereby judged more strictly. And how hard it is to control the tongue, but far easier when we operate in wisdom and consider how true and right our words are and whether they are helpful or harmful. And when our hearts are right, what we say will be right as well. But if we are filled with bitter envy, pride and selfishness rather than humility, purity, peace and consideration, we shouldn’t be surprised if our tongues reflect those thoughts. So better for us to be filled with God’s word and Spirit so the fruit that comes out of us is consistent with them rather than the flesh and the influence of hell.
James 3
Yikes. James goes right after the heart of the matter. In all subjects. Our contradictory speech that upsets and puzzles us. No human being can control the tongue. The battle of evil and good. What comes out of a man’s mouth is what’s in his heart. The only way we can win this battle controlling the damage we create with our words is by the Holy Spirit’s power monitoring what we are going to say. And if we are offended by others words, we are loved by God. So why retaliate with hurtful criticism. Need to read this chapter a few more times!
The tongue is central and reveals the heart.
“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.”
James 3:6 NKJV
The tongue reveals the “wisdom” being accessed, whether from below, earthly, demonic, or from above, heavenly, peaceable, without hypocrisy.
James 3
It’s quite a challenge to tame the tongue. It requires capturing the thought before it reaches the tongue. Sometimes we’re so eager to enter the conversation that we skip over that part. It requires constant vigilance.
Psalm 25; Ezra 6; Nehemiah 5; James 3
I read it . now I just need to apply it!
Great comment Rich
James uses some great analogies here when he compares the tongue to a bit, rudder and small spark. It’s so important, yet difficult, to hold our tongues esp. when our words are emotionally charged. But this skill can be mastered if we are intentional and aware of it when we are communicating with others. We can pray for help with this, asking for wisdom with the words we speak. “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Psalms 141:3
James 3
The wisdom that comes from God encompasses peace, grace, mercy, sincerity, fairness and justice. The wisdom of the world is envious, and it strives for selfish ambition. James further describes it as being unspiritual and demonic. When we see ourselves moving in that direction, it should raise a red flag, indicating that we must evaluate our motives, change our thinking, and ask the Lord for guidance and direction.