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If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious, while he doesn`t bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man`s religion is worthless.
Verse Takeaways
1
The Tongue Test
Commentators consistently highlight that the tongue serves as a primary indicator of a person's spiritual health. As one scholar notes, just as a doctor checks the tongue to assess the body, our words reveal the true condition of our heart. An uncontrolled tongue—prone to slander, unkindness, or gossip—is a clear sign that one's faith is not genuinely transforming them from the inside out, regardless of other religious activities.
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James
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12
18th Century
Presbyterian
If any man among you seem to be religious. Pious, or devout. That is, if he does not restrain his tongue, his other evidences of religion …
Thinketh himself to be religious (δοκε θρησκος εινα). Condition of first class (ει-δοκε). Θρησκος (of uncertain etymology, perhaps…
19th Century
Anglican
But St. James has until now elaborated only on the first part of his advice in James 1:19, Let every man be swift to hear; now he must enf…
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Baptist
And bridleth not his tongue, –
That little noisy troublesome member: and bridleth not his tongue, –
Verses 26–27 point out three specific areas where truth should be put into practice. (1) The first is speech. James introduces a hypothetical case.…
16th Century
Protestant
Seem to be religious. He now reproves a vice even in those who boasted that they were doers of the law—a vice to which hypocrites are comm…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
If any man among you seem to be religious By his preaching, or praying, and hearing, and other external duties of re…
When people take more effort to seem religious than to actually be so, it is a sign their religion is in vain. Not bridling the tongue, a readiness…