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It is important that a chapter emphasizing works be followed by a dissertation on the proper use of the tongue. People who are involved in good works are often prone to brag. Matthew Henry says, "It is plain that what is initiated in chapter 2 concerning faith, is apt to make men conceited and even over bearing in their talk and behavior, which will lead them into the sins of the tongue."
Notice the first warning about the tongue concerns teaching. It is a warning that should be taken seriously by all who would teach as James believes that teachers will be judged more severely than others. Lets see if we can determine why James wrote this. Two conditions arose in the early church where Jews comprised the majority. Jews, because of their long history of being God's chosen people, were naturally looked up to by Gentiles. They were assumed to know the scriptures. They, then, naturally were turned to for the office of teacher. They were not always qualified intellectually and many still carried the burden of the Law.
Secondly, in the early church meetings, much latitude was allowed in the expressions of opinion. Everyone was allowed to speak. This was a "hold over" from the business meetings held in the synagogue where even strangers were allowed to speak.
Jesus used this courtesy many times in the synagogues that He visited and so did James and Paul. The warning here is not to speak out of ignorance simply because the opportunity is there. James wanted to get these people to consider very carefully what they said and when no words were called for, remain silent.
He admits that there are times when we must speak and even then, we may, sense none of us are perfect, make a mistake. So, considering this, we should bridle our tongue much like a bit that is put into the mouth of a horse to control it and like a rudder that controls a ship. The tongue is a small member of the body but it can do great things, both good and bad. Therefore we should weigh very carefully what we say for a small spark can consume a large forest.
Verses 6 thru 12 further makes comparisons of other things to the tongue. The tongue is like a fire, it consumes everything in its path and many times gets out of control. When it gets out of control, it becomes perverse, satanic and infectious. The tongue is also like an untamed beast. It cannot be trusted. It is evil, unruly and unpredictable. One minute it emits phrase and the next minute it curses. This seems to be against the laws of nature. A fig tree cannot bear olives nor a grape vine bear fogs, but we, who have destroyed the natural state of man by sin, have destroyed the laws of nature as they apply to us.
We become the "ungodly" and Paul sums up this condition in Rom. 7:14-25, referring
to his own life he found that the good that he wanted to do, he could not, and the
evil that he did not want to do, he did. If the great Apostle Paul found himself
in this condition, how can we escape? Only by the Grace of God can we harness
the tongue. The gift of the tongue and the communication that it provides, is one
of the greatest gift of God. It is also the "tool of the Devil". We can express
love and we can express hate. Therefore, guard your tongue with great attention.
Faith Produces Wisdom
["Click here for James 3:13-18"]
It is interesting to note that the last three warnings have been aimed at people who missed the "high calling" to which God has called all believers. There was works that are neglected by so many, there was discrimination that we practice almost without knowing it and there is the tongue, the source of all expressed evil. Now James warns about "pretended knowledge".
We have here an account of "true wisdom" and the three distinguishing characteristics of it and the fruits of it. If you have true wisdom, James says in verse 13 that it will show itself in a good life, works and meekness. The "good life" is translated in the KJ as "good conversation". We know from out last study that the tongue can be a vicious instrument, so certainly good conversation would be the mark of true wisdom. But the Greek, means much more than just conversation. It covers all aspects of our lives.
The second characteristic of true wisdom is good works. Matthew Henry says that true wisdom does not lie in good intentions, it lies in useful actions. Our actions tells a great deal about us to others.
The third characteristic of true wisdom is meekness. Meekness is not coward ness. Meekness is also not weakness. Meekness allows us to be able to comprehend with fair judgment. Meekness allows us to be impartial in all of our dealings. Meekness allows us to be wise in our relationships with others. Wiersby says, when we are meek, we are best able to hear, reason and speak. In contrast, James gives us some characteristics of those who do not have true wisdom. They are bitter, jealous, self centered, boastful and not truthful.
Matthew Henry, in his commentary, says, "Pretend, what you will, but if you run down love and peace and give way to envy and strife, then your false zeal for truth is a shame to your confession of Christianity and a down right contradiction of it." Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition oppose the "meekness" of wisdom. James says that both envy and wisdom cannot dwell in the same heart. If you say it can, James says that you lie and the truth is not in you. This kind of wisdom does not come from the Holy Spirit, it is earthly, uninspired and may even be of the Devil.
That means:
We know from our study of Revelation that the work of the Devil is to accuse the brethren before God. Lets. at least, try not to give him any ammunition. James says that where this kind of false wisdom exists, disorder and every vile practice will exist.
But phrase be to God, there is a true wisdom and it is a gift from God and it is pure, peaceable, gentle and open to reason. Notice, true wisdom is not acquired by the believer through his own efforts, it is a gift of God. Those who have it evidence it by being pure, peaceable, gentle , full of mercy, full of good works, sure of themselves and sincere in all things. All of these characteristics are ours as God sees fit to give them to us. They are gifts from God.
People with the gift of true wisdom will harvest righteousness which Matthew Henry calls spiritual maturity or physical holiness. The Bible Knowledge Commentary says, a true believer should stand confidently, serve compassionately and speak carefully. We might all give a great deal of thought to this.
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