James 3 Bible study

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The Epistle of James Chapter 3:1–26 The Untamable Tongue 3.1. Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly.

There are many warnings given in this letter against teachers as there seemed to be an abundance of them, in fact by what James says it suggests that many wanted to be teachers of the Word of God. While the desire might be a good one it is to be noted that Paul clearly states in Ephesians that teaching is one of the ministry gifts of Christ (Eph. 4:11) therefore it is imparting by Him to whom He wills. There is a responsibility attached to this gift because it involves the Word of God. The importance of the Word of God cannot be over emphasized for in Psalm 138 2: it says of God “You have magnified Your word above all Your name” (John 1:1, 14). Because the teacher is in a position of influencing and of nurturing lives through the Word of God he will be judged with greater strictness than others. Jesus Christ did not only preach the word but many times in the gospels it is said that He taught the people (Matthew 4:23). His instruction to His disciples after His resurrection was that they should teach all those things that he had taught them (Matthew 28: 20).

3.2. For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well.

The teacher of course uses his tongue to impart knowledge so this leads James to give his discourse on the uncontrollable part of our bodies. We all frequently fail, the man who does not offend with his tongue has reached perfection for if he is able to control his tongue he should be able to keep in check his whole body. The only one that this can be said of is the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb. 4:15). We are however all going on to perfection if we continue with Christ (Eph. 4:13, Phil. 3: 12). There is no one that has the perfect understanding of the Word of God except the Lord Jesus Christ therefore when people interpret the Word in teaching there is always a possibility of error involved. It is the Holy Spirit that teaches all things in truth (John 14:26, 2 Peter 1:20 - 21)

3.3 - 4. And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies. Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot's inclination directs.

Here he uses two illustrations of instruments that man has invented in order to control a beast of God’s creation and a vessel of his own making. A horse is controlled by the means of a steel bit put in its mouth and held there by reins by such a method the horse is controlled by the rider. A ship is a large object subject to strong winds and waves yet they are steered by a small rudder wherever the helmsman desires.

3.5. So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze.

In comparison with the body the tongue is a small member and yet it has the potential of boasting of being able to do all sorts of great and important things. It only takes a tiny spark to set on fire and destroy a forest.

3.6. And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence — and is set on fire by hell.

In a similar way the tongue is a fire a little world of evil in itself. It is capable of causing great havoc and more devastation than any part of the body. It can contaminate and deprave the whole body and sets the wheel rolling for the whole nature to be corrupted. “It is set on fire by hell itself and can turn our whole lives into a blazing flame of destruction and disaster” (Living Bible).

3.7 - 8. For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind. But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Men have been able to train all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and fish but no one has been able to tame the tongue. We might be able to “bite our tongue” as the saying is, that is to hold back in saying something we would really like to say but ultimately it is uncontrollable. Like the tongue of a snake it is full of deadly and evil poison.

3.9. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God's image.

With this little member we are capable of blessing and singing praises to God and in breaking out into curses against men who are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26).

3.10. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters.

So blessing and cursing come from the same source the mouth for a believer these things ought not be.

2.11 - 12. A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it?

Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water.

James gives three illustrations to show that nature is not like this. A spring of fresh water cannot bubble up with sweet and bitter water at the same time neither can salt water and fresh water come from the same spring. A fig tree cannot bear olive berries and a grapevine cannot bring forth figs. So the new nature born of the Spirit cannot curse but the old nature can (2 Corinthian 5:17) In Romans 7 Paul explains these phenomena from his own experience (Romans 7: 21 - 25).

Demonic Wisdom Compared with Heavenly 3.13. Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.

Those within the church who are wise and knowledgeable through experience are to let it be seen by their godly conduct that their works are done in gentleness and humility of spirit that is a correct characteristic of wisdom. This was the attribute of the Lord Jesus Christ who is wisdom personified (Math. 11: 29).

3.14. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth.

If anyone who is wise has a spirit of bitter envy and a selfish spirit of ambition that seeks to obtain power by any means let them not boast that they know more than anyone else and pervert the truth of the Word of God in order to make out that they have more wisdom and understanding of the Word than their brethren. By doing so it is a contradiction of the truth of the gospel for we have nothing to boast about (Eph. 2: 8 - 9).

3.15. Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic.

This kind of superficial wisdom is not heavenly it is not of God it is worldly, self-centered and is of the devil for he is the father of deceit and lies (John 8:44).

3.16. For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice.

Wherever jealousy and rivalry, a struggle with others for victory or supremacy, exist there is state of disorder and many evil deeds carried out.

3.17. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical.

In contrast to the effects of worldly and demonic wisdom that which comes from heaven is pure modest and perfect it is peace loving, reasonable, gentle (Phil. 4:5), and is ready and willing to listen to good sense and to show compassion to others. It produces the good works of righteousness (Phil.

1: 11) without prejudice and sincere.

3.18. And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace.

Those that have the true wisdom that comes from God are peacemakers and will sow seeds of peace and will reap a harvest of righteousness. © Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett 2015 Bible Studies Online UK www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk You may copy, print or distribute our studies freely in any form, just so long as you make no charges. Sign up today for our FREE monthly Bible study magazine “Living Word” Scriptures taken from the NET Bible www.bible.org