James, Chapter 3, verses 1-10

¹ We are not rashly or arrogantly to reprove others, ⁵ but rather to bridle the tongue - a little member, but a powerful instrument of much good and great harm

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

²For 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.

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

⁴Behold 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.

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

⁶And 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.

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

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

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

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

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3:1 Be not many teachers - Let no more of you take this upon you than God thrusts out; seeing it is so hard not to offend in speaking much. Knowing that we - That all who thrust themselves into the office. Shall receive greater condemnation - For more offences. St. James here, as in several of the following verses, by a common figure of speech, includes himself: we shall receive, - we offend, - we put bits, - we curse - None of which, as commonsense shows, are to be interpreted either of him or of the other apostles.

3:2 The same is able to bridle the whole body - That is, the whole man. And doubtless some are able to do this, and so are in this sense perfect.

3:3 We - That is, men.

3:5 Boasteth great things - Hath great influence.

3:6 A world of iniquity - Containing an immense quantity of all manner of wickedness. It defileth - As fire by its smoke.The whole body - The whole man. And setteth on fire the course of nature - All the passions, every wheel of his soul.

3:7 Every kind - The expression perhaps is not to be taken strictly. Reptiles - That is, creeping things.

3:8 But no man can tame the tongue - Of another; no, nor his own, without peculiar help from God.

3:9 Men made after the likeness of God - Indeed we have now lost this likeness; yet there remains from thence an indelible nobleness, which we ought to reverence both in ourselves and others.

Mark, Chapter 10, verses 2-12

¹ Christ disputeth with the Pharisees touching divorcement

²And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.

³And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?

⁴And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

⁵And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

⁶But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

⁷For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

⁸And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

⁹What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

¹⁰And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.

¹¹And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

¹²And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.


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Orthodox readings for 1 January 2008

James, Chapter 3, verses 1-10

Mark, Chapter 10, verses 2-12