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By: Rich Puckett

As with most of my studies, my comments are in red. The blue is from Matthew Henrys and Believers Study Bible commentary.

James 3: (v. 1-12) Cautions against proud behaviour, and the mischief of an unruly tongue.

(v. 13-18) The excellence of heavenly wisdom, in opposition to that which is worldly.

Cautions against proud behaviour, and the mischief of an unruly tongue

Every one cannot be the boss. In many churches many of the problems would be solved if we would learn that we are just all servants. Pastors are servants to God and shepherds to the people, not the people's servant, but rather their leader. They are not the masters, only God is that. Yet we all serve each other by our doing what we can in love. Pastors just as a shepherd does indeed try to help meet the needs of his flock, but he can not fix every concern, he cannot be at every member's house at the same time, and he has a family too. If everyone would learn to serve and help each other as the bible says to bear one another burden then the shepherd would have more time to meet the real needs of the ones that are neediest. Not everyone is a good teacher, before you should choose a teacher you try and find out if they indeed study and if they have the knowledge do they have the ability to teach. Not everyone can lead singing; not everyone can be a deacon and so on. Just pray and be happy with where God allows you to work for everyone can be a Christian and a worker to win souls, everyone can make the church family a better loving family one that others will want to be part of.

In this verse James expresses himself with a directness that is difficult to convey in translation. The position of teacher or rabbi was highly esteemed in the Jewish and early Christian communities, and thus many were attracted to it. James states that not many should be teachers. He then includes himself among the teachers by saying that "we" shall have applied to us "a stricter judgment." The comparative adjective "stricter" supports the idea of degrees of treatment at the judgment, as suggested elsewhere (Luke 10:12 ff.; 12:47ff.). James wants his readers to weigh carefully the responsibility of teaching others the word of God as an awesome task that should not be accepted without prayerful consideration.

James 3:1: Verses 1-12. 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.

Even Jesus was not able to do many works because of unbelief. It is a very hard thing to preach or live the word of God and not ever offend in one. It is our goal but when you preach the word and truth hits someone and the spirit of condemnation comes across their heart, they often get upset.

So then we must seek to please God and if man does not like it we can be sorry and go on. Yet if someone is hurt or offended do not smart mouth them or cast stones rather pray for them and show love.

You can not clean up your tongue but God can by the power of his spirit in you.

Learn to mind your own business, often trouble starts because people can't seem to keep their nose at home. You are not appointed to rule the church, or judge Gods people, it's not your job to talk about or butt in to others lives. It is your job to live an example and be good and do well and pray for one another. Many churches and many good people have been hurt and destroyed because someone didn't know how to mind their own business. Even if you know some one made a mistake it's not your role to tell everyone or for that matter anyone but God.

The excellence of heavenly wisdom, in opposition to that which is worldly

(vv. 13-18) This section contrasts heavenly and earthly wisdom (sophia, Gk.). The wisdom of which James speaks is practical and relational, not philosophical or speculative. It is evidenced by godly attitudes and actions (vv. 13, 17, 18). James 4:1-5:20 further contrasts and develops, by way of illustration, the truths of this paragraph.

James 3:13: Verses 13-18. 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.