CHAPTER 3

(A.D. 60)

THE TONGUE

¹My Brethren, be not many masters (should have been translated, be not many Teachers), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. (This refers to the fact that mishandling the Word of God will ultimately bring one tremendous problems. God holds the Teacher more responsible than the student.)

²For in many things we offend all. (This refers to the universality of sin and failure, even among Believers.) If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. (The Holy Spirit Alone can control the Believers tongue.)

³Behold, we put bits in the horses mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. (The Holy Spirit is saying our mouths should obey us, instead of us obeying our mouths.)

⁴Behold 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 lists. (This refers here to the helm being likened unto the tongue.)

⁵Even so the tongue is a little member (it is small, but it exerts a powerful influence), and boasts great things (responsible for great things, whether good or bad). Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles! (The image projected here by James is the picture of a vast forest in flames, all begun by the falling of a single spark.)

⁶And the tongue is a fire (speaks of fire in a negative way, that which destroys), a world of iniquity (the tongue in some way is responsible for all the iniquity in the world): so is the tongue among our members (body members), that it defiles the whole body (constantly speaking in a negative way can bring about physical illness in the body), and sets on fire the course of nature (the tongue sets us on a particular path, and in this case the wrong path); and it is set on fire of hell. (By using the word hell, we are made to understand not only the wickedness of the tongue, but as well its destructive power.)

⁷For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed of mankind (a proven fact):

⁸But the tongue can no man tame (this is the Word of the Lord; however, the tongue can most definitely be tamed by the Holy Spirit; the way it is done has to do with the Cross of Christ; the Holy Spirit works within the parameters of the Finished Work of Christ on the Cross; He demands that we ever make the Cross the Object of our Faith, and then He can do mighty things within our lives [Rom. 8:1-2, 11]); it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. (The Believer must realize this. It means that just because he is saved, such doesnt necessarily guarantee a change in this problem. As stated, it definitely can be, and, in fact, must be, changed, but it can only be so by and through the Cross.)

⁹Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men (proclaims the inconsistency, to say the least, of blessing God one moment and cursing men the next), which are made after the similitude of God. (In a sense, when we curse men, which refers to wishing them hurt, we are cursing God. To curse the Creation is to curse the Creator.)

¹⁰Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing (presents the tongue devoted to uses so different). My Brethren, these things ought not so to be. (If the Lord has His Way in our hearts and lives, they wont be.)

¹¹Does a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? (Of necessity, this question must be answered in the negative.)

¹²Can the fig tree, my Brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. (This speaks of nature. However, man can do what nature cannot do.)

WISDOM

¹³Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? (This refers to a true teacher of the Word of God.) let him show out of a good conversation (lifestyle) his works with meekness of wisdom (refers to the conduct of the Believer).

¹⁴But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts (proclaims the sin nature springing to life, thereby, ruling in the Believers life [Rom. 6:12-13]), Glory not (boast not), and lie not against the truth. (This refers to the fact that if we do boast of anything other than the Cross, we are lying, pure and simple [Gal. 6:14].)

¹⁵This wisdom descends not from above (any wisdom that claims Salvation or Victory in any way or manner other than the Cross is not wisdom from above), but is earthly, sensual, devilish. (Whatever its appeal, if its not the Cross, it is of Satan. This covers humanistic psychology, plus anything else devised by men, i.e., demons.)

¹⁶For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. (If its not the Cross, it is confusion, and every evil work.)

¹⁷But the wisdom that is from above is first pure (it is found in all its fullness in Christ, and in Christ Alone), then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. (These things present the Work of the Holy Spirit, with the Cross as the means and Christ as the Source.)

¹⁸And the Fruit of Righteousness is sown in Peace of them who make Peace (presents the Law of sowing and reaping).