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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. |
Be not many masters – "Be not many [of you] masters [teachers]." (Diaglott, Revised Version) R5185:3, 5389:4, 4122:4, 3822:6, 2156:2
The spirit of ambition, rivalry and desire to be greatest amongst the Lord's people is one of the most dangerous foes of the Church. R5268:6
Those that have a special gift of speech and another special gift of opportunity to use this speech exert a wide influence; their responsibility is proportionate. R5020:3
Eldership has great temptation and great danger. R5185:3; CR122:2
Little men, like little ships with broad sails, are in great danger of being capsized if too strong a wind of popularity play upon them. R3363:4[R3363]
There seems to be a special danger surrounding all who become identified with the promulgation of truth. R5956:3
In 2 Tim. 3:1-5 there is a picture that fits well to our day throughout Christendom; and it is not strange that something of the same general spirit seeks to invade the camp of the saints. The trouble is a grievous one and especially injurious to the brethren who may yield to such headiness: nothing is surer to sap spiritual vitality and to lead us into darkness, both doctrinal and spiritual. R3613:5
Those who have seen the truth clearly and have some talents will have the severest trial on that account. R5001:4
The Church is very much at the mercy of the leaders. R5389:4
The Church should choose for its servants only those of humble mind. R2952:1
When elders seek to bring the class under their control and succeed, does it not show that the class lacks the very quality that the Lord tells us he desires to see--courage, overcoming? It is inexcusable for the Church possessed of this spirit to continue under the domination of ambitious men. R5981:6
That we – That the man who is a teacher. R4364:1 F267; R5389:4, 4502:5, 4448:4, 2654:5, 2180:3
Shall receive – Shall in any failure. R4364:1
Will experience. R4448:4
The greater condemnation – Severer judgment. (Diaglott) R3823:1
Heavier judgment. (Revised Version) R2156:2, 4502:5, 4380:2
Severer trial, severer test; greater responsibility in proportion to ability. R5389:4, 5956:3, 5020:3, 4709:3, 4502:5, 4448:4, 3613:5, 2654:5, 2180:3, 1406:1*; F267
Severer sentence; temptations and responsibilities increase with every advance step. F258; R5389:4
A teacher is exposed to more criticism. Unfaithfulness or carelessness would bring heavy condemnation. R4380:2
The besetments of teachers are pride and arrogance. R4503:1
Many admitted to the Lord's favor and privileged to confess him before men have stumbled over their own honor and exaltation. R3790:2
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| 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. |
We offend all – We are imperfect. R4502:5
We all stumble. R4380:6
We are all faulty. R1938:5 All commit unintentional violations of God's law. R5750:6
If any man – The man who thinks unjustly will act unjustly. The new creature must be disciplined even to the control of his thoughts. SM432:2
Offend not in word – Does not err in word. R1938:5
Sin not with the tongue. R5517:3
A perfect man – Such a man does not exist. R1938:5
Even the most advanced of the Lord's people are liable at times to err with their lips. R3305:6
Bridle – Control. R1938:5
A chief essential in an elder. R3783:3
Your self-restrain--the bridling of the whole body. R4381:1
The new will takes hold that the tongue shall go in the proper direction only. R4381:2
The whole body – Whoever could preclude his ever stumbling in speech would prove his ability to control every avenue of his nature. Self-restraint is necessary in all affairs of life. R4381:1
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| 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. |
Bits in the horses mouths – Christians should put a bridle of restraint into their own mouths. R5020:6
Will move and control his strength. R2156:6
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| 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. |
Driven of fierce winds – In the face of the most severe gales. R4381:2
A very small helm – Christians should have a rudder whereby to steer their own course in life. R5020:6
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| 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! |
Even so – As the bit in the horse's mouth will control his strength; and as the small rudder of a vessel will direct its course; so the tongue, and the pen, its representative, may influence large numbers of people for good or ill. R4805:1
The tongue – Though little, it is the most dangerous member of all because it has the widest influence. R5517:3
Should be the new creature's most useful servant; it can accomplish great things, either for good or for evil. R4381:2, 2156:3
With which we praise God, could be used in doing injury to fellow creatures. R5908:5
It may scatter kind words that will never die, but go on and on blessing the living and through them the yet unborn. Or, "full of deadly poison," it may scatter poisonous seeds of thought to embitter the lives of some, and to blight and crush the lives of others. F407
Boasteth great things – Boasting often leads us into error and fastens us there because we are not humble enough to acknowledge the fault. It is an evidence of pride. R5020:6, 5021:1
How great a matter – How destructive a disturbance. R2603:4
A little fire kindleth – The little fire of a match might be so used as to set on fire a forest. R4381:2, 5020:6, 2502:5
What a great destruction of all the work of grace may be accomplished by a little pride or fond desire or self-gratification; not that the little beginnings mean second death, but that they will surely lead on toward it unless the individual be recovered. R5102:3
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| 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 Gehenna. |
The tongue is a fire – The organ itself is never meant, but speech, oral or written. The tongue can paint pictures more quickly and more vividly than any painter's brush. R4381:3
The tongue and the pen are often used as weapons of evil. R5779:1
The public servants of the Church are to some extent specially its "tongues." How necessary that all the tongue-servants be such as are of the Lord's spirit! R2447:4
Causing no end of burning of wrath, envy, hatred, strife, and stimulating all the fallen passions and desires. R2156:6, 4805:2
Evil speaking, slander, backbiting: these are the matches which enkidle the flame. NS565:1
A world of iniquity – Every iniquity in the world can be introduced descriptively by the tongue; by the tongue every form of evil may find its highest power. R4381:3
So is the tongue – So important is the tongue. R2603:3
The tongue is established among our members. R2502:5
Defileth the whole body – The Church. R2447:5
Setteth on fire – By slanders, evil speaking, evil surmising, hints, insinuations. R4381:6
Awakening passions, strifes, enmities, at first unthought of. R2447:4
Scandal-mongering ministers evil. The scandal kindles in the heart of the hearer a flame of carnal sentiment which issues from the lips. R2443:5
The course of nature – Literally, the wheel of life; the human course from cradle to tomb. Possibly James had specially in mind the course of the new creature and its dangers. R4381:3
The course of life. R2502:5
By stirring up the evil poisons and propensities of the fallen nature. R2447:5
Angry, bitter, sarcastic, taunting words may set ablaze the course of a whole life and impel it with angry force towrad second death. R5021:1
A few malicious words often arouse all the evil passions of speaker and hearer. R2603:4
And it is set on fire – When it is set on fire. R2603:4
Enkindled. R2502:5
Figuratively. R2603:4
Signifies a tongue set going in evil by a perverse disposition, self-willed, selfish, hateful, malicious. Unless controlled and reformed, will be counted worthy to be destroyed. R2603:4
Of hell – Greek, Gehenna, the valley of Hinnom, the lake of fire, second death. R2601:2, 4805:2, 4584:2, 4381:4, 4217:5, 2447:4, 2156:6
The entire spiritual prospect blighted, destroyed. R4381:3
Evil-breeding words are like sparks from Gehenna, tending toward destruction. R5021:1
The evil, malicious, baneful, slanderous, backbiter is already himself bitten by the Adversary, and unless cured, his would surely be a case of second death. R4584:2, 4217:5
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| 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: |
For every kind – For every species, both of wild beasts and of birds and of reptiles and of sea-creatures. R2502:5
Is tamed, and – Is tamable and has been tamed. R2502:5
Of mankind – By the human race. R2502:5
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| 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. |
The tongue can no man tame – The tongue is the most powerful member of the human body and is the most wonderful power that God has given us. R5122:6
The tongue's influence exceeds that of all our other members combined. R2447:4
The power to conquer the tongue and to make it tame and obedient and thoroughly reliable has never yet been demonstrated. R4381:5
Since the tongue is the agent speaking for the sentiments of the heart, it follows that it is the heart that needs to be converted. R5021:1
If with our tongues we are doing injury we are deceiving ourselves with respect to our real attitude toward God. R5021:4
An unruly evil – An irrestrainable evil. R2502:5
The evil is so ingrained as to elude the notice of the new nature sometimes for years; they do it unconsciously. R2443:5
Restless, ceaseless. R4381:5
Full of deadly poison – Death-producing poison. R2502:5
James' illustration seems to be that of a serpent. R5021:2
No serpent bite contains so dangerous, so violent poison. The serpent's bite may cause pain and physical death, but the tongue can produce moral ravage, which will bite, devour and cause madness to others, and its influence extends to death eternal. R4381:5
It may scatter poisonous seeds of thoughts to embitter the lives of some and blight and crush others. F407
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| 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. |
Therewith bless – Honor, praise. F407, F586 R5122:6, F2156:6
Praising God, confessing his grace and mercy and love. R4381:5, 5021:4
God's people bless or praise his name with their tongues in prayer, in hymns of praise, in declaring his truth, in witnessing to his providences, by showing forth his praises. R2443:2, 5021:4
The tongue may be a channel for a great blessing, swaying large numbers to the Lord, the truth and the way of righteousness. R2156:3
Speak only that which is helpful and uplifting. R4831:4
And therewith curse – Greek, kataraomai, condemnation, to speak against, to speak evil of, to injure. R2443:3, 701:5
Injure, defame, blight. F407, F586; R4813:1
Backbite, slander, defame, crush, mortify, scathe, flay their fellowmen. R5021:4
By slanders, evil-speaking and evil-surmising, hints, insinuations. R4381:6
If contaminated with error, the tongue can do almost untellable harm; injury to faith, to morals, to good works. R2156:3
Every false teaching is a curse to those who receive it. R2157:1
Not only may we injure those within reach of our tongue, but our words might extend their influence throughout the world and from generation to generation. R5122:6
We – Not James and the Church, but the whole world. However, there were some in the Church. R2156:6
The "brethren"; not the world. R2442:3, 4381:5, 5021:4
Similitude – Likeness. R2156:6
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| 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. |
Out of the same mouth – If the same tongue can curse men and praise God, how careful we should be to speak that only which will be helpful and uplifting, and not destructive and injurious. R4831:4
Blessing and cursing – Good and evil influences. R2157:1
My brethren – The entire epistle is addressed to the Church, not to the world. R2442:3
Ought not so to be – We must see to it that we learn this great lesson. We must be overcomers. Our hearts are to dominate our tongues and gain a victory. R4381:6
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| 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? |
A fountain – The same fountain could not yield salt water and fresh. R4381:6
Sweet water – A sweet fountain, a pure fountain, a love fountain. R4224:4
The divine Word, carrying blessing and refreshment and strength. R2157:1
"A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." (Matt. 7:16-18, Luke 6:43-45) R848:3
And bitter – Gossip and scandal. F407
Bitter waters of hate, of malice, of envy, of strife. R4224:4, 4381:6, 5021:4, 4201:2
Bitter waters cannot come from a pure fountain. R4201:2
False doctrines that would cause a curse, an injury, dishonouring God and perverting his Word. R2157:1
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| 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. |
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| 13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. |
Endued with knowledge – Knowledge truly is of great importance, but it is only as it develops wisdom, sound judgment and pure and high-toned sentiment. R1448:2
Good conversation – Honorable conduct. It is by our conduct and not by our professions that we are to be judged. R1448:5, 1406:1
Of a truly helpful, strengthening kind; to mind and heart and character. R2724:3
With meekness – Humility. R1448:5
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| 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. |
Glory not – If ye have strife in your hearts, glory not to think yourselves led of the Lord and guided by his true wisdom. R2263:4
Lie not against the truth – To harbor a spirit of malice, of bitter envy and strife, while professing to have the spirit of truth. R1448:3
Let him not thus put darkness for light, to thus lie to himself or others. F408
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| 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. |
This wisdom – Which in selfishness seeks its own gratification and advancement, envying others. R2263:5
A wisdom or low cunning which is prompted by a spirit of envy and strife. Pride and selfishness are its inspiration. R1448:3, 1518:3
Whoever has such a slanderous and bitter spirit has the very reverse of the spirit of Christ; the spirit of Satan for the spirit of the Anointed. F408
Of envy and strife. R1285:1
Is merely bitter jealousy and strife. HG470:3
Not from above – Not of God, not of the holy Spirit. R2446:3
But is earthly – Continually gravitating lower and lower. R1518:3
Sensual, devilish – The general trend of worldly wisdom is in this direction. F515
The wisdom which Satan gives is very undesirable; as many, too late, have discovered. R2180:3
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| 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. |
Envying – Envy is one of the principal roots of human depravity, selfishness, and from this root have sprung some of the most injurious influences and experiences known to man, "every evil work." R3971:1
Selfishly for its own advancement. R2263:5
An unclean, only partially sanctified condition of the heart. If these weeds of the old fallen nature are permitted to grow they will not only be noxious but will gradually crowd out and kill all the sweet and beautiful flowers and graces of the Spirit. F408
There is confusion – Disquiet, unrest. F408
And every evil work – To be anticipated. R2446:3
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| 17 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. |
But the wisdom – "Wisdom is the principal thing." (Prov. 4:7) R3479:5
"The reverence of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Prov. 9:10) R1518:2
Christ is the personification of that wisdom which from eternity was an attribute of Jehovah. R1518:2
That reasons on the basis of proven divine revelation. R1567:4
This we get from the Bible. CR496:6; 498:5
Comes through the channel of divine truth. R1448:2
To be studied along the lines of the inspired Scriptures. NS816:2
Those who have this kind of wisdom, the attitude of heart and mind to receive instruction of the Lord, are sure to get understanding of whatever truth is meat in due season. R1520:1
Wisdom that reasons on the basis of a proved divine revelation. R1567:4
Jesus had a wisdom based upon love and service to others. R1448:6
It has a smoothing, oiling, unctuous effect upon all who receive it. SM608:T
That is from above – More to be desired than all the wisdom of earth. F538
If we would have divine approval we must have the divine wisdom which we learn from the Word of God. R5512:1
Is first – Following the prescription of heavenly wisdom assures us God's favor. R5571:3
Pure – Truthful, honest, sincere, not used as a garment of light to cover up selfishness, makes no compromise with sin or impurity in any form. R2446:6
Purity of intention and motive. R3604:2
Guileless, honorable, open, above-board, utterly opposed to secret whisperings and backbiting, receiving the pure word of wisdom into a good and honest heart. It does not deceive itself into believing that self-will is the Lord's will. R2263:5; F99
Truthful and loyal to righteousness. R2214:5
God first; his will, his plan, his ways. R5906:4
Unselfish. R1448:5
Purity is the highest standard. HG471:2
Not peace first, but purity. It is earthly wisdom which commands the conscience to be still that selfish peace may be promoted. F99[F99]
Then peaceable – It loves and desires peace, harmony, unity; but it can only be fully in harmony with that which is pure and honest and good. R2263:5
No quarrelsome, bickering disposition; would prefer, so far as possible, to yield a non-essential point in controversy, loves opponents and sympathizes with their difficulties. R2446:6
Our conduct should be as peaceable as loyalty to righteousness will permit. HG471:3
Peace-loving, peace-disposed. R3604:3
Gentle – In action or word or tone. If injury has been done to others, is ready, willing, glad to apologize and to remove the smart. R2446:6
Not rude, coarse, rough, and has no sympathy with such a spirit and such methods. It is not only of God, but God-like. R2263:5, 2446:6; F99
Extends from the inside to the outside. HG471:3
Easy to be entreated – Easy of approach, not haughty, not disdainful, not hard or cruel, yet firm on matters of principle. Principles cannot be bent or modified; they belong to God. R2446:6
A firm texture of character, without coarseness, roughness, rudeness, hardness. HG471:6
Only in harmony with purity, peace, and gentleness; not easily entreated to assist in any evil work. R2263:6; F99
Easy of entreatment. R3603:3
Not cold, repulsive, or hard-hearted. R3604:3
Full of mercy – It rejoices in mercy, because that is a part of its very self, but it cannot have the slightest sympathy or affiliation with willful wrong-doers. R2263:6; F99
Not only to dumb animals under its care, but in dealing with brethren and family; not over- exacting, but generous, kind, benevolent; not wishing to push a victory to such a point as would be injurious, hurtful, unmerciful. R2446:6
With generous impulses, kindly feelings, compassion and sympathy for those in trouble and distress. HG471:6
Not alarming the world unnecessarily. F592
And good fruits – It delights in all things prompted by love and kindness; it takes pleasure in doing for others. R2446:6
The good fruits of the spirit of the Lord are sure to proceed from the heart in which rules the spirit of love, honesty, purity, peaceableness and gentleness. R2263:6
The fruits of the spirit: meekness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, brotherly kindness, love. R3604:5
Without partiality – Partiality would signify injustice--no respecters of persons except as character shall demonstrate real value--the outward features, the natural man, the color of his skin, etc., are ignored. R2263:6; F100
Not approving a fault in a brother, because he is a brother, but reproving the same with gentleness and meekness; not failing to see a virtue in any enemy, nor hesitating to acknowledge it; truth is its standard, not prejudice, not partyism, not sectarianism. R2447:1
Not pick out some of special class and ignore some of the poorer or less literate. OV232:3; NS590:1
Without hypocrisy – So pure, so peaceable, so gentle, so merciful toward all that there is no necessity for hypocrisy. F100; R2264:1
Out of harmony, sympathy, and fellowship with all that is sinful. F100; R2264:1
Thoroughly candid; needs not to feign love, because it is love; needs not to put on a kindly exterior, for it is without envy and strife. R2447:1
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| 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. |
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