The Book Of James

Chapter 3:1-8

  1. Outline:

  1. The Use And Misuse Of The Tongue: 3:1-12
  2. Earthly And Heavenly Wisdom: 3:13-18


  1. Introductory Comments:


From this chapter we will learn that words also fit into the category of works. In fact, evil words can at times wreck more havoc than some evil deeds. Barclay notes, "A man can ward off a blow with the hand, for the striker must be in his presence to strike him. But a man can drop a malicious word, or repeat a scandalous and untrue story, about someone whom he does not even know, and about someone who stays hundreds of miles away, and can cause infinite damage and harm. The very range the tongue can reach is the tongue's greatest peril….Once a word is spoken there is no getting it back. There is nothing which it is so impossible to kill as a rumor; there is nothing which it is so impossible to obliterate as an idle and a malignant story. Let a man, before he speaks, remember that once a word is spoken it is gone from his control" (p. 100).


  1. Commentary:


3:1 "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment".

"Let not many of you"-"The verb 'be not'…a present middle imperative…signifies 'stop becoming many teachers'(Woods p. 154).

"become teachers"-"Like so many aspects of life that provide great advantages, however, communication through speech has its darker side. Sometimes speech can injure. It can do more harm than good. It can convey wrong information that can lead to disaster" (Kent p. 113).

Points To Note:

  1. Teachers in the early church were viewed as a very important group of people, listed along with apostles and prophets (Acts 13:1; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11). 2. It would appear from the above warning, that some were becoming teachers without due consideration of the responsibility involved in such a work. 3. There were people who wanted to teach, before they had really learned the concepts themselves (1 Timothy 1:7). Others taught, but failed to live the lessons that they were teaching others (Romans 2:17-29). In addition, in teaching there is always the danger of becoming arrogant. "the profession is more liable to beget spiritual and intellectual pride…He must, therefore, all his life struggle to avoid two things. He must always have every care that he is teaching the truth, and not his own opinions, or even his own prejudices…He must have every care that he does not contradict his teaching by his life" (Barclay pp. 94-95). The Pharisees had allowed the thought of being an instructor of the blind, to go to their heads, to the point that they became blind themselves (Matthew Chapter 23). 4. James is not trying to discourage competent and qualified individuals from teaching (2 Timothy 2:2; Hebrews 5:12). Rather, he is warning those who might be tempted to view teaching is an easy and effortless task, or those who start teaching from ulterior motives, prestige, the public spotlight, etc…


Unfortunately, we tend to make the same mistake. It is easy to view teaching as an easy job. It is also easy to encourage people to teach, before they are in fact ready to do so. The same mistakes can also be made in reference to preaching. We can in fact encourage men to preach, who shouldn't be preachers. James makes it clear that while the teacher or preacher simply uses words---words are very powerful! Adam and Eve fell into sin because they believed the wrong words, wars have started over words, whole nations have been destroyed because of a certain ideology. While the teacher or preacher simply uses words in their trade, let us remember that the course of history and the eternal destiny of individuals has been altered by "words". Jesus said, "every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned" (Matthew 12:36-37).

"my brethren"-"There is no caste system in Christ. Inasmuch as we are all brethren, it behooves us to conduct ourselves as brethren should" (Woods p. 157).

"knowing that as such"-That is, as such teachers. James places himself in the same category as all other teachers. He wasn't exempt from his own admonitions. The following information should keep the teacher humble and on his toes.

"we shall incur a stricter judgment"-"judged with special strictness" (Mof); "by a more severe standard" (TCNT).

Points To Note:

  1. The above judgment could be either divine or human, or both. 2. "to assume the role of teacher is a most serious undertaking because of its potential for directing the actions of others. If God is going to judge men for every idle word they speak (Matthew 12:36-37), how great is the responsibility of teachers, whose words are intended by them to be taken as directives for the lives of their hearers" (Kent p. 115). 3. James isn't saying that teachers are going to be judged by a higher moral standard, for the same standard applies to all (John 12:48). Rather, like other passages, those who are given more opportunities and talents are going to be held accountable for the use of such privileges (Matthew 23:14; 25:15, 29; Luke 12:47); to whom much is given from him much is required (Luke 12:48). 4. The judgment here may also include human scrutiny. Those who teach will be put on the spot, challenged concerning the truthfulness of what they are teaching and so on. 5. The teacher must constantly check himself to make sure that what he is teaching is the Word of God and not his version of the truth (Matthew 5:19; Galatians 1:6-9; 1 Peter 4:11).



3:2 "For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well."

"For"-The second reason for viewing the teachers role most seriously, is that no teacher is faultless. Even inspired teachers could set the wrong example or fail to live up to what they were teaching (Galatians 2:11-13). And non-inspired teachers are clearly not infallible.

"we all stumble in many ways"-"We" includes all teachers, but also probably meant to include all Christians. "Stumble"-to err, go astray, sin (2 Peter 1:10). "In many ways"-"in a number of things" (Bas). There are many areas in which teachers can sin. We can set the wrong example, our motivation can we selfish (1 Corinthians 13:1-4), we can exaggerate, needlessly offend, gossip and so on. Note that James includes himself as one who could stumble. It is clear that Christians, even Christian teachers are not sinless (1 John 1:8-10). In addition, since all Christians sin, those who become teachers (a task which has its own pitfalls and temptations), must be individuals who take upon themselves that task from the noblest of motives. Woods makes a good point when he says: "The fact that James includes himself among those who trip in this manner is no reflection on the inspiration which guarded his writings from all error. We must ever remember to distinguish between what the inspired penmen wrote under the direction of the Holy Spirit and their own personal and individual activity as a Christian. They had no more protection against the possibility of sinning---as Christians-than do we" (p. 159). Draper notes, "If we err once a day, that amounts to 20,000 times in fifty years" (p. 97).

"If anyone does not stumble in what he says"-Note, James isn't saying, "If anyone does not stumble", rather, he is talking about a specific area, i.e., "in what he says". "If any one sins not in word" (ABUV).

"he is a perfect man"-Not sinlessly perfect. The word perfect means, in a ethical and moral sense, mature, full grown, a well-rounded person (Matthew 5:48; James 1:4). Kent notes, "Anyone who can master the use of his tongue, so as not to fall into sin through angry words, misrepresentation, or falsehood, shows himself to be a mature man….In the spiritual life there is always room for further growth, and no one in this life reaches a state of sinlessness. Nevertheless, Scripture does speak of a level of maturity that is attainable and is expected of each believer (Philippians 3:15; Hebrews 5:12; 2 Peter 1:5-11)" (p. 116). Carefully note that God's measuring stick for spiritual maturity INCLUDES the use of our tongues. People can memorize a good amount of Scripture and have a good grasp of many Biblical truths, and yet have an unbridled tongue (James 1:26).

Points To Note:

What James says here couldn't be more relevant for the church on the verge of the 21st Century. The effectiveness of a local congregation can be brought to a stand still by the misuse of the tongue. We can needlessly turn people off from the truth by an arrogant presentation. We can be careless in our examination of certain subjects and create more confusion than understanding. And we can all be involved in fighting rumors and chasing gossip instead of converting the lost. We desperately need Christians who are dedicated to a wise and controlled use of the tongue.

"able to bridle the whole body as well"-"bridle"-"hold in check, restrain" (Thayer p. 664). "Thus the person who knows how to keep his speech under control reveals that he has sufficient maturity to control his other activities also" (Kent p. 116).

Points To Note:

  1. We often tend to downplay the seriousness of evil speech. But controlling the tongue is just as important as controlling any other aspect of our lives. God has come down hard on verbal sins, just as any other sin (Proverbs 6:16-19; Revelation 21:8). 2. Barclay notes, "James is not for a moment saying that silence is better than speech. He is not pleading for a Trappist life, where speech is forbidden. What he is pleading for is the control of the tongue….Abstention from anything is never a complete substitute for control in the use of it. And James is not pleading for a cowardly silence, but for a wise use of speech" (p. 99). Before we move on, let's remember the advantages of being a teacher: Great personal growth, the teacher always learns more than the student. The great task of saving others (1 Tim. 4:16) of continuing the work of spreading the gospel (2 Timothy 2:2). Guiding others to God (Acts 8:31). Fulfilling a great responsibility (Hebrews 5:12); using your talents (Matthew 25), following in the footsteps of Jesus (Luke 19:10; 1 Corinthians 11:1).


Illustrations

3:3 "Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, we direct their entire body as well".

"bits into the horses' mouths"-"In both illustrations the analogy is between the small size of the controlling device and the much larger entity that it controls…Although the horse was well known to James' readers, it was not an animal possessed by the average man…The average reader of James would not have thought of a humble plow-horse but a prancing war-horse, vigorous and high-spirited. This most spirited of beasts, far larger than a man and with a will of its own, could nevertheless be controlled through the use of a bit and bridle" (Kent pp. 117-118).

"we direct their entire body as well"-The whole body of this powerful and spirited animal can be directed by a very small device. The illustration, far from being depressing points out: 1. We can control what we say, this isn't an impossible task, but it does take maturity! I cannot control my tongue and remain spiritually immature at the same time. 2. Controlling what we say and how we say it can eliminate a good number of future problems. Trying to live the Christian life or trying to convince others that they should investigate Christianity is going to be to no avail as long as we manifest lack of control in our speech. Bridling the tongue is a concept which is also found in the O.T. (Psalm 39:1).


3:4 "Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder, wherever the inclination of the pilot desires."

"Behold"-There is valuable lesson here to be learned, "as a call to closer attention, consideration and contemplation, remember, consider" (Arndt p. 371).

"the ships also, though they are so great"-"turning next to the largest inanimate object that James's contemporaries might attempt to steer….Some of them were indeed very large. The Egyptian grain ship on which Paul was shipwrecked carried 276 passengers in addition to its cargo (Acts 27:37)" (Kent p. 118)

"still directed by a very small rudder"-Again, the point is made that something very small can control something very powerful. Such large ships, even when in rough weather, could still be steered with precision by a small rudder.

Points To Note:

  1. "How are we going to make it through the storms of life, with fierce winds seeking to destroy us? What will keep us safe in the storm? What we say in the midst of our problems determines whether we will have victory or not…It is easy to praise God when the sun is shining" (Draper p. 101). 2. The tongue is like the bit and the rudder, "Each is comparatively small, but each produces great effect" (Adamson pp. 142-143). 3. "The tongue is little, like the rudder of the ship; but, just as the rudder can determine the course of the large ship, so the tongue was the power to influence a man's whole course and destiny" (Roberts p. 128).


Dangers Of The Tongue

3:5 "So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!"

"So also the tongue"-Small, but very powerful and influential, just like a bit or a rudder.

"yet it boasts of great things"-"but it can make huge claims" (NEB). Solomon said, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21). The tongue can boast that there is no God (Psalm 14:1), that man is the measure of all things. The Humanist Manifesto is a great example of the arrogance that can be displayed by the human tongue. "But we can discover no divine purpose or providence for the human species. While there is much that we do not know, humans are responsible for what we are or will become. No deity will save us; we must save ourselves" The same could be said of the boasts and claims of those who support the theory of Evolution. I remember a statement made by a famous personality who said that they would rather go to hell than heaven, because heaven doesn't present any challenges and in hell they can make things better!


"Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire?"

"These people would have understood this analogy because the barren, arid land of the desert was covered with scrub trees and brush. If a fire started, it would sweep across a whole mountainside before it could be stopped" (Draper p. 102). Forest fires were frequently mentioned by ancient writers. The tongue can start a small spark which can inflame and destroy families and entire congregations. In a matter of days or weeks, a tremendous amount of good can be destroyed by the misuse of the tongue. "Its capability of catastrophic destruction far outstrips its size" (Kent p. 120). See Galatians 5:15. "One has only to envision a small match, a spark…lighting a fire which may burn over a whole forest of possibly millions of acres to grasp the vividness of the illustration" (Roberts p. 128). Once again, we need to make the point that once we have said something, we can't control the extent of the comment, we can't control the damage. Like a forest fire, a bit of gossip or slander can get completely out of control.

The Old Testament often spoke of the damage caused by the tongue (Psalm 52:2; 64:3; 140:3; Proverbs 6:19; 12:18; 15:1; 16:27-28 "a slanderer separates intimate friends"; 26:20 "where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down"; 26:28).

3:6 "And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defies the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell".

"the tongue is a fire"-That is, when misused, the tongue is, "his words are as a scorching fire" (Proverbs 16:27; 26:18-22). The misuse of the tongue is like a forest fire. It can cause a tremendous amount of damage in a short period of time, it can start from a very small spark, just a little piece of gossip. And it can very quickly get completely out of control.

"the very world of iniquity"-"world" in the sense of the widespread power of evil. "proves itself a very world of mischief" (TCNT). 'because of the incalculable harm which it produces; it is utterly impossible to measure, in this life, the harm which grows out of the slander, the profanity, the falsehood, the blasphemy and the scandal of which it is capable" (Woods p. 164). "The world of iniquity" is very expressive. Just as we say, 'There is a world of wisdom in that statement'…It voices every evil feeling and every kind of sinful thought; it sets in motion and gives concreteness to every kind of sinful act" (Roberts p. 129). "With the tongue we can profane, blaspheme, and curse God. With the tongue we can steal, for we can taken from our neighbor reputation and honor. With the tongue we can inflict great injury and suffering on those about us. With our tongue we can reveal infinite passion and lust" (Draper pp. 102-103). "it curses, rails, teaches false doctrine and speaks evil of God and man;….it entices, commands, terrifies and persuades to commit murder, adulteries, and every evil work" (Macknight p. 376). (See Romans 1:32 "but also give hearty approval to those who practice them").

But how often do we try to downplay sins of the tongue? Especially, our own!

"the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body"-we can be condemned for the misuse of our tongue (Matthew 12:37; 15:18). This one member, when abused, is able to bring one's whole being, soul and body into hell.

"and sets on fire the course of our life"-"the whole round of human life and activity" (Vine p. 103). "In some way he is saying that everything around man seems affected by the tongue" (Roberts p. 131). The above phrase rendered "course of our life" means literally, "wheel of the existence", which depicts life as a continuous round of activity. Woods notes, "So potent is it in its effects that it can, and often does, influence man's entire round (period) of existence. An inflamed speech, intolerant words, a false rumor may set on fire an individual, a city and even a nation. We recall only too well the rabble-rousing speeches of Hitler, and the overwhelming wave of the war spirit which swept over the German nation as a result" (p. 165).

An uncontrolled tongue can bring misery into every area of our lives. Such can destroy the happiness in our marriages, alienate us from our children, get us fired at work and so on. There is a warning here: An unbridled tongue will wreck havoc in our life. And unless it is brought in subjection to Christ, it will touch every area of our lives.

"and is set on fire by hell"-"with a flame fed from hell" (Mof). "continually set on fire by hell" (Woods p. 165).

Points To Note:

  1. One explanation could be, "The fire which results from the tongue is comparable only to that which arises in hell" (Woods p. 165). But I believe that much more is being presented here. 2. What is the real source of gossip, slander, blasphemy and other abuses of the tongue? Is such merely a weakness in man? Is it genetic? Are some people just born hotheads? 3. James gets at the root of the problem. When we are exercising an unbridled tongue, we are doing the devil's work. We aren't merely displaying a character flaw, we are now actively promoting the agenda of hell. Unkind words, cutting comments are not simply cruel, but they are the language of hell. The man yelling at his wife isn't merely being insensitive, he is being demonic. Compare with Paul's comments concerning the factious individual (Titus 3:10-11). Carefully note that James believed that "hell" was a real place.


3:7 "For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by the human race"

"every species"-Note that James doesn't lump all animals into the same category. He realizes that the animals fit into various classifications or categories.

"is tamed, and has been tamed"-James isn't teaching that man has been able to make every wild animal into a household pet. Rather, "Even though man has not been able to make a pet out of every wild beast or sea creature, he has been able to capture, cage, leash, or otherwise control any creature he wishes. Even the wildest of beasts can be put under man's control in a zoo" (Kent p. 122). In addition, mankind has been able to "tame" some very powerful creatures, "Every year men see in the circuses lions that are more gently disposed toward their keepers than some men are toward their benefactors, and bears rolling and wrestling and imitating our skills" (Adamson p. 145). This power over the animals was given to man by God at the beginning (Genesis 1:28; 9:2).

3:8 "But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and fully of deadly poison."

"no one can tame the tongue"-"A literal translation of the Greek word order yields this rendering: "But the tongue no one is able to subdue-of men"…implying that there is one who can control the tongue…No one can subdue man's tongue except God…it does mean that man unaided does not have constant and permanent mastery of his tongue" (Kent p. 122). With God's help, with the Scriptures, we are expected to tame our tongues (James 1:26; 1:19; Eph. 4:29; Colossians 3:8; 1 Peter 3:10). The verse is also probably saying, that while the Christian may control his own tongue, it is impossible to control the tongues of men and women at large.

"it is a restless evil"-the word "restless" means something which cannot be restrained or controlled. "Restless" is an ideal word to label the activity of the gossip, the skeptic, the false teacher, the slanderer, the blasphemer, the liar and the angry individual. Such individuals cannot just drop an issue, they can't let go, they just have to keep on spreading their poison. "Evil" includes that which injures, is dangerous, destructive and troublesome. James is here talking about a tongue which hasn't been subjected to the will of God. "Like a loose cannon, its danger is increased because one cannot predict where it will next unleash its venom. It can ruin character, break friendships, blacken reputations, and even send people to their graves" (Kent p. 122). The word "evil" reminds us that an uncontrolled tongue does much more than just cause trouble, it also brings sin.

"full of deadly poison"-lit., bringing death. Romans 3:13 "The poison of asps is under their lips"; Psalm 140:3; 58:3-4. Which reminds us that when James is talking about the tongue, he is talking about the individual, from whose heart such poison emerges (Matthew 15:19). Here should be tremendous motivation to get the hate, bitterness, envy, jealousy and every other evil attitude out of our lives. An uncontrolled tongue is the product of a uncontrolled mind and heart. And eventually, such a heart will lash out with the tongue and spread it's poison. James isn't exaggerating! Look at how angry individuals and prejudiced individuals have "poisoned" their own children and others!