James 3

          A short summary of the book of James 3     

          No one can tame the tongue. With it we bless our Father and with it we curse others. The wisdom from above is pure and peace-loving.

          The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.


        James 3

        1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
        2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
        3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
        4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
        5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
        6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
        7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,
        8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
        9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.
        10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
        11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
        12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
        13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
        14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
        15Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.
        16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
        17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
        18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.


      Chapter Three Of The Book Of James


      OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THE JAMES 3

      1) To appreciate the power and danger of the tongue

      2) To understand the difference between heavenly wisdom, and that which is earthly, sensual, and demonic

      SUMMARY

      James begins this chapter with a caution against many becoming teachers. In view of the stricter judgment that awaits teachers, one should be sure they possess the maturity and self-control necessary to control the tongue. James then provides a series of illustrations to demonstrate the power and danger of the tongue, and how we can easily be inconsistent in our use of it (1-12).

      Perhaps some sought to be teachers so as to appear wise. Yet James writes that wisdom and understanding are to be shown by one's conduct, done in meekness. He then defines and contrasts the difference between two kinds of wisdom. There is wisdom which is earthly that causes confusion and every evil thing. On the other hand, there is wisdom which is heavenly that produces the peaceable fruit of righteousness (13-18).

      OUTLINE

      I. TRUE RELIGION CONTROLS THE TONGUE (1-12)

      A. A CAUTION AGAINST BECOMING TEACHERS (1-2)
          1. Teachers shall receive a stricter judgment
          2. Maturity and self-control are required not to stumble in word

      B. THE POWER OF THE TONGUE (3-4)
          1. Like a bit which controls the horse
          2. Like a small rudder which directs the ship

      C. THE DANGER OF THE TONGUE (5-6)
          1. A little member which boasts great things
          2. Like a little fire which kindles a great forest fire
          3. Indeed, the tongue can be a fire, a world of iniquity
              a. Capable of defiling the whole body
              b. Capable of setting on fire the course of nature, being set on fire by hell

      D. THE DIFFICULTY OF TAMING THE TONGUE (7-12)
          1. Man can control creatures of land and sea, but not the tongue
          2. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison
          3. With it we bless God, and then curse man made in His image
              a. Thus blessing and cursing proceed from the same mouth
              b. Something which should not be so
          1) For no spring sends forth both fresh and salt water
          2) Neither does a fig tree bear olives, nor a grapevine bear figs

      II. TRUE RELIGION DISPLAYS HEAVENLY WISDOM (13-18)

      A. THE TRUE DISPLAY OF WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING (13)
          1. To be seen in one's conduct
          2. With works done in meekness

      B. THE DISPLAY OF EARTHLY WISDOM (14-16)
          1. Full of bitter envy, self-seeking, boasting and lying
          2. A wisdom not from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic
          3. Producing confusion and every evil thing

      C. THE DISPLAY OF HEAVENLY WISDOM (17-18)
          1. Wisdom from above is first pure, then it is...
              a. Peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits
              b. Without partiality and without hypocrisy
      2. The fruit of righteousness is produced by peacemakers who sow in peace


      REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

      1) What are the main points of this chapter?
          - True religion controls the tongue (1-12)
          - True religion displays heavenly wisdom (13-18)

      2) Why does James caution against many becoming teachers? (1)
          - Teachers shall receive a stricter judgment

      3) What is one indication of maturity and self-control? (2)
          - The ability to bridle the tongue

      4) What two illustrations does James use to show the power of the tongue? (3-4)     - Like a bit which controls the horse
          - Like a rudder which controls the ship

      5) What illustration is used to show the danger of the tongue? (5)
          - Like a small fire which kindles a large forest fire

      6) How does James describe the tongue? (6-8)
          - A fire, a world of iniquity
          - Set among our members that it defiles the whole body
          - Sets on fire the course of nature, being set on fire by hell
          - That which no man can tame
          - An unruly evil, full of deadly poison

      7) What example does James use to show how the tongue is misused? (9-10)
          - Blessing God and cursing man who is made in His image

      8) What illustrations does James provide to show the incongruity of such speech? (11-12)
          - A spring does not send forth both fresh and salt (bitter) water
          - A fig tree does not bear olives, nor a grapevine bear figs

      9) How is the wise and understanding person to manifest himself? (13)
          - By good conduct done in meekness

      10) What characterizes wisdom that does not descend from above? (14)
          - Bitter envy and self-seeking, boasting and lying against the truth

      11) What is the source of such wisdom? (15)
          - It is earthly, sensual, and demonic

      12) What exists when there is envy and self-seeking? (16)
          - Confusion and every evil thing

      13) What are the qualities of wisdom that is from above? (17)
          - It is first pure
          - Then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits,
            without partiality and without hypocrisy

      14) Who produces the fruit of righteousness? (18)
          - Peacemakers who sow in peace

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