James 3

Notes

Ver. 1. Take heed, my dear Christian brethren, that none of you affect to be teachers of others, without proper qualifications for it; or give way, like your Jewish doctors, to a magisterial and censorious temper in matters of religion; for if ye do, your sin will be very aggravated, and your condemnation at the last day inexpressibly dreadful. 2. For all, even the best of us, are guilty of manifold transgressions of both tables of God's law, offending him and our fellow-creatures, which should make us very humble and modest in our thoughts of ourselves or censures of others; but if any one be enabled by grace to restrain his tongue from idle, opprobrious, false, and other sinful language, it marks him a true believer, and a person of great attainments in knowledge and experience, integrity and holiness, capable of managing himself and his whole behaviour to the benefit of the society he is connected with, religious or civil. 3-6. For as horses are governed by small bits, and large ships by small rudders, so a man's tongue, when properly managed, under the influence of divine grace, is of great use for regulating his whole behaviour—even as, under the influence of a carnal heart, it extravagantly talks away and contemns others; and I entreat you carefully to observe how often a little injurious language kindles a flame of contention and confusion all around it. And indeed scarcely anything can be more mischievous or productive of wickedness than an unruly, furious tongue. It vents a great deal of sin, is the outlet of the whole source of wickedness which lies in a man's heart, and produces much iniquity among others; by its exorbitant licentiousness, it spreads guilt and defilement through the whole man; and as a fire kindled and blown up by the diabolical influence of the father of lies and accuser of the brethren, it raises such wrath and anger in our own and other people's passions, as throws the whole course of the moral world into a pernicious ferment, and continues from one period of life, and even one generation, to another. 7, 8. No savage, venomous, or voracious beast is so hard to be tamed as a lying, reviling, malignant tongue, actuated by strong, furious, and vile passions. In the most ungovernable manner it vents forth the most devilish and destructive pride, malice, envy, reproach, and falsehood. 9-12. And very often among professed Christians it is at one time honourably employed in praising God the Father of mercies, and of Christ, and of us in him, or in praying to or commending him; and at another time basely prostituted to pour forth revilings, or even horrid imprecations, against our fellow-creatures, for whom we ought to have a reverence, as they were originally created after the image of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, and are still formed in some likeness to him in the natural faculties of their soul; and many of them, by his grace, renewed after his image in regeneration.—Nothing can be more contrary to our Christian obligations, profession, and character, or even more unnatural and absurd in itself. 13. If any of you therefore would approve yourselves to God, and show yourselves to the world as truly wise and prudent, and endowed with a true knowledge of yourselves, of Christ, and of God, his laws and ways, let them earnestly practise all manner of good works in the whole course of their conversation, with a meek and humble spirit. 14. But never be fond or boast of envious, quarrelsome, and contentious dispositions and designs, which will torment your souls, and sting and wound others, and are directly contrary to the meek and humble spirit of the gospel. Never dare, either in thought, word, or deed, to varnish over such wickedness, or to pretend to sincerity and prudence in indulging it; 15, 16. For, think as you will, this wisdom springs not from, nay, is detested by God, and arises from an excessively earthly and sensual inclination to worldly enjoyments, and is excited by the devil, bears his image, delights his heart, and promotes his mischievous designs and interests; for whenever an envious, censorious, and litigious spirit is indulged, and breaks forth in words, it tends to disturb and destroy the peace and happiness of a man's own soul, and of all about him, and leads to everything wicked. 17. But that heavenly and divine wisdom which God bestows leads men to a strict regard to purity of doctrine and manners, in heart, speech, and behaviour; it disposes to peacefulness, mildness, and courteousness in our treatment of others; it renders our mind open to conviction, easily persuaded to that which is good, and attentive to all considerations, forward to condescension and forbearance, and inclined to acts of kindness and compassion to the poor and afflicted; it renders us impartial and generous in judging and condemning of others; and sincere, free from any allowed dissimulation. 18. And this righteous, holy, and peaceable temper and conversation, by the grace of God, issues in our own and our neighbour's happiness in this world, and in our everlasting happiness and peace hereafter.

Ver. 2. Perfect, in its absolute sense, is applicable to God alone; in its comparative sense, it is the highest endowment of man, the chiefest grace of the Spirit. See it prophetically described as a special mark of the Messiah, Is. 42. 19.

Ver. 6. The course of nature. The whole circle of human life from boyhood to old age, which, unless delivered from the power of Satan, and kept by the power of God, is continually excited by surmises, misrepresentations, falsehoods, and calumnies, whereby the fires of jealousy, envy, wrath, and malice, are continually fed, and frequently blown into a fierce and devouring flame. C.

Reflections.—An assuming, arrogant, and censorious temper fearfully presages our future condemnation to hell. And the deeper sense we have of our own sinfulness and weakness, the less rash shall we be in condemning others.—It is very honourable and advantageous for Christians to have grace to govern their tongue. But how hard to rule it! and yet, if ungoverned, it kindles and spreads infinite and eternal mischiefs all around. Scarcely can anything be more inconsistent with the character of a Christian, more dishonourable to God, or more ruinous to men, than an unbridled tongue, and an envious malicious heart.—But great is the excellency of true and spiritual wisdom, in its origin, nature, properties, and fruits.