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.