James’ Third Letter to the Church
In this chapter James continued to address the issue of misguided speech. The focus is on how misguided teaching can harmfully affect the congregation. Words can have great influence on others and can alter their lives. He addresses those who were teachers or wanted to be teachers among Christians. Teachers will be held accountable for their actions. He instructs those teachers how they should talk and how they should live.
AN UNRULY TONGUE
James 3:1, “My brethren, be not many masters (teachers), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”
Many people desire to be teachers because this is an important and respected role in the church (1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11). But James warns, “brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers”. When untrained teachers are allowed to teach this can allow false teachings to arise within a congregation, leading some astray (1 Timothy 1:3-11; 2 Timothy 4:3). Because of their role as leaders, teachers are under stricter judgment and should not be appointed carelessly.
Maturity and appointed by God, is a key quality for those who would be appointed leaders in the church (Acts 6:2-6; Acts 13:2; Acts 14:23; 2 Corinthians 8:18-19).
James 3:2, “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.”
The most difficult thing for a person to control is the tongue. According to James, a fully developed man does not stumble in what he says. Speech is an indicator of the inner nature of a person, revealing the heart. James’ proverbial saying is not an expectation of perfection, for he acknowledges we all stumble. The word “perfect” here means, growth of mental and moral character. James is saying, that a leader or teacher, who has matured in Christ will exhibit self-control and discipline in other areas of life, and able also to discipline the whole body, or the church.
James 3:3-6, “Behold we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 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. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 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.”
James gives the example of how a powerful horse can be made to obey by a bridle, and great ships that are driven by fierce winds can be turned and controlled with a very small rudder. Like horses’ bits and ships’ rudders, the size of the tongue is a very small member, but can greatly influence the whole body. The destruction of a deceiving tongue to a church is compared to a small fire, though it starts small, it can grow quickly to a raging fire. The tongue that teaches false doctrine is a world of iniquity, it pollutes the whole body (an individual or congregation) and determines the destiny of all who follow it.
TAMING THE TONGUE
James 3:7-8, “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: but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Every animal on earth or in the sea has been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. Only God is able to tame the tongue when one allows the Holy Ghost to influence their thoughts and speech.
James 3:9-12, “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? Either a vine, figs? So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.”
James concludes on wise speech with several more illustrations that amplify the hypocrisy of using the tongue for both blessing and cursing. Wells do not produce sweet and bitter water. Fig trees do not produce olives and a grapevine cannot produce figs. These observations from nature are designed to jolt readers to attend to their speech. Christians wanting to please God will allow the Holy Ghost to lead and guide them in their thoughts and speech.
Wells cannot yield both salt and fresh water. Teachers teaching truth or lies can be shown by their works, or the fruit they bear. The fruit is shown by the way they align their life to the Word of God.
In Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus teaches this very thing. He said to beware of false prophets (preachers, teachers, leaders, brethren). Paul was so adamant about it that he repeated himself in Galatians 1:8-9 (Galatians 1:6-12, 2:4; Matthew 24:24; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 1 John 4:1; .
Hint: How do we know the fruit of a false preacher, teacher, or brother? They will not teach the apostles doctrine nor obey it. They will change it to some degree.
James 3:13-18, “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. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 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. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Who is a wise man full of godly wisdom among you? James answers the question. Godly wisdom is shown in a person by the way they live their life. One that has wisdom from above will always bring the peace of God with them wherever they go. They will be pure of heart, peaceable, gentle, and easy to talk to, full of mercy and good deeds. This is something natural for them to do, they treat everyone the same, because there is no insincerity within them. The peace makers are continually recommending this wisdom to others to make peace.
Worldly wisdom encourages us to be selfish and greedy, and to put our needs and interests before others. Those who live in malice, envy, and strife, live in confusion, and are liable to be provoked and hurried to evil work. This wisdom is not from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish.
The fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those that make peace (Matthew 5:9).
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