lectionary.com

Pentecost Season · Proper 19 · Year B

James 3:1-12

Taming the Tongue

September 12, 2027

The Tower of Babel, Lucas van Valckenborch
The Tower of Babel, Lucas van Valckenborch, 1595Landesmuseum Mainz, Mainz
A Flemish tower built like a Roman amphitheatre spiralling into cloud, with cranes, scaffolding and hundreds of workers still at it.The tongue is a fire. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.Lucas van ValckenborchA Flemish painter who fled the Netherlands for religious reasons and worked for the Habsburgs, specialising in panoramic landscapes.Landesmuseum Mainz, MainzOne of the oldest museums in Germany, begun in 1803 with a gift of paintings from Napoleon.Landesmuseum Mainz, Mainz
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelMark 8:27-38Mk 8:27-38
EpistleJas. 3:1-12Jas 3:1-12
Old TestamentProv. 1:20-33Prv 1:20-33Alt. OTIsa. 50:4-9aIs 50:4-9a
PsalterPs. 19Ps 19Alt. PsalmPs. 116:1-9Ps 116:1-9 orWis. 7:26 - 8:1Wis 7:26 - 8:1

Overview & Insights

"How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire." (James 3:5-6)

James warns that teachers face stricter judgment and that the tongue, though small, has vast power to bless or destroy. He calls for consistency so that blessing and cursing do not pour from the same mouth.

From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.

Take it further: James 3:1-12

Commentary

Commentary on James 3:1-12 (Year B)Commentary on Jas 3:1-12 (Year B) Working Preacher

Luther Seminary's Year B commentary on taming the tongue.

Enduring Word: James 3Enduring Word: Jas 3 Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse by verse study of James 3.

Precept Austin: James 3 CommentaryPrecept Austin: Jas 3 Commentary Precept Austin

Detailed exposition with word studies on James 3.

BibleHub Commentaries: James 3:1BibleHub Commentaries: Jas 3:1 BibleHub

Classic commentaries collected on James 3.

Coffman Commentary: James 3Coffman Commentary: Jas 3 StudyLight

James Burton Coffman's commentary on James 3.

Background & Word Study

Greek Interlinear: James 3:1Greek Interlinear: Jas 3:1 BibleHub

Greek interlinear with parsing for James 3.

BibleProject: Book of James OverviewBibleProject: Book of Jas Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of the book of James.

The Church Fathers

Catena: James 3Catena: Jas 3 Catena

Church fathers on the power of the tongue in James 3.

Prep at sermons.com

Ready to write?

  • Full sermons on Mark 8:27-38
  • Illustrations cleared for use in worship
  • Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Open it at sermons.com →

Trusted by pastors since 1995.

Free every Tuesday

Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox

The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.