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3:1 My brethren, be not many
masters, knowing that we shall receive
the greater
condemnation.
3:2 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.
3:3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us;
and we turn about their whole
body.
3:4 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.
3:5 Even so the
tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things.
Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 3:6 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.
3:7 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: 3:8 But
the tongue can no man tame; it is an
unruly evil, full of deadly
poison.
3:9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we
men, which are made after the
similitude of God.
3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth
blessing and cursing. My
brethren, these things ought not so to be.
3:11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and
bitter? 3:12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries?
either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and
fresh.
3:13 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.
3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts,
glory
not, and lie not against the truth.
3:15 This wisdom
descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual,
devilish.
3:16 For where
envying and strife is, there is confusion and every
evil work.
3:17 But the
wisdom that is from above is first pure, then
peaceable,
gentle, and easy to be
intreated, full of
mercy and good fruits,
without
partiality, and without
hypocrisy.
3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make
peace.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
James
Book: James
Chapter: 3
Overview:
Cautions against proud behaviour, and the mischief of an
unruly tongue.
(1-12) The excellence of heavenly
Wisdom, in
opposition to that which is worldly.
(13-18)
1-12 We are taught to dread an unruly tongue, as one of the
greatest evils. The affairs of mankind are thrown into confusion
By the
Tongues of men. Every
Age of the world, and every
condition of
Life, private or public, affords examples of this.
Hell has more to do in promoting the
Fire of the tongue than men
generally think; and whenever men's
Tongues are employed in
sinful ways, they are set
On Fire of
Hell.
No Man can tame the
tongue without Divine
Grace and assistance. The
Apostle does not
represent it as impossible, but as extremely difficult. Other
sins decay with
Age, this many times gets worse; we grow more
froward and fretful, as natural strength decays, and the days
come
On in which we have
No pleasure. When other sins are tamed
and subdued
By the infirmities of
Age, the
Spirit often grows
more tart, nature being drawn down to the
Dregs, and the words
used become more passionate. That
Man's tongue confutes itself,
which at one time pretends to
Adore the perfections of
God, and
to refer all things to him; and at another time condemns even
good men, if they do not use the same words and expressions.
True religion will not admit of contradictions: how many sins
would be prevented, if men would always be consistent! Pious and
edifying language is the genuine produce of a sanctified
Heart;
and none who understand Christianity, expect to hear curses,
lies, boastings, and revilings from a true believer's mouth, any
more than they look for the
Fruit of one tree from another. But
facts prove that more professors succeed in bridling their
senses and appetites, than in duly restraining their
Tongues.
Then, depending
On Divine
Grace, let us take heed to
Bless and
Curse not; and let us aim to be consistent in our words and
actions.
13-18 These verses show the difference between men's pretending
to be
Wise, and their being really
So. He who thinks
Well, or he
who talks
Well, is not
Wise in the sense of the
Scripture, if he
does not live and act
Well. True
Wisdom may be known
By the
Meekness of the
Spirit and temper. Those who live in malice,
envy, and contention, live in confusion; and are liable to be
provoked and hurried to any evil work. Such
Wisdom comes not
down from above, but springs up from earthly principles, acts
On
earthly motives, and is intent
On serving earthly purposes.
Those who are lifted up with such
Wisdom, described
By the
Apostle James, is near to the
Christian Love, described
By the
Apostle Paul; and both are
So described that every
Man may fully
prove the reality of his attainments in them. It has
No disguise
or deceit. It cannot fall in with those managements the world
counts
Wise, which are crafty and guileful; but it is sincere,
and open, and steady, and uniform, and consistent with itself.
May the purity, peace, gentleness, teachableness, and
Mercy
shown in all our actions, and the fruits of
Righteousness
abounding in our lives, prove that
God has bestowed upon us this
excellent
Gift.