“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
We now come to the conclusion and summary of James argument on the relationship between faith and works.
For as the body without the spirit is dead,
James now introduces his last illustration of the contrast between static faith and dynamic […]
Archive for October, 2000
“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”
With chapter three, James shifts to a new subject – controlling the tongue. A good measure of maturity in the Christian life is how we control our speech. The mouth manifests that which is on our hearts. The first […]
James 3: 1 “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”
knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment
Teachers will face “stricter judgment” in their present life on earth by divine discipline because God holds them to a higher standard for what they teach, than the standard […]
“For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.”
James turns from the significance of works in chapter two to the magnitude of words in chapter three.For
The significance of the word “for” is to show that teachers (v. […]
“For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.”
If anyone does not stumble in word,
Now James expands his point from the teacher to “anyone.” He also moves to a particular sin – the sin of the tongue. […]
Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.”
James now shows four analogies that demonstrate how the tongue has power over the whole person:
1) a bit in a horse’s mouth (3:3),
2) a small rudder in a huge ship (3:4),
3) a small spark in a great forest […]
“Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.”
Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds,
James challenges his readers to look at another illustration – that of a very […]
“Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!”
Even so the tongue is a little member
Just like the size of the bit in the horse’s mouth (3:3) and the smallness of the rudder in relation to the total ship (3:4), the tongue […]
"And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. 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."
James now describes the far-reaching effects of what the tongue can do.
And the tongue […]
James 3: 6 “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. 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.”
The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole […]