James Chapter 3

From The Open Bible Project

3:1 Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.

• (1) The sixth part or place: Let no man usurp (as most men ambitiously do) authority to judge and censure others harshly.
• (2) A reason: Because they provoke God’s anger against themselves, who do so eagerly and harshly condemn others, being themselves guilty and faulty.
• (a) Unless we cease from this imperious and proud finding of fault with others.

3:2 For in many things we all stumble. If anyone doesn't stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.

• (3) The seventh place, concerning the bridling of the tongue, joined with the former, so that it is revealed that there is no man in who can not justly be found fault as well, seeing as it is a rare virtue to bridle the tongue.

3:3 Indeed, we put bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.

• (4) He shows by two comparisons, the one taken from the bridles of horses, the other from the rudder of ships, how great matters may be brought to pass by the good control of the tongue.

3:4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.

3:5 So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!

• (5) On the contrary part he shows how great inconveniences arise by the excesses of the tongue, throughout the whole world, to the end that men may so much the more diligently give themselves to control it.

3:6 And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by [8] Gehenna. [See James Footnotes 8]

• (b) A heap of all mischiefs.
• (c) It is able to set the whole world on fire.

3:7 For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and thing in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind.

3:8 But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

3:9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God.

• (6) Among other faults of the tongue, the apostle chiefly reproves slandering and speaking evil of our neighbours, even in those especially who otherwise will seem godly and religious.
• (7) He denies by two reasons, that God can be praised by the man who uses cursed speaking, or slandering: first because man is the image of God and whoever does not reverence him, does not honour God.

3:10 Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

• (8) Secondly, because the order of nature which God has set in things, will not allow things that are so contrary to one another, to stand with one another.

3:11 Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?

3:12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.

3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.

• (9) The eighth part, which goes with the former concerning meekness of mind, against which he sets envy and a contentious mind: in the beginning he shuts the mouth of the main fountain of all these mischiefs, that is, a false persuasion of wisdom, whereas nonetheless there is no true wisdom, but that which is heavenly, and shapes our minds to all types of true discipline and modesty.

3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and don't lie against the truth.

3:15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.

3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.

3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

• (d) He sets mercy against the fierce and cruel nature of man, and shows that heavenly wisdom brings forth good fruits, for he that is heavenly wise, refers all things to God’s glory, and the profit of his neighbours.

3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

• (10) Because the world persuades itself that they are miserable who live peaceably and simply: on the contrary, the apostle states that they shall eventually reap the harvest of peaceable righteousness.