James 3

     3:1-18.  (Cf. 1:19, 26; 2:12.)  James, in a position to know, speaks to his brothers in the faith of the pitfalls of becoming a teacher (1; cf. Mt. 23:1-12; Luke 12:48).  Unsanctified speech is without doubt the greatest source of discord among us, and the teaching elders are in a position to cause the most damage with an untamed tongue.  And the problem is, no one can tame it (8), at least not without being filled with the wisdom from above (17-18).  It is the ultimate mark of the new man (2), and no one dare assume he has already become perfect.  The stakes are too high, and the evidence too much against us (5-6, 14-16).  As we have already seen (2:12 f.), mercy and forbearance are certainly needed toward others in speech, if we hope to obtain mercy for our own foolish and damaging words.

     (See also Mt. 12:34-37; 15:8-20.)