{"collection":"Bible & Christianity","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/bib/cmt/pnt/jam003.htm","path":"bib/cmt/pnt/jam003.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/bib/cmt/pnt/jam003.htm","text":"The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, [1891]\nBe not many masters. Do not many of you seek to be teachers. The office of public teaching in the church is meant.\nShall receive the greater condemnation. Those who profess to teach others will be judged more strictly than those of humbler professions. Of those who have much, much is required. See Mat 7:1. A lesson is to be given on the tongue. He who teaches will be held strictly to account for the manner in which he uses it.\nFor in many things. All are liable to stumble and make mistakes. These can hardly be excused in the teacher.\nSame is a perfect man. He who controls his tongue gives proof of his ability to maintain entire self control.\nWe put bits. The word bridle (Jam 3:2) suggests a figure. The bridle bit controls the whole horse.\nBehold also the ships. These are controlled by so small a thing as the helm.\nGovernor. Helmsman. James abounds in the sea figures. See Jam 1:6.\nSo the tongue. Though so small it can control the body like a bridle, or the helm of a ship. It is a power.\nBoasteth great things. Claims great powers.\nHow great a matter . . . fire. As a spark may burn a house, a little thing like the tongue may stir up great trouble.\nThe tongue is a fire. It will kindle up anger. A word often causes a war.\nA world of iniquity. It can stir up a world of sinfulness. The tongue moves man and he makes the world a world of sin.\nIt defileth the whole body. Leads all the body into sin.\nSetteth on fire the course of nature. Literally, \"wheel of nature.\" The idea is probably \"putteth nature in a blaze,\" referring to the wars and commotions due to its influence.\nSet on fire of hell. It is often inspired by hell itself. A bad tongue is the organ of the devil.\nEvery kind of beasts. \"Every nature of beasts,\" literally. Four orders are named: beasts, or quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, in the Greek \"creeping things,\" and fishes, or \"things in the sea.\" All of these have been subjected and controlled.\nBut the tongue can no man tame. Man has never tamed this organ as a whole. Some may have ruled their own, but the organ itself still does its evil work in the world.\nIt is an unruly evil. Not only an evil, but unruly. Generally used.\nFull of deadly poison. Often charged with malice, envy, anger, slander, etc.\nTherewith bless we God. Its opposite uses are shown. We use it to pray and to bless God, and, sometimes, the same tongue will be used to curse his creatures. James rebuked evils that he had observed.\nOut of the same mouth. These utterly inconsistent things come out of the same mouth.\nDoth a fountain. In nature such incongruity is not shown. A fountain does not give out two kinds of waters.\nCan the fig tree. Neither does a tree bear two opposite kinds of fruits. Nor should the mouth bear blessing and cursing, good and evil.\nWho is a wise man? Discreet and well informed? It must be shown in conversation, that is, in life, both words and deeds, meekness of wisdom. True wisdom will not speak boastfully.\nGlory not. If there is bitterness in the heart, let there be no boasting of your goodness. That would be to lie against the truth.\nThis wisdom. Wisdom (not real wisdom but false) which gives rise to envy and strife is not from heaven. It is earthly, of the passions, of the devil, not of God.\nFor where, etc. Where these exist in the heart every evil work will follow.\nBut the wisdom that is from above. The divine wisdom imparted by communion with God is put in contrast with the false, sensual wisdom named in Jam 3:15. It is first pure. The other is sensual; this is pure.\nThen peaceable. The other is full of strife, this seeks for peace.\nGentle. Not too rigid and exacting.\nEasy to be entreated. Not obstinate, but capable of persuasion.\nFull of mercy. Not unforgiving and unkind.\nGood fruits. The other shows evil works; heavenly wisdom is full of good fruits.\nWithout partiality. Not a respecter of persons.\nWithout hypocrisy. Sincere.\nThe fruit of righteousness. This wisdom not only bears righteousness as a fruit but sows this fruit as seed to produce peace.\nThem that make peace. These sowers are peacemakers. See Mat 5:9. Sowing righteousness makes peace, because wrong is the fruitful mother of strife.","title":"The People's New Testament: James: James Chapter 3","type":"page"}