JAMES
CHAPTER 3
By governing the tongue we gain perfection—Heavenly wisdom is pure, peaceable, and full of mercy.
[Common theme with these verse is towards those that defile with their tongue. This disunity is between what you say and what you say. Or, in other words, the person is inconsistent in their speech. They bless and curse with the same mouth.]
1 MY brethren, be not
many masters,
[Greek term "didaskalos" translated here to "masters" is
more commonly translated to "teachers"] knowing that we shall receive the
greater condemnation.
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.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 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.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 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.
7 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:
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries?
either a vine, figs? so can no
fountain both yield salt water and fresh. [the
symbols used are examples found in nature - Just as a fountain cannot
produce water that is both bad and good, because it mixes, and just as
fig trees produce figs and not olives, we should follow nature's example
rather than rebel against it.]
13 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.
14 But if ye have bitter envying
and strife in
your hearts, [James speaks out on the reasons
for contention - we need to check ourselves against each of them - and
lie not to ourselves if we are found guilty of having those feelings
which include: envy (v. 14), arrogance (v. 14),
lying (v. 14), hypocrisy (v. 17), covetousness (cf. 4:2),adultery (cf. 4:4), double-mindedness (cf. 4:8)] glory not, and lie not against the truth.
lying (v. 14), hypocrisy (v. 17), covetousness (cf. 4:2),adultery (cf. 4:4), double-mindedness (cf. 4:8)] glory not, and lie not against the truth.