¹ My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

Masters, or teachers and leaders, are accountable for the people who act upon their teachings and leadership. It also takes a lot of wisdom and self-control to be a master.

² For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

³ Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

In this example we see that the horse is lead by a bit placed into his mouth. It seems to me that a person who keeps their mouth in line, meaning they control their conversation and confessions, is a part of controlling the tongue. It’s not just not saying evil things, but the bit in the mouth that leads the horse is like the Word of God in our mouth that lead us. Let the Word of God be the bit in our mouth that guides our path in life.

⁴ Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Romans 10:10 ¹⁰ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.– A persons’ confession is an outpouring of their heart. If we are out there using our tongues to start rumors and spread gossip, our hearts are filled with sinfulness and destruction. Lives are destroyed by spreading a lie….people have lost their lives over the spreading of gossip. If we cause destruction with our tongue, we are going to be held accountable for it. An example of this is the story of Jezebel and Naboth in 1 Kings 21. Jezebel murdered Naboth to steal his vineyard from him by telling the High Priest a lie and sending false witnesses to lie against this man so that he was LEGALLY put to death. The men who actually took Naboth’s life were not his murderers, Jezebel was…..and she never lifted a finger, just used her words. Her actions were spawned by covetousness and greed.

⁷ For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

⁸ But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

¹¹ Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

¹² Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

¹³ Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

A wise man will have control of his mouth… and it will show by his conversations. When we are wise enough to understand that our words impact the world around us, we will choose those words wisely.

¹⁴ But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

¹⁵ This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

¹⁶ For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

¹⁸ And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.