James 3 - Introduction

ANALYSIS.

Some are inclined to press themselves forward as teachers, thus giving to them the appearance of leaders, or of more prominence than others among the brethren. This is an aspiration not to be greatly encouraged. The reason is this: One in the position of a teacher who fails to be strictly governed by the Spirit in Christ Jesus subjects himself to the greater condemnation. Note this fact. One brought up in a different faith is liable to have some lurking regard for prejudices therein imbibe which, if urged in the assembly of the saints, might nullify the law of Christ and bring the cause into disrepute. Such may not be able to control their tongues in speech. The power wielded by the tongue is great. The danger of sinning by this member is pointed out and illustrated. It has power to produce wonderful results, either good or bad. In society it is like a fire. So hard is it to control the tongue, the writer of this chapter instances the fact that beasts may be tamed by the ingenuity of man, and yet the tongue, he says, no man can tame. He then shows the many contradictory uses that are made of this little member. We bless God by it, and by it we curse man made after the image of the same God we bless, which is contradictory. Blessing and cursing coming from the same mouth, sweet water and bitter from the same fountain, a fig-tree bearing olives, and a vine, figs. All these are, of course, contradictory and against nature. So the contradictory uses of the tongue are against its original design. An earnest exhortation follows, urging the control of the tongue by an exercise of wisdom, which is from above. That by which the contradictory use prevails is a wisdom that did not come from heaven, but of earth, and is sensual, devilish, ruinous and destructive, while the true wisdom, the wisdom from above, is pure, peaceable and gentle, and always results in acts of mercy, good deeds and peace.