James3
New International Version
1Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
2We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
5Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind,
8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.
10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
12My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
15Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for James 3.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Cautions against proud behaviour, and the mischief of an unruly tongue. (1–12). The excellence of heavenly wisdom, in opposition to that which is worldly. (13–18).
vv1-12
We are taught to dread an unruly tongue, as one of the greatest evils. The affairs of mankind are thrown into confusion by the tongues of men. Every age of the world, and every condition of life, private or public, affords examples of this. Hell has more to do in promoting the fire of the tongue than men generally think; and whenever men's tongues are employed in sinful ways, they are set on fire of hell. No man can tame the tongue without Divine grace and assistance. The apostle does not represent it as impossible, but as extremely difficult. Other sins decay with age, this many times gets worse; we grow more froward and fretful, as natural strength decays, and the days come on in which we have no pleasure. When other sins are tamed and subdued by the infirmities of age, the spirit often grows more tart, nature being drawn down to the dregs, and the words used become more passionate. That man's tongue confutes itself, which at one time pretends to adore the perfections of God, and to refer all things to him; and at another time condemns even good men, if they do not use the same words and expressions. True religion will not admit of contradictions: how many sins would be prevented, if men would always be consistent! Pious and edifying language is the genuine produce of a sanctified heart; and none who understand Christianity, expect to hear curses, lies, boastings, and revilings from a true believer's mouth, any more than they look for the fruit of one tree from another. But facts prove that more professors succeed in bridling their senses and appetites, than in duly restraining their tongues. Then, depending on Divine grace, let us take heed to bless and curse not; and let us aim to be consistent in our words and actions.
vv13-18
These verses show the difference between men's pretending to be wise, and their being really so. He who thinks well, or he who talks well, is not wise in the sense of the Scripture, if he does not live and act well. True wisdom may be know by the meekness of the spirit and temper. Those who live in malice, envy, and contention, live in confusion; and are liable to be provoked and hurried to any evil work. Such wisdom comes not down from above, but springs up from earthly principles, acts on earthly motives, and is intent on serving earthly purposes. Those who are lifted up with such wisdom, described by the apostle James, is near to the Christian love, described by the apostle Paul; and both are so described that every man may fully prove the reality of his attainments in them. It has no disguise or deceit. It cannot fall in with those managements the world counts wise, which are crafty and guileful; but it is sincere, and open, and steady, and uniform, and consistent with itself. May the purity, peace, gentleness, teachableness, and mercy shown in all our actions, and the fruits of righteousness abounding in our lives, prove that God has bestowed upon us this excellent gift.
Key Words
μή (mḗ): (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 (οὐ) expects an affirmative one)) whether
πολύς (polýs): (singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely
γίνομαι (gínomai): to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
διδάσκαλος (didáskalos): an instructor (genitive case or specially)
μοῦ (moû): of me
ἀδελφός (adelphós): a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like G1 (Α))
εἴδω (eídō): used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent G3700 (ὀπτάνομαι) and G3708 (ὁράω); properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know
ὅτι (hóti): demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
μείζων (meízōn): larger (literally or figuratively, specially, in age)
γάρ (gár): properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
Cross References
James 3Warnings against taking the title of master/teacher presumptuously, as Christ forbade.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Condemns those who act as masterly teachers of others while failing to teach themselves.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Exhorts believers to restore others in meekness, recognizing our own common human frailty.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Christ's foundational warning against the censorious, masterly judging of other men's failings.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Solomon's ancient confession that there is no man who does not sin.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Affirms that no just man on earth always does good and never sins.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Complements James's teaching on human imperfection, asking who can say they are pure.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The scriptural metaphor of using bits and bridles to govern stubborn, unruly creatures.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Christ's teaching on judging a tree by its fruits, directly echoed by James.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The characteristics of heavenly wisdom closely mirror Paul's description of the Spirit's fruit.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Connects James's warning against hasty teaching back to being 'slow to speak'.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies the creation of man in the image/likeness of God mentioned here.
Supported by JFB
Reaffirms that mankind retains the divine similitude, making verbal abuse of others heinous.
Supported by JFB
Clarifies 'sensual' as the natural, unspiritual wisdom of fallen humanity.
Supported by Matthew Poole