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Bible Study James 3: 1-18
A Commentary of the Book of James
By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins
Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible
Bible Study James 3: 1-18
Text:
The Tongue Is a Fire
3 Do not, many of you, become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a [a]stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in [b]what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the entire body as well. 3 Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot wills. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.
Behold how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our [c]existence, and is set on fire by [d]hell. 7 For every kind of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a fountain pour forth from the same opening [e]fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can saltwater produce [f]fresh.
Wisdom from Above
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good conduct his works in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and [g]selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not coming down from above, but is earthly, [h]natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and [i]selfish ambition exist, [j]there is disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruits, without doubting, without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace [k]by those who make peace.
Verse by verse commentary:
Verse 1: “Do not, many of you, become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment.”
James provides a stern warning concerning the responsibility of teachers. Teachers exert influence over their students, a relationship that makes the students vulnerable to serious doctrinal error. The teacher is held strictly accountable for what he teaches. This greater judgment should stop teachers from using careless words. The tongue of the teacher can be a destructive tool.
Verse 2: “For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the entire body as well.”
“For we all stumble” means that in many ways we all fall short. All of us do and there is no exception to that.The word “perfect” means he is a full-grown Christian as he should be. James is saying if a person can control his speech, he can control his entire body, in fact, his whole life. Our daily goal is to grow more Christlike in every way. We will never be divinely perfect in this life, but we should strive in that direction.
Verse 3: “Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.”
James uses metaphors from common experience to make his central point that great results can be achieved by small means. The tongue is a small part of the body that is capable of creating great disasters. The tongue can create feelings of love or feelings of hurt.
Verse 4: “Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot wills.“
James continues to give several analogies that show how the tongue, even though small, has the power to control one’s whole person and influence everything in his life. His point is that small changes can make a major difference.
Verse 5: “So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!”
When fire is under control, it warms us, it cooks our food, and it generates power to operate businesses. It is dangerous, though, when it is out of control. James has used several illustrations to make sure that his point is understood. The tongue is small. Fire can start small. However, a small fire can become a dangerous forest fire. In the same way, the tongue can destroy lives word by word.
Verse 6: “And the tongue is a fire, the very world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our existence, and is set on fire by hell.”
A tongue of fire is likened to a fire that rages out of control. The body is “defiled” through the words spoken with examples being evil speech (including blasphemy, gossip, slander, lying, false vows, and the like) and has the power to spoil, stain, and corrupt the entire moral character of a person. The tongue can destroy a person’s testimony, family, relationships, churches, and more.
Verse 7: “For every kind of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.”
Life has many examples of mankind training and taming wild animals. Think about circus acts, Sea World, or any other animal act in the carnival or on television. Animals can be trained, but can we train our tongues? If you have received a new heart, it should affect your tongue. Your speech should reflect your salvation.
Verse 8: “But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.”
The tongue is more difficult to tame than wild animals. It is filled with poison more venomous than the most poisonous snake. No man can tame it, but the Holy Spirit can change you in such a way that the tongue will be controlled. The Scriptures tell us that “it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.” In other words, what is in your heart will be revealed in your speech. Your new heart from God will change and control your speech.
Verse 9: “With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God.”
The tongue can be used for both virtue and vice, sin or holiness. The same mouth uses the tongue for these contradictory purposes. It should be obvious that a true Christian has learned to bridle his tongue. While the work is not perfect, there is improvement in what your heart speaks revealed through your speech.
Verse 10: “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”
The tongues which you and I have are capable of praising God or blaspheming God. A man can bless God with his mouth, and he can blaspheme God. You can do both with the mouth you have. The Lord Jesus Christ said that what is in the heart will come out of your mouth; you can be sure your tongue is going to say it and people will hear it. Don’t be a hypocrite. I have advised people in my ministry, please don’t tell people you are a Christian. You give Christ a bad name.
Verse 11: “Does a fountain pour forth from the same opening fresh and bitter water?”
A true disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ will not contradict his profession of faith by the regular use of unwholesome words. In other words, he will not play the hypocrite.
Verse 12: “Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can saltwater produce fresh.”
In other words, can a man be a hypocrite and double-tongued individual? Can he say both good and bad. No fountain on this earth is going to give forth both sweet and bitter water, nor will a tree bear both figs and olives. The tongue reveals true Biblical faith, because it is with the mouth that confession to salvation.
Verse 13: “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good conduct his works in the gentleness of wisdom.”
Just as James exhorts believers to demonstrate their faith through works, he also calls for the demonstration of wisdom by holy living. Our speech and our lives should match. There is no place for intentionally sinning Christians or those that blaspheme the Lord in the body of Christ. Truly, one day our Lord will say to them. “Depart from me, I never knew you.” Let us commit to walking on the “highway of holiness.”
Verse 14: “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.”
Envy and covetousness poison the individual’s spirit. They are linked to self-centered and self-serving ambition. Those that seek to serve themselves do not serve Christ. Remember, you cannot have two masters. You will hate the one and love the other. Anything you place between you and Christ is your idol.
Verse 15: “This wisdom is not coming down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.”
Divine wisdom is set at contrast with the wisdom of this world. The wisdom of the world seeks to please the flesh and reflects the deception of Satan and his demons. The wisdom of the world comes from Satan and those under his evil influence. True Godly wisdom seeks to glorify God in His Sovereignty, Providence, Mercy and Grace. Know that worldly wisdom is demonic.
Verse 16: “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil practice.”
An unbridled tongue produces envy and strife which lead to “disorder and every evil practice.” Scripture makes it very clear that God is not the author of confusion. The confusion we find in the world today is a confusion brought about by the work of the Devil using that little thing, the tongue, to create strife in churches, families, governments, businesses, and nations.
Verse 17: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruits, without doubting, without hypocrisy.”
James is describing what Godly wisdom looks like. It is peaceable (authentic peace, free of a quarrelsome attitude), considerate (thoughtful and respectful of other people’s feelings), submissive (willing to listen to and obey others), full of mercy (the wise person is not stingy in mercy but demonstrates charity in every measure), and without doubt or hypocrisy (the wise person is fair and without deception, deceit, or fraud).
Verse 18: “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
It is an act of righteousness to be a peacemaker. We are to live peaceful lives as much as possible. There is a connection between what you plant as seeds and what you harvest. The fruit reaped by the planting of wisdom is a bountiful crop of righteousness.
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Bible Study James 2: 1-26
A Commentary of the Book of James
By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins
Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible
Bible Study James 2: 1-26
Text:
The Sin of Favoritism
2 My brothers, do not hold your faith in our [a]glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your [b]assembly with a gold ring and dressed in bright clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you [c]pay special attention to the one who is wearing the bright clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers: did not God choose the poor [d]of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and they themselves drag you into [e]court? 7 Do they not blaspheme the good name [f]by which you have been called?
8 If, however, you are fulfilling the [g]royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin, being convicted by the [h]law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole [i]law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the [j]law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom. 13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy [k]triumphs over judgment.
Faith and Works
14 What use is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can [l]that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, [m]be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is [n]dead by itself.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; and I have works. Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that [o]God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and [p]as a result of the works, faith was [q]perfected. 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Verse by verse commentary
Verse 1: “My brothers, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.”
First, notice how the half brother of Christ addresses Him, as the “Lord Jesus Christ.” “Jesus”doesn’t save you. It is the Lord Jesus Christ that saves you. It is God’s foreknowledge, predestination, calling and justifying you that saves you. It is nothing to boast about. Since you are saved by grace through faith, and everyone is saved the same way, you should treat all in the family of God equally. There are no spiritual elites. What James is telling us here is not to profess faith in Christ and at the same time be a spiritual elitist. All believers are brethren in the body of Christ, whatever their denomination. There is a fellowship of believers; friendship should be over them as a banner. James is addressing the total community of believers—the rich, the poor, the common people, the high, the low, the bond and free, the Jew and the Gentile, the Greek and the barbarian, male and female. They are all one when they are in the body of Christ. There is a brotherhood within the body of believers, and the Lord Jesus Christ is the common denominator. Friendship and fellowship are the legal tender among believers. This is a call to unity in the body of Christ.
Verse 2: “For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in bright clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes,”
The word translated “assembly” is actually “synagogue.” Remember, James is Jewish and would have thought and written as a Hebrew. While Jews were rings, few could afford gold ones. The “bright clothes” were clothes that drew attention to the wealth of the wearer, but James is saying that there should be no reaction to the fancy dress. Treat the wealthy and poor the same.
Verse 3: “and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the bright clothes, and say, ‘You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,’”
Most of the attendees either sat cross-legged on the floor or stood. There were a limited number of good seats; they were the ones the Pharisees always wanted. James was calling for equality among the brethren.
Verse 4: “have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?”
Though God calls us to discern and to discriminate between good and evil, discrimination based on mere externals such as economic status, racial or ethnic differences, and the like is considered an evil form of judgment. We are to accept all believers into our assemblies regardless of social standing or lack thereof, or what they can financially contribute to the church.
Verse 5: “Listen, my beloved brothers: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”
Since salvation is of the Lord, whom He chose is not to be judged by us. Rather, we should receive all God’s elect into the community of believers without a separation based on financial resources. Salvation makes one rich spiritually and that is the most important possession you can have in this life.
Verse 6: “But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and they themselves drag you into court?”
The word translated “dishonored” is a verb and a strong word and is used to refer to the oppressive work of Satan. The rich used political and judicial power to take advantage of the poor and those in need. As a group, the rich have a tendency to rely upon wealth and power rather than to find their salvation in Christ. James is pointing out that it is the rich that have the means to take you to court and take advantage of their wealth. There is a saying, “Money is a defense.” (Ecclesiastes 7: 12) It sure is! Those that have money have power in court. James states not to oppress the poor.
Verse 7: “Do they not blaspheme the good name by which you have been called?”
“Good” is better translated as “honorable.” Reader, when you mistreat the poor, you are blaspheming the name of Christ. Pause and let that sink in.
Verse 8: “If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.”
The “royal law” is the supreme law of God. It is the law of love. James is teaching that the sin of favoritism is a violation of the great commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” making the perpetrator a lawbreaker.
Verse 9: “But if you show partiality, you are committing sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.”
The word “if” is better translated “since” because the practice was ongoing at the time James wrote his epistle. James is making the point clear that if you show partiality to one group, i.e. wealthy, as opposed to the poor, you are a law breaker. Being a respecter of persons makes you a law breaker.
Verse 10: “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.”
If you break one commandment, you are guilty of breaking all the commandments. To sin by breaking one command is to sin against the entire law and therefore against the Law-giver. James, like Jesus, warns against a superficial understanding of the law of God. The Law governs both actions and intent.
Verse 11: “For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.”
To break one law makes a lawbreaker. Thank God that the Lord Jesus Christ died for all our sins, not just the ones you had committed when you were born again. When you were saved, every sin you had committed, were committing and would commit in the future, were placed under His blood. Otherwise, we would all be lawbreakers still.
Verse 12: “So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom.”
The “law of freedom” is the law of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments”. What is His commandment? “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you”. Thankfully, we have freedom from the penalty of sin, the power of sin in our lives, and one day from the presence of sin.
Verse 13: “For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
Though God is never required to show mercy, He freely chooses to do so in abundance. He shows mercy upon whom He wills and it is not dependent on the actions or will of the one receiving mercy. It is strictly God’s choice. By His law, however, we are commanded to temper justice with mercy. God warns us that if we refuse to show mercy, we will not receive mercy from Him. If you want mercy, be merciful. If you want forgiveness, forgive others.
Verse 14: “What use is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?”
This introduces the important issue of the relationship between faith and works. The question under consideration is, “What kind of faith is saving faith?” James’s question is rhetorical; the obvious answer is that faith without works cannot save. Faith that yields no work is not saving faith. The New Testament does not teach justification by the profession of faith or “accepting Jesus”; it teaches justification by the possession of true faith. We are not saved by works, however, because we are saved we work.
Verse 15-16: “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?’”
These two verses describe a “faith” of words without actions. James' point is clear and does not conflict with Paul’s message of grace. Once grace has been received in the heart and a person becomes a new creation, he will want to work for the Master and His Kingdom. It would not be sufficient to just give someone a pleasant greeting if one had the ability to alleviate the suffering of a fellow believer.
Verse 17: “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead by itself.”
Just as professed compassion without action is not real, the kind of faith that is without works is mere empty profession, not genuine saving faith. A person is not saved to become an observer of life, but rather an active participant in the lives of others.
Verse 18: “But someone will say, ‘You have faith; and I have works. Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.’”
Saving faith produces works. You have to draw that conclusion from James’ epistle. He is talking about the fruit of faith. Paul talks about the root of faith. Those are the separate emphases of each man, but both Paul and James say that faith alone saves. Paul also says that faith is going to produce fruit—“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace …” (Gal. 5:22). The Lord Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit …” There was an old Sunday School song, “If you are saved and you know it….” I like to say, if you're saved and you know, so will others see it, including those that oppose you.
Verse 19: “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.”
Many times I will hear someone say, “I believe in God.” My response is that they are almost at demon level. The demons believe and shudder, they only believe. When they shudder, they reach demon level. It is not enough to believe in God. The issue is, do you have a substitute for your sins? If not, you will pay for them throughout eternity. However, if the Lord Jesus Christ is your substitute, your eternity will be heavenly.
Verse 20: “But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?”
This is a strong rebuke. It is a moral judgment calling the man a “fool.” Remember that judgment that falls upon “the fool” in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament. James is driving his point home with stern words. There will be no excuses for those that hear James’ words. If you have faith, then that faith will be active and produce results. The word “useless” means a lack of fruit. Faith produces fruit.
Verse 21: “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?”
James appeals to Abraham as his chief exhibit of one who is justified by his works. There is no contradiction with Paul who also appeals to Abraham as the chief exhibit of one justified by faith. James appeals to Gen. 22, while Paul appeals to Gen. 15. To God, Abraham was justified in Gen. 15, long before he offered Isaac on the altar. He was justified when he believed what God had said to him about having a child. Abraham is justified to us, to human eyes, in Gen. 22 when he shows his faith through his obedience. God looks on the heart and man looks on the externals. Abraham’s faith was known to God because He could see his heart. We see the evidence of his belief in the offering of his son as a sacrifice.
Verse 22: “You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected.”
Faith being “perfected” means to bring something to its end, or to its fullness. Just as a fruit tree has not arrived at its goal until it bears fruit, faith has not reached its end until it demonstrates itself in a holy life. You can see true faith by its fruits.
Verse 23: “And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.”
Was Abraham justified when he offered his son Isaac? No, he wasn’t. Then what was Abraham’s work of faith? How did works save him? His faith caused him to lift that knife to do a thing which he did not believe God would ever ask of him. But since God had asked him, he was willing to do it. He believed that God would either raise Isaac from the dead or provide a substitute. Isaac was never in danger because God Providentially provided a substitute..Abraham was a “friend of God” because he was obedient to Him.
Verse 24: “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
A person is not justified (saved) by the mere profession of faith or by having a faith that remains alone without works (fruit). A person is only shown to be justified (saved) by what he or she does. None of our deeds saves us in the sight of God. Only the merit of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ avails for that kind of justification. Only by having faith in Christ alone can we be made righteous in the sight of God. There are two errors to avoid: (1) you can live however you want and still be saved (once saved, always saved) and (2) you must earn your salvation by doing good works. Just as Paul demonstrated that trusting in one’s own works is deadly, so James teaches that resting on empty or dead faith is deadly. We do good works (acts of righteousness) and have fruit that shows our genuine faith in Christ.
Verse 25: “And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?”
The Old Testament records the story of her faith, which was the basis of her justification before God. She demonstrated the reality of her saving faith when, at great personal risk, she protected the messengers of God. While lying was not condoned by James, the actions of Rahab demonstrated her living faith.
Verse 26: “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”
Faith without works is like a dead body in a morgue. James said that and Paul said that. If you have ever seen a body at a funeral, you know the meaning of this verse. The dead body remains cold and lifeless. It doesn’t move. It produces nothing. In the same way, a person who claims to be a Christian but has no works following their faith is dead spiritually.
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