THE CONTROL OF THE TONGUE 1, 2. Warning against undue eagerness to teach: cp. Matthew 12:37; Matthew 23:7; Romans 2:19; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 14:26; Ephesians 4:11. MASTERS] better, 'teachers.' The position of a teacher is one of great responsibility. GREATER CONDEMNATION] RV 'heavier j... [ Continue Reading ]
GOVERNOR] RV 'steersman.'... [ Continue Reading ]
Great power is exercised by small things like a horse's bridle and a rudder. So also the tongue, although small, is very powerful, and generally for evil rather than for good. HOW GREAT A MATTER] better, 'how great a wood.' A tiny spark can set on fire a great forest.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TONGUE _is_.. A WORLD OF INIQUITY] better, 'the tongue maketh itself (or, becometh) like the wicked world.' The idea conveyed in this difficult passage seems to be that, while other members can sin only to a limited extent, the tongue can inspire and cause a whole cycle of wickedness—a whole wor... [ Continue Reading ]
UNRULY] better, 'restless,' 'unstable,' 'never still.' 9-12. 'The tongue is not only mischievous, but also gives rise to inconsistency. With it we bless the God of love (and thereby profess that we are striving to be like Him), and in the same breath curse our fellow-men, made in His image. Nature... [ Continue Reading ]
Here St. James returns from the digression of James 3:3 to the subject of James 3:1; James 3:2. His readers desired to become teachers. But the first qualification for a teacher is wisdom. True wisdom defined, and contrasted with its counterfeit. OUT OF A GOOD CONVERSATION] RV 'by his good life.' Tr... [ Continue Reading ]
SENSUAL] better, 'carnal,' 'belonging to the natural man' (1 Corinthians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 15:44).... [ Continue Reading ]
EASY TO BE INTREATED] better, 'teachable,' ready to welcome truth from whatever quarter it may come, not refusing the guidance of others. WITHOUT PARTIALITY] better, 'free from double-mindedness,'... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THEM THAT MAKE PEACE] better, 'by peacemakers.' The wise man is a peacemaker who sows good seed that in God's time will bear precious fruit. To sum up. The heavenly wisdom is, (1) chaste, pure (in relation to its possessor); (2) peaceable (in its relation to others), (_a_) actively, 'reasonable,... [ Continue Reading ]