The Responsibility of Teachers
Study note
James cautions that not many should aspire to be teachers, because teachers face a stricter standard of judgment. Everyone stumbles in many ways, but the person who can control their speech demonstrates a maturity capable of governing the entire body.
1 My brothers and sisters, not too many of you should try to be teachers. Those of us who teach will be held to a higher standard when we are judged. My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 All of us mess up in many ways. If someone never says the wrong thing, that person has amazing self-control over their whole life. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
The Untamable Tongue
Study note
Through a rapid sequence of metaphors, James illustrates the tongue's disproportionate power. Just as a small bit controls a horse and a tiny rudder steers a massive ship, the tongue, though small, boasts of great things and can set an entire life ablaze. Every species of animal has been tamed by humanity, yet no person can tame the tongue. James highlights the inconsistency of using the same mouth to bless God and curse people made in God's image, comparing this to a spring that cannot yield both fresh and bitter water.
3 Think about it. We put a small metal piece in a horse's mouth. With it, we can steer the whole animal wherever we want. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 Or look at ships. They are huge and get pushed by strong winds, yet a tiny rudder steers them wherever the captain decides to go. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5 The tongue works the same way. It is a tiny part of the body, but it talks big. Think about how one tiny spark can set a great forest on fire! Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 The tongue is like a fire too. It is a whole world of trouble sitting there in your mouth. It can ruin your entire life, setting everything ablaze with flames that come straight from hell. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 People have figured out how to tame all kinds of animals -- wild beasts, birds, snakes, and sea creatures. 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:
8 But nobody has been able to tame the tongue. It is wild and out of control, dripping with deadly poison. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 We use our tongue to praise God our Father. Then we turn right around and use it to tear down people who are made in God's image. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Praise and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should never happen. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Can fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? Of course not! Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can a fig tree grow olives, my brothers and sisters? Can a grapevine produce figs? And a salty spring cannot give you fresh water. Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
Two Kinds of Wisdom
Study note
James contrasts heavenly and earthly wisdom. True wisdom is demonstrated not through boasting but through a life of good conduct and humility. Earthly wisdom, marked by bitter envy and selfish ambition, is unspiritual and demonic, producing disorder and every evil practice. Wisdom from above, by contrast, is pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
13 Do any of you think you are wise and understanding? Then prove it by living a good life and doing good things with the quiet strength that comes from real wisdom. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if deep down your heart is full of jealousy and selfish ambition, do not brag about it. That would be lying about the truth. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 That kind of so-called wisdom does not come from God. It comes from this world, from selfish human thinking, and even from the devil. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 Where you find jealousy and selfish desire, you also find chaos. Every kind of wrong behavior shows up there too. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But wisdom that comes from God is first of all pure. It is also peaceful, gentle, and willing to listen. It overflows with kindness and good results. It does not pick sides or pretend to be something it is not. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 People who work for peace plant seeds of goodness, and those seeds grow into a harvest of right living. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.