James 3:3-6 James minces no words when he describes the power of the tongue. The idea is to imprecate (= to invoke) evil on someone saying that a supernatural power will cause harm to someone or something. (1) The principle established. J Vernon McGee's comment also alludes to the heart -It is interesting to note that Paul said, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Ro10:9, italics mine). If such be your spirit, he says, glory not and lie not against the truth; that is, Do not boast that you are wise, wise with the wisdom of heaven: for in so boasting you lie, and this glorying and falsehood are in direct opposition to Gods truth. Seek His guidance before you express yourself. 2 Timothy (Ibid), Osborne on restless - The connotation is of something without a secure foundation; like an unstable building in the midst of an earthquake, the tongue can never be controlled. "A poor man is better than a liar" (Proverbs 19:22). In casting into the temple treasury the two mites that came out of deep poverty and deep love, the widow was far more full of good fruits than the rich men who cast in many times the sum with no self-sacrifice and little true love. "Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause" (Proverbs 24:28). All rights reserved, Summary of Study of James from chapter 1-3. "The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vapor driven to and fro by them that seek death" (Proverbs 21:6). ESV James 3:12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? There is more hope of a fool than of him" (Proverbs 29:20). 1:26; Jas. It was used of those versed in the sea, skilled in the building craft, or expert in evil. Reprinted by permission. Sophosis the opposite of anoetoswhich means without understanding or foolish. "A soft answer turneth away wrath" (Proverbs 15:1). Conversely you may hold fast to purity but do so in a contentious manner and neither is this godly wisdom because it is not peaceable. Determined to ruin him, the potter induced the king to issue an order requiring the man to wash one of his black elephants white. NLT And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. 16:16); but while his Lord was on trial before the high priest, "he began to curse and swear, 'I do not know the man!' Douglas Moo -"As the fig tree cannot produce olives or the grapevine figs, so the pure heart cannot produce false, bitter, harmful speech.". His poor family finds it so; he is such a churl, such a railer at and so unreasonable with his servants, that they neither know how to do for or speak to him. 1:5; 1 Pet. "There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise" (Proverbs 21:20). But relying on our own intelligence, uninformed by God, can lead to selfish ambition and bitter envy (v. 14). without hypocrisy. The principal explained that this was a select group of young people, chosen not just for their singing but also for their Christian testimony and their walk with the Lord. NLT James 3:7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men (TO WHOM CURSING COMES NATURALLY)? And he went out and wept bitterly" (Matt. When others are urging us to take a certain course of action, we can invite God to influence our response. "The mouth of fools feedeth on folly" (Proverbs 15:14). (So here the peaceful state is the result of divine discipline! NET James 3:12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? 15:19-20)." And at night let us reflect that one more day is irrevocably gone, indelibly marked. Their tongues are loaded with lies. Barclay reminds us that eirene"means right relationships between individuals," so "what James is saying is this: 'We are all trying to reap the harvest which a good life brings. 9 She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty.. Reprinted by permission. And woe to anyone who accumulates more of this worlds things than they have. NRS James 3:14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. (Pr 10:19) When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise. And so we see that "sopha, "wisdom," is never ascribed to anyone other than God or good men, except in an ironical sense, as for instance in 1 Corinthians 1:20." It takes prayer and God's grace (ED: SEE TONGUE CONTROL)to bring us to the pointwhere we refuse to pass it on or even hear it-even under the guise of personal concern or a request to pray for a sinning friend in trouble. Reprinted by permission. (Gal 5:24+, Gal 5:16+)The tongue does not have a life of its own, even though James uses the figure of speech of personification to describe its activities. I have no regard for truth, no respect for justice, no mercy for the defenseless. KJV James 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 7:26 = I discovered more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets; Isa. The tongue is like the bit in the mouth of a horse. Romans (Faith, Love & Hope: An Exposition of the Epistle of James). A host of positive qualities follow true heavenly wisdom. By the constituents of the water a judgment can be made as to its source. Now James says that when the unbridled tongue begins to spew forth evil, this evil stains and pollutes the entire personality (the soma- a few commentators say soma may also refer to the Church which is often called a body)! James is rightNo man can tame the tonguebut theres plenty of help from Another. . In the Greek sentence the "ou chre" (not ought) precedes "my brethren," placing even stronger emphasis on this negative injunction! And so even in this section, James is insisting on proof of one's profession of belief in Christ. Robertson -It is a moral incongruity for blessing and cursing to come out of the same mouth. 12:36). Instead of being helpful, they are destructive. Iosis used in the NT to meanpoisonorvenom. Evil(bad, harm) (2556)(kakos)related word =kakia) is a word which basically denotes a lack of something so that it is "bad" or "not as it ought to be. Words are like dynamite. What comes out of our mouths shows us how much we need Gods help. ILLUSTRATION -After a long Sunday morning service, a family sat down to eat lunch. He who comes from heaven is above all." You see, the two are mutually incompatible: A wise old owl lived in an oak But the examples cited so obviously condemn man's inconsistency that no application is needed.". 24). Beloved, that's the power of our unbridled, unruddered tongue, unless it is continually surrendered to the guarding, guiding power of the Holy Spirit! James 3:7-8 To seek ease at the cost of righteousness, is to make peace for ever impossible. James 3:6. Barnes' Notes 2. Burdick observes that "James shifts almost unnoticeably from discussing the power of the tongue (James 3:3-6) to a discussion of its perversity (James 3:7-12). Adoniram Judson. For an hourwhales, porpoises, sea lions and seals went through their paces at Marineland, near Pacific Palisades. NLT James 3:6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. All the marks which we put upon it, it will exhibit forever Each day will not only be a witness of our conduct, but will affect our everlasting destiny (Note: Not in loss of salvation but of rewards - cp1Co 3:11,12,13,14,15,Jn 15:5,2Co 5:10+, cp1Ti 4:7,8+). But a traveler, or a resident of the village dependent upon its water, in coming for water does not expect that it will alternate in providing "fresh water" (to gluku), clear, drinkable water, and "salt water" (to pikron), brackish, salty, undrinkable water, from the same opening in the cliff. C. H. Spurgeon, The word of a man is as powerful as himself. Someone has said, "What is in the well of the heart will come out through the bucket of the mouth." J. Sidlow Baxter, Gentle words fall lightly, but they have great weight. Psalm 120:2 Deliver my soul, Oh Jehovah, from lying lips. The tendency of fallen man is now away from God, to go his own way. THOUGHT - PRAY - Lord, help me to think before I speak, to check my heart. Worldly wisdom, in turn, lurks within all our minds, and our pride in trying to accomplish God's work in our own ability leads to the doing of God's work in man's way. Good judgment often requires that we perform counter-intuitive acts of unselfishness that reflect Jesus life in us. Anon. All rights reserved), The tongue can spread suspicion, Psalm 141:3, When Bernard Baruch was an ambitious young businessman, he asked the wealthy J. P. Morgan to partner with him in a Texas sulfur mining venture. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3:8). This "extraterrestrial" wisdom isthe gift of Godand is only given to believers(Eph 2:8), Proverbs commentson the Source ofwisdom from above, "For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding." So in this sentence James uses a first class conditional statement which assumes that some of his readers were harboring bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in their heart. NAB James 3:15 Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position; They delight in falsehood; (James 3- IVP Commentary) (ED: See related discussion on"Tongue Control. O let me cheerfully fulfill; Use your tongue to praise God (Psalm 51:14-15). It is said that after the Civil War, General Robert E. Lee, a devout Christian, visited a church in Washington, D.C. During the Communion service, he was seen kneeling beside a black man. (Lectures Exegetical and Practical on the Epistle of James), The true test of wisdom is works, not words. ASV James 3:11 Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet water and bitter? The basic idea isof exulting in being able to prevail over something or someone else, boasting in one's self to the injury of another person or thing. Hagnos is in the list of virtues ("whatever is pure")on which Paul commands believers to continuallydwell (present imperative- continually = need the Holy Spirit to obey). "Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah" :12:22). "Wisdom is too high for a fool: He openeth not his mouth'in the gate" (Proverbs 24:7. By the end of his life, Trumans unmailed letters filled a large desk drawer. We can never say that we have truly pitied anyone until we have given our help. The biggest loser of your hatred and jealousy is you. Eritheiadescribes personal gratification and self-fulfillment at any cost, which are the ultimate goals of all fleshly endeavors. Does this describe you (and me) dear reader? 20:19; 2 Sam. There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. It leads the envious person to do and say things that are mean-spirited and contrary to the Spirit of the Lord Jesus. Reprinted by permission. False teachers are often portrayed as controlled by Satan, and their teachings are demonic in nature (2 Cor 11:13-15; 1 Tim 4:1; 2 Pet 2:10; Jude 8-10)." Reprinted by permission. This person behind the curtain reminds me of a problem we as Christians experience today. From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing- James is saying that believers were speaking blessing and cursing. Into what are we growing? James 3:9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; Amplified With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who were made in Gods likeness! One writer has "claiming to be wise when in truth one is foolish" and another"your profession therefore is a lie." It is that temper of spirit which at all times says, "Yes, Lord, Thou knowest best." ", Where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. The fetid fruit of worldly wisdom is similar, because you can "smell" something is not right in a church body, but it may take a while to discover. He will give us increasing power to monitor and control what we say. What is wrong with wanting revenge? "A fool uttereth all his anger; But a wise man keepeth it back and stilleth it" (Proverbs 29:11). Andin Ephesians 5:15-16+ we see that thewisewalk is a behavior thatredeems the time, "buying up" every (spiritual) opportunity presented by God (Eph 5:16+). 11 For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you. Even with the temptation of Christ the devil was slick and sly (cf Lk 4:1-13+). ", Adam Clarke on without hypocrisy -Without pretending to be what it is not; acting always in its own character; never working under a mask. Of the person who says, 'I know I gossip too much, but I just can't help it,' James still requires, 'Control your tongue.' A careless word may kindle strife; The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. True wisdom loves peace. 11). No man can tame the tongue, he wrote. We eliminate the errors. By:David C. McCasland, O Prince of Peace, keep us, we pray, And since James was writing to Jewish believers, they would be very familiar with these traditional Jewish blessings to God. 1:17; 2:3). Do we feel burdened when others fail, or are we glad? When you tame an animal, you get a worker instead of a destroyer. James 3:1-12 discusses talking. As powerful as the tongue can be to produce harm, we must also realize that the opposite is true. What is the subject of most of your discussions? And clearly what and how we think will influence what and how we speak. All rights reserved). b. You see, then, that when James here calls the wisdom that bore bitter wranglings as its fruit a wisdom of the soul, with an implied and well understood contrast to that wisdom of the spirit which ought to regulate all the thoughts and feelings, words and actions, of Christians, he means that it belongs entirely to the lower elements of our nature, and that its characteristics are simply those of the wisdom belonging to the men of the world, whose aim is personal honour and aggrandisement. ESV Study Bible -Evil speech destroys because it comes from Satan himself. After bearing up under the onslaught of Eliphaz the Temanite (Job 4:15:27), he was brought to the point of frustration. As we listen to His training, learn from our mistakes, and depend on His power, well grow and change. Full of applies to both mercy and good fruits which are therefore taken together as one attribute of godly wisdom. James 3:1-5 New International Version Taming the Tongue 3 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. James 3:9. THE SECRET OF A CONTROLLED TONGUE BYTHEODORE EPP. MacArthur -Hell is Satan's place, prepared for him and his demons (Matt. Its venom swiftly paralyzes your nervous system, which stops your heart. That many a kink 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. The mother is now leading a crusade to promote child safety. Someone once quipped that "Wisdom is the quality that keeps you from getting into situations where you need it. 1:29; Rom. As such, it is used here as a synonym for Satan and the demons. A bitter spirit will keep you from being a better person. It seems, Father, that sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Benjamin Franklin, If I speak what is false, I must answer for it; if truth, it will answer for me. He rages at faith because he sees therein his own defeat and the victory of grace. "The lips of knowledge are a precious jewel" (Proverbs 20:15). In short, the one with wisdom that is reasonable knows when to yield rights or opinions, including when he is proven wrong (THAT'S WHEN WE REALLY NEED TO RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT'S SUPERNATURAL ENABLEMENT!). The main reason for Luther's objection was James' teaching of justification. THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF A SERMON. These things, my brethren, ought not to be so. J. Armitage Robinson, The desire of appearing to be wise often prevents our becoming so. His life will be characterized by modesty and unobtrusive-ness. ." When I speak evil, I not only reveal the sin in my own heart (Luke 6:45), I also reinforce that evil and cause it to grow. Eventually the potter was ruined by the very scheme he had devised to defame the man he envied. Eritheiahas no room for others, much less genuine humility. Kakosmeans not meeting accepted standards of behavior, and thus worthless, bad or inferior. Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill. Spiros Zodhiates, The one who has wisdom in his head and heart does not need to shout at others. Neither can salt water yield sweet. 1:3; Zech. There is, then, no justification for corrupt habits of speech in our churches today." One Man has been shown us by God, in Whom His ideal of man was embodied; and He, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, threatened not, but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously: (1 Peter 2:23+)He for those who nailed Him to the tree prayed, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Lk 23:34+) The worlds spirit of wrath, then, must be folly; whilst than a spirit of meekness (gentleness)like His (JESUS), in the midst of controversy, oppositions, trials of whatever kind, there can be no surer evidence that Jesus is made of God to His people wisdom.(Lectures Exegetical and Practical on the Epistle of James)(Bold added), Zodhiates -When everything goes wrong and troubles abound and the Christian can still go about his duties in life without revolting against God, against Wisdom, then he is possessed with this wonderful meekness of wisdom. Even some of God's greatest saints have revealed the evil power of the tongue. (James 3:13-18 Wisdom for Harmonious Relationships), There is disorder and every evil thing- Amplified has "here will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices", The church at Corinth was experience "disorder" which prompted Paul to write. All the conflicts, crimes, battles, and wars of the world are evidence of the devastation caused by human wisdom. We expect the fountain to flow with sweet water at all times, and we expect the fig tree to bear figs and the olive tree to bear olives. William Baker -We are people of two radically different realms, the heavenly and the earthly/demonic. Christian: Deceived! The classic example is the supernatural fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23+). The adjective suggests the picture of "some caged but unsubdued wild animal, ever pacing uneasily up and down its den." It thus denotes "the malicious triumphing at the least point of vantage gained by one party" over its opponents in their disputes. Jas. Nothing is so opened more by mistake than the mouth. Gilbrant on epigeios -The seven New Testament instances of epigeios reflect a dualism between the heavenly and the earthly. John (3:12) records Jesus comments to Nicodemus that he would hardly believe heavenly things (ta epourania) since he did not believe the earthly things (ta epigeia) which Jesus had just told him. Anupokritosdescribes that which is unhypocritical, genuine (faith, love and wisdom in Scripture) and without show or pretense (pretense = a claim made or implied and especially one not supported by fact). Jesus upset their pride. A philosophy professor ended his letter with "It just beats me. (Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary), Send (only here in NT)(1032)(bruo) means to be full to bursting, to abound, to overflow, to gush forth or "emit voluminously". No earth-born eye can catch a glimpse of God. so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Friberg -"(1) as being without uncertainty unwavering, unshakable (2) without making distinctions impartial, free from prejudice (God's wisdom does not treat one person a certain way and someone else another away.). The tongue is but three inches long, yet it can kill a man six feet high. It has no room for others, much less genuine humility. In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea, causing a tragic loss of life. There are those who think that it is clever never to make one's mind up about anything. "The perverse tongue shall be cut off" (Proverbs 10:31). NRS James 3:7 For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species. John Calvin, Wisdom is not the growth of human genius. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. The Amplified Version functions almost like a "mini-commentary" - "[The fruit of the seed] sown in peace by those who work for and make peace [in themselves and in others, that peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals, with undisturbedness, in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts]. When we ask, His wisdom will begin to rise in us and pour itself out to others. 5:22; Matt. 1:22. The existence of many of its villages depended on the availability of such a source for its water. Beware! The tiger employs one weapon of destruction: its razor-sharp teeth set in a vice-like jaw. "Selfishness" seems to be the best translation or "self-interest," which terms bring out the personal motive of the heart. In other texts earthly carries a definitely inferior meaning and suggests worldly or sinful or fleshly passions (Philippians 3:19; James 3:15). The same pair appears in the only NT use of the word in James 3:13, where the writer exhorted those who claim the status of being wise and expert to display their virtues in behavior. May God's Spirit give you the desire and the power to redeem the time, the short time you have leftto show forth the wisdom of Christ, for His glory, in His Name. John Trapp, A ready tongue without an informed mind, a devout character and a holy life will hinder rather than advance the cause of Christ. By:Joanie Yoder(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Thomas Brooks, We know metals by their tinkling and men by their talking. "Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones" (Proverbs 16:24). He did not proclaim himself "the brother of Jesus" but only a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. On the Temple of Aesculapius at Epidaurus, there was the inscription at the entrance: 'He who would enter the divine temple must be pure [hagnos]; and purity is to have a mind which thinks holy thoughts.' The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race- We can tame animals, animals that walk, fly, crawl and swim and animals from each of these groups has been tamed. Speiro is used figuratively to describe the sowing of the "seed" of the Word of God, the Gospel (="the word of the kingdom" -Mt13:19, cpMk 4:1415,16,18), "the ideas and precepts that have been implanted like seed in their hearts, ie, received in their hearts (Mk 4:18)." Ask Him to keep watch over your mouth (Psalm 141:3), and hand the bridle of your tongue to Him. Sin entered this world, in the first place, by means of a forked tongue, the tongue of "that old serpent." Perfidy refers to deliberate breech of trust, or treachery, and the unbridled tongue is frequently guilty of such evil. With words that soothe and heal and mend. Hagnosdescribes wisdom that is morally undefiled and not corrupted by any form of evil in this fallen world. James Bible Commentaries Spurgeon's Verse Expositions of the Bible James 3 Genesis Intro James Genesis Intro Genesis Intro James Genesis Intro Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Few people recognize the sinister capabilities of the tongue. Reprinted by permission. Or do you often regret your words? Here before our eyes was a striking illustration of James 3:7: "For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind." This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. The small church in Umbarger, Texas, was an unlikely place for an international work of art. You may say, Oh, but that's just the way I am! Such a "wisdom" cannot be from God. Spurgeon reminds us that "Behold is a word of wonder; it is intended to excite admiration. Till we're glorified at last. Your motives must be pure, or you are not acting with godly wisdom. It is derived from a Greek root word which means "to cut, prick, pierce, or fasten together." No wonder James called the tongue "an unruly evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3:8). J D Branon(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Since everyone has an opinion on how something should be done, friction results. Men that have any dealings with him say it is better to deal with a Turk than with him; for fairer dealing they shall have at their hands. NKJ James 3:8 But no man can tame the tongue. b. He is implying that if we are genuine believers we should bring forth fruit or water (so to speak) that is consistent with our new birth and the new power of the indwelling Spirit to produce "good fruit" or "fresh water. 3:17; 1 Pet. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? He writes. According to its derivation, the original word strictly means belonging to the soul. The contrast with spirit and the spiritual, which is expressed in the passages that I have quoted from First Corinthians and from Jude, and implied in that now before us, is the key to the exact meaning. 16:20-23). NET James 3:16 For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice. Presented here is a verse by verse exposition of the New . Only an evil tongue could do this. Good grammar matters to me. Natural wisdom is that when come from the mind of fallen, unredeemed men, and therefore is able to only reflect a totally humanistic viewpoint regarding the world and men. Solomon wrote, He who restrains his lips is wise (Proverbs 10:19). When James opens his letter, he challenges his readers to view trials as opportunities to grow rather than obstacles to lament. 3 John Who among you has made this attribute of God, wisdom, your attribute?" And for men to reproach those who have not only the image of God in their natural faculties, but are renewed after the image of God by the grace of the gospel: this is a most shameful contradiction to all their pretensions of honouring the great Original. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. The course of nature refers to ongoing of life in general, not the recycling of individual souls. But beware of setting the bar too low by worrying about numbers. If a man claims he is wise and acts in this manner described by James, he is surely not living up to his profession of faith, nor is he wise. So, in 1955, the Guinness brewing company decided that an official record was needed to pacify its customers. A single match or even a small spark can start a fire that can destroy an entire forest (v.5). Many Churches have been infiltrated with the doctrines of Hell. The peacemakers are those who live by the heavenly wisdom, which is first pure and then peaceable, that is, by righteousness. The fruit of this wisdom (James 3:18) (Hiebert - James Commentary). But as they worked on their paintings and a woodcarving of the Last Supper, one of the POWs later recalled, A spontaneous stream of good feelings began almost at once to flow among us. No one spoke of the war or the past because we were here for a work of peace and love.. KJV James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. James 3:9-10 says, With [our tongue] we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men . (James 2:15-16+) God's wisdom motivates us to build up rather than tear down. Do you feel that you are not responsible for what comes out of your mouth when you are angry? Awful, hateful, ungodly, vile things emanate from this master of disaster. It is the ability to live in a manner pleasing to God because you understand His truth and you live in constant submission to His Spirit, applying that truth to all of life. The show window is important, but the storehouse is even more so. When we do that, we starve the evil that is gnawing insidiously at the root of our soul. Every age of the world, and every condition of life, private or public, affords examples of this. We are so apt to say, of someone in trouble, 'It is his own fault' or 'She brought it on herself', and therefore to feel no responsibility ourselves. 3:13; Jas. . There's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip. But, as you know, brethren, in man, as he now is by nature, the spirit is darkened, perverted, and weakened; it is dethroned through sin; and only the enlightening and strengthening energy of Gods Spirit can enable our spirits to take their rightful dignity and rule. He asks (3:13a), Who among you is wise and understanding? Perhaps some of the self-appointed teachers were thinking, Im glad that you recognize my talents! Then in his no-nonsense style, James springs the trap (3:13b): Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. (James 3:13-18 Wisdom for Harmonious Relationships). Used of those versed in the ancient writings of the tongue body there. Guinness brewing company decided that an official record was needed to pacify its customers Lectures Exegetical and on... 'S just the way I am the sinister capabilities of the heart send forth from the same sweet. You has made this attribute of God 's greatest saints have revealed the evil of... Its opponents in their disputes in us and pour itself out to others 120:2 Deliver my,... Unsubdued wild animal, you get james 3 commentary spurgeon worker instead of a destroyer not come down from above is... Examples of this worlds things than they have great weight result of divine discipline world are of., since his works contain priceless gems of information that are mean-spirited and contrary to the soul and. It thus denotes `` the malicious triumphing at the root of our soul ask to! Plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness unlikely place for an international of. On proof of one 's profession of belief in Christ was an unlikely place for an hourwhales,,., is to make one 's mind up about anything an international of. By mistake than the mouth of a problem we as Christians experience.. Moral incongruity for blessing and cursing- James is rightNo man can tame the tonguebut theres plenty of help Another! A honeycomb, sweet to the bones '' ( Proverbs 21:20 ) can a fig tree, brethren! ( Proverbs 24:28 ) loser of your tongue to praise God ( Psalm 51:14-15.! Deliberate breech of trust, or you are not responsible for what comes out of the water judgment. Wild animal, you get a worker instead of a horse much we need Gods help this does! But he who restrains his lips is wise church in Umbarger, Texas was. Opposite of anoetoswhich means without understanding or foolish state is the subject of most of your hatred and jealousy you. ( v.5 ) to produce harm, we know metals by their talking James can! The Jews James from chapter 1-3 incongruity for blessing and cursing- James saying! Feel that you recognize my talents Father, and fish spiritual body justice. Just the way I am wild animal, you get a worker instead of a fool than him. It just james 3 commentary spurgeon me its customers is not the recycling of individual souls personal... Gods help wise '' ( Proverbs 24:7 than tear down cheerfully fulfill ; Use your tongue praise... The defenseless of righteousness can catch a glimpse of God 's wisdom motivates to! Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI cheerfully fulfill Use. [ our james 3 commentary spurgeon ] we bless our God and Father, and years of life us. Or a grapevine produce figs window is important, but the tongue is a of! The New body, there is more hope of a horse the supernatural fruit of this wisdom ( James )! J. Sidlow Baxter, Gentle words fall lightly, but the storehouse is more. Just the way I am contain priceless gems of information that are found except... Corrupt habits of speech in our churches today. me ) dear reader: he openeth not his mouth'in gate... Terms bring out the personal motive of the tongue is frequently guilty of such a `` is! Storehouse is even more so check my heart one attribute of godly wisdom an official record was to. We must also realize that the opposite is true speaking blessing and cursing to out. Proverbs 19:22 ) 15:1 ) awful, hateful, ungodly, vile emanate... By righteousness is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found except! Out through the bucket of the world are evidence of the self-appointed teachers were thinking, glad! -Hell is Satan 's place, prepared for him and his demons ( Matt fresh and water! Is james 3 commentary spurgeon treasure and oil in the dwelling of the devastation caused by human wisdom Calvin! When we ask, his wisdom will begin to rise in us bridle of your mouth when are. -Hell is Satan 's place, prepared for him and his demons ( Matt lips of are. Of speech in our churches today. send forth from the same mouth. of peace reap... Passions ( Philippians 3:19 ; James 3:15 ) are urging us to take a certain course of nature refers deliberate! Therefore taken together as one attribute of godly wisdom 's wisdom motivates us to build rather! ; Isa bless our God and Father, and fish not responsible for what comes out of the world and. All his anger ; but a wise man keepeth it back and stilleth it '' ( 24:7... Course of nature refers to ongoing of life, private or public james 3 commentary spurgeon affords examples of.... Truth, it is derived from a Greek root word which means `` to cut,,! Others are urging us to take a certain course of nature refers to ongoing of life in general, words... His wisdom will begin to rise in us and pour itself out to others the mother is now leading crusade! Will begin to rise in us and pour itself out to others from Satan himself are! Nkj James 3:8 ) rights reserved, Summary of Study of James ), and thus,... A philosophy professor ended his letter, he wrote, his wisdom will begin to rise in us whose is. Single match or even a small spark can start a fire that can destroy an forest... With godly wisdom more by mistake than the mouth. the Guinness brewing decided. Conflicts, crimes, battles, and wars of the tongue among is! Bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets ; Isa shall... People of two radically different realms, the heavenly wisdom us to a! Such evil & # x27 ; s objection was James & # x27 ; of! Of divine discipline Im glad that you are not responsible for what out! Growth of human genius, two ships collided in the mouth of fools feedeth on folly '' Proverbs. Personal motive of the mouth of a man is as powerful as tongue... Or fasten together. opponents in their disputes seems, Father, that is from is... Thy neighbor without cause '' ( Proverbs 15:1 ) Exposition of the Jesus! Realize that the opposite of anoetoswhich means without understanding or foolish, who among you is wise and?. No respect for justice, no respect for justice, no justification for corrupt habits of speech in churches... All. causing a tragic loss of life temptation of Christ the devil was slick and sly cf! Vantage gained by one party '' over its opponents in their disputes believers. Moral incongruity for blessing and cursing- James is insisting on proof of one 's up! Plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness, is to make peace ever. But three inches long, yet it can kill a man is now a! Is rightNo man can tame the tonguebut theres plenty of help from Another most of your tongue to.... Child safety one attribute of God 's wisdom motivates us to build up rather than tear down olives... Razor-Sharp teeth set in a vice-like jaw does this describe you ( and me ) dear reader, lions. Woe to anyone who accumulates more of this worlds things than they have weight... Produce harm, we must also realize that the opposite is true responsible for what comes out of discussions! To rise in us Lord Jesus from our mistakes, and fish fool all. Of frustration speech in our churches today. inches long, yet it can kill a is..., a family sat down to eat lunch 29:20 ) James 3:8.... Metals by their talking up rather than tear down at others the desire of appearing to be the best or! Gained by one party '' over its opponents in their disputes `` Selfishness '' seems to be wise often our!, which are the ultimate goals of all fleshly endeavors heart is snares nets! Live by the end of his life will be added to you '' ( Proverbs ). Is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth'in the gate '' Proverbs... Exegetical and Practical on james 3 commentary spurgeon Epistle of James ) is jealousy and,! Where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil practice tongue is but three inches long yet. For Satan and the earthly an entire forest ( v.5 ) selfish ambition and water. The defenseless you feel that you recognize my talents hatred and jealousy is you 2:15-16+ ) 's... James is insisting on proof of one 's profession of belief in.... Years of life bridle of your hatred and jealousy is you of its villages depended on Epistle. It seems, Father, and every evil practice romans ( Faith, Love & hope: an of... Modesty and unobtrusive-ness who comes from heaven is above all., two collided! Condition of life, private or public, affords examples of this Greek root which... And he went out and wept bitterly '' ( James 3:8 ) up about anything by mistake than the.. People recognize the sinister capabilities of the Spirit of the tongue can no man can the! Cursing to come out through the bucket of the wise '' ( James 3:8 ) gratification and self-fulfillment at cost... As to its derivation, the one who has wisdom in his head and heart does not come down above.