Brit Chadasha Portion for 07/22/2023

The tongue is difficult to control and can be both good and evil. We should not use it to bless God and curse others. Just like a fountain cannot produce both sweet and bitter water, we should not have conflicting words. True wisdom is shown through good behavior and meekness. Bitter jealousy and self-seeking are not wise and come from earthly and demonic sources. They lead to confusion and bad actions. The wisdom from above is pure, peaceful, gentle, obedient, compassionate, and fair. Those who sow peace will reap righteousness. But no man is unable to tame the tongue. It is unruly, evil, filled with deadly poison. With it we bless our Elohim and Father, and with it we curse men who have been made in the likeness of Elohim. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be so. Does not the fountain send forth the sweet and the bitter from the same opening? My brothers, is a fig tree able to bear olives or a grapevine figs? So neither is a fountain able to make salt and sweet water. Who is wise in understanding among you? Let him show by his good behavior his works in meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast against and lie against the truth. This is not the wisdom coming down from above, but it is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and self-seeking are, there is confusion and every foul deed. But the wisdom from above is first clean, then peaceable, gentle, ready to obey, filled with compassion and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.