3:1 Let not many of you be teachers, my
brothers, knowing that we will
receive heavier judgment.
3:2 For in many things we all stumble. If anyone
doesn't stumble in
word,
the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
3:3 Indeed, we put bits into the horses'
mouths so that they
may obey us,
and we guide their whole body.
3:4 Behold, the ships also, though they
are so big and are
driven
by fierce winds,
are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.
3:5 So the tongue is also a little member,
and boasts great things.
See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!
3:6 And the tongue is a fire. The world of
iniquity among our members
is the tongue,
which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature,
and is set on fire by Gehenna. {Gehenna is a name that describes a burning Hell with rotting
bodies
and unclean things in it}
3:7 For every kind of animal, bird,
creeping thing,
and thing in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind.
3:8 But nobody can tame the tongue. It
is a restless evil, full
of deadly poison.
3:9 With it we bless our God and Father,
and with it we curse men,
who are made in the image of God.
3:10 Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing
and
cursing.
My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
3:11 Does a spring send out from the
same opening fresh and
bitter water?
3:12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield
olives, or a vine figs?
Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.
CROSS REFERENCES (kjv)
vs 1 2Pe 2:1 "But there were
false
prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers
among
you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the
Lord
that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."
vs 2Matt 12:36
"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they
shall
give account thereof in the day of judgment."
Pr 24:16 "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth
up
again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief."
vs 3Ps 39:1 "I
said,
I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I
will
keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me."
vs 5 Ps 12:2 "They speak
vanity
every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double
heart
do they speak."
vs 6Pr 26:21
"As
coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man
to
kindle strife.
vs 12 Luke 6:43 "For
a
good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree
bring forth good fruit."
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
vs 1 Why will teachers be judged more strictly?
What should be the teacher's highest priority in teaching?
Is James discouraging people from taking positions of responsibility,
since they will incur greater judgment?
vs 2 In what aspects of speech can one be found to be at fault?
(Compare
Matt
12:36,37 also)
vs 3-5 In what ways is you life controlled by what you say?
vs 6 Have you ever said something you regretted?
vs 7-8 What does James mean that the tongue is a restless evil, full
of deadly poison?
vs 9-12 If a salt spring cannot give fresh water, and a fig tree cannot
produce olives, then why is it that out of the same mouth can come
praise
and cursing?
Some Principles of Speech from Prov 10,11
10:6,11 restrain verbal hostility
10:8,10 don't substitute speech for obedience
10:13 try to understand
10:14 don't speak if you don't know, else you could destroy
10:18 when you speak, don't lie
10:19 be concise and to the point
10:20 speech is not cheap
10:21 speak to meet the needs of others
10:31 bring out wisdom when you speak
10:32 know what is socially acceptable to say
11:9,11 be careful not to destroy your neighbor by what you say
11:12 don't be quick to argue with a hostile neighbor
11:13 keep other's secrets to yourself
Comments
Teachers Strictly Scrutinized
James 3:1Not many of you
should presume to be
teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be
judged more strictly.
There is an expectation that as Christians mature they become teachers
of the word. "In fact, though by
this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the
elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not
solid food!" Heb 5:12 With
maturity
comes responsiblity, but with responsibility comes
accountability.
However frequently recent converts often quickly jump into the role of
teacher without having taken the time to study the Bible, considering
its implications and applications, but rather they often end up playing
the fool. For "a fool finds no
pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions." Pr 18:2 It's the "sophomore effect". The word
"sophomore" comes from "sophus" which means "wise" and "moros" which
means "fool" and from which we get the word "moron". Thus Paul
instructs concerning overseers, "He
must
not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under
the same judgment as the devil."1Tim 3:6 "They want to be teachers of the law,
but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so
confidently affirm."1Tim 1:7
As teaching can have a huge impact on many people, teachers are to be
judged more strictly, and not just by God. In Berean fashion, teachers
need to be scrutinized. Too often people listen to teachers only to
affirm what they want to hear. "The
time
will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead,
to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number
of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn
their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."2Tim 4:3,4 Too often Christians
replace the Bible with their own pet theologian, pastor or preacher.
Even teachers who are products of a seminary education are often
mindless drones whose allegiance is to a denominational theology rather
than to the Word of God.
There are also strict warnings to beware of false teachers. "There were also false prophets among
the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will
secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign
Lord who bought them— bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many
will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into
disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories
they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them,
and their destruction has not been sleeping."2Peter 2:1-3 "Watch out for false prophets. They
come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious
wolves."Mt 7:15
Advice to teachers:
Do your best to
present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to
be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless
chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more
ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are
Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say
that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the
faith of some.2Tim
2:15-18
So avoid too much speculation. Focus
on what the Bible clearly teaches and that which has application.
Self-Control is Reflected in
Speech
James 3:2-4 For in many things we
all stumble. If anyone
doesn't stumble in
word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
Indeed, we put bits into the horses'
mouths so that they
may obey us, and we guide their whole body.] Behold, the ships also, though they
are so big and are
driven
by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the
pilot desires.
In as much as what one says is an expression of one's heart as
Jesus said, "For out of the overflow of the
heart the mouth speaks." Mt 12:34b, self-control over
one's speech is a reflection of one's self-control over one's desires.
Conversely as what one says reflects one's beliefs, people will be held
accountable for what they say:
"I
tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for
every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be
acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Mt
12:36,37
"If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord,"
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will
be saved." Rom 10:9
Thus one's destiny is partly determined by what one says, and what
you say often determines the course of your life. "From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach
is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied." Pr
18:20 Therefore "a man of knowledge uses words
with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. Even
a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds
his tongue." Pr 17:27,28 For "when
words
are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise."
Pr 10:19
And James likewise teaches concerning speech, "If
anyone
considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight
rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is
worthless." Jas 1:26 and "My dear
brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow
to
speak and slow to become angry." Jas 1:19
It Only Takes a Spark
James 3:5,6 Likewise the tongue is a small
part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great
forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a
world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole
person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on
fire by hell.
Do not underestimate the effect of speech. On the upside, people
are saved by speech. For as foolish as it would seem, "God was pleased through the foolishness of what was
preached to save those who believe." 1Cor 1:21 Paul
speaks of those who "displease God and are
hostile to all men in their effort to keep us from speaking to the
Gentiles so that they may be saved." 1Th
2:15,16
"For we maintain that a man is
justified by faith" Rom 3:28 and
"faith comes from hearing the message" Rom 10:17a For "how can they believe in the one of whom they have
not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?"
Rom 10:14
On the downside speech can destroy on a massive scale. Consider for
example the hatred expressed towards the Jews in Nazi Germany and how
that escalated. Such is the case throughout history. Pr 18:21 "The tongue has the power of life and death, and
those who love it will eat its fruit."
Taming the Tongue
James 3:7,8All kinds of animals,
birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been
tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil,
full of deadly poison.
Just as it says in Jer 17:9 "The
heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.", so also
as one's speech is a reflection of one's heart it is inclined to evil.
For this reason with regards to control over one's tongue the Bible
primarily advocates silence. For "when words are
many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise." Pr
10:19 And "a man of knowledge uses
words with restraint" Pr 17:27a This is particularly a
challenge to teachers and preachers. Such people I advise to consider
how much of their teachings are facually based, to what degree do they
utilize the Bible, and how much is their own opinion.
Sometimes it's best just to "cage" your speech as you would a wild
animal. For if it cannot be tamed, then best not to speak. Paul
characterizes the human condition saying, "Their
throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of
vipers is on their lips." Rom 3:13 Beware when you
think you have tamed your speech, like making a house pet out of a wild
animal. "No man can tame the tongue". All
you can do is cage it.
The Tongue's Antithetical Nature
James 3:9-12 With the tongue we
praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been
made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.
My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt
water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear
olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce
fresh water.
While it should not be, such is the case due to our dual nature. Paul
writes, "Live by the Spirit, and you will not
gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires
what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the
sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not
do what you want."Gal 5:16,17 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of
your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according
to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve
the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and
slander, along with every form of malice." Eph 4:29-31
"Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk
or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving."
Eph 5:4
JAMES 3:1-12
RAP
3:1 Not many should presume to
teach.
God strictly judges what they preach.
2 We all in many ways stumble.
If you don't think so, you're just not
humble.
The tongue is like a small rudder, 4 Steers ships through the wind,
just
like butter, 3 Or like a bit in a horse's mouth,
You can make him turn north or to the south.
5 It seems it has so much control.
With it we gain and lose our soul.
A forest can burn from a little spark.
6 So our tongue can make our whole
life
dark. 7 All kinds of animals we can tame,
8 But controlling the tongue is just
no
game. 9 But let me tell you something
worse, 10 With it we praise and then we
curse.
This is not suppose to be. 12 Can figs and olives come from the
same
tree?
JAMES 3:1-12
RAP