James 3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
“My brethern,”— my fellow laborers in Christ— “‘let not many of you become teachers,’ or guides in religion; a sin which always abounds where men have the idea that an empty faith without the fruits of obedience is all that is necessary to salvation.” (Justin Edwards)
Where many desired to be teachers, "though but few could be qualified for the office, and though, in fact, comparatively few were required. A small number, well qualified, would better discharge the duties of the office, and do more good, than many would; and there would be great evil in having many crowding themselves unqualified into the office.” (Barnes)
In fact, “every Christian is responsible to teach others what God has revealed in His Word (Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 5:12). However, James was evidently speaking of becoming teachers as the rabbis in his day were, namely, ‘professional’ teachers.“ (Constable)... defending doctrine.
These false teachers "God has never called, and never can call, because He has never qualified them for the work." (Adam Clarke) “Personal religion is a necessary qualification in the Christian teacher [master]... They engage in the work of the ministry, not seeking their own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved (1 Cor 10:33). Having tasted that the Lord is gracious, they are unwilling to eat their spiritual morsels alone, and earnestly wish to have others partakers of the same grace of life. Animated by such a Spirit, the pious teacher is vigorous and active, diligent and unwearied, in his Master’s service. Grace, in lively exercise, makes the teacher honest and impartial, bold and courageous. He will not, through a slavish dread of man, put his candle under a bushel, or withhold the truth in unrighteousness; but endeavours to keep back from his hearers nothing profitable, however distasteful, and to declare to every one of them the whole counsel of God. He is no respecter of persons; but warns every man, and teaches every man, in all wisdom, that he may present every man perfect in Christ. With sacred sincerity, what the Lord saith that will he speak; though philosophers should call him enthusiast, the populace salute him heretic, or the statesman pronounce him mad. This integrity and uprightness preserves the minister from fainting under a prospect of outward difficulties and a sense of his own weakness. Grace, in lively exercise, not only animates the teacher to his work, but assists him in it, and greatly tends to crown it with success. It does so by disposing him to give himself to prayer, as well as to the ministry of the Word. He is a favourite at the court of heaven, and improves all his interest there for his people’s good... Those are best suited to speak a word in season to weary souls who can comfort them in their spiritual distresses with those consolations wherewith they themselves have been comforted of God.” (J. Erskine, D. D.)
The case of the uncalled master or teacher of a flock is awful;
"'they shall receive greater condemnation’ than common sinners; they have not only sinned in thrusting themselves into that office to which God has never called them, but through their insufficiency the flocks over whom they have assumed the mastery perish for lack of knowledge, and their blood will God require at the watchman's hand.” (Adam Clarke)
James 3: The Tongue of the Teacher
2 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. 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 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. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
“For we all”— the universal church— “stumble in many things.” Our doctrine or teachings have much leaven (sin). And even the good lot is spoiled by our lack of obedience. “If anyone does not stumble in word,’ that is, their doctrine is pure, “he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body”— not only the tongue but the forehead, as well as feet and the hands, representing our works. Our teachings become our guide.
“Such ‘perfect’ and mature teachers, who are mature in the faith, are rare, and it is they who should be sought for and appointed, for they will have control of both their tongues and their lives.” (Peter Pett) They have a good understanding of the need for balance of faith and works. In fact, their works are not their own but those of Jesus.
“It is precisely those who neglect good works that are given to talk much about the excellence of their faith, and are always ready to instruct and lecture others.” (Expositor's Bible Commentary)
But yea, it is also true of those with works-based theology. Read the news. We seek the speck in our brother’s eye, but not the beam in our own. We are purely partisan in our social and religious beliefs and we will not be moved from our current stances. There is no dialogue.
“Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 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. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!” (3-5) Spoken or taught doctrine (the tongue) is compared here to bits in horse’s mouths and rudders of large ships, which seem small but control the direction. Bad doctrine, therefore, coming off of the tongue, boasts great things and kindles the fires of hell by a moving of the masses.
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. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
Our doctrine is either from our God and Father or from the the devils of hell. It is either from Christ or antiChrist. You know it by it’s fruit.
Beware, a little leaven leavens the whole lump. Let the Lord Jesus tame your thoughts as well as your words, yes even your actions. And don’t be quick to take the teacher’s role, unless He calls you.
James 3: Wisdom From Above
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
“‘Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you?’— This is spoken with reference to the work of public teaching; and the meaning of the apostle is, that if there were such persons among them, they should be selected for that office. The characteristics here stated as necessary qualifications…” (Albert Barnes) are “knowledge and wisdom, discretion and meekness, a good understanding of the Scriptures, and a life conformed to their precepts, are essential requisites in ministers of the gospel and guides of the church.” (Justin Edwards)
“The wisdom James had in mind did not result so much in what one thinks or says but in what one does. [Note: James H. Ropes, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle of St. James , p244.] One of the marks of wisdom is gentleness, meekness, humility. The Greek word prauteti (‘gentleness’) occurs in non-biblical literature to describe a horse that someone had broken and had trained to submit to a bridle. [Note: Barclay, NT, pp241-42.] It pictures strength under control, specifically the Holy Spirit’s control. The evidence of this attitude is a deliberate placing of oneself under divine authority. The only way to control the tongue is to place one’s mind deliberately under the authority of God and to let Him control it (have His way with it; cf. Matthew 11:27; 2 Corinthians 10:1). James’ concept of wisdom was Hebraic rather than Greek, moral more than intellectual (cf. James 1:5).” (Dr. Thomas B. Constable)
“‘But if you have bitter envy’— properly so called— ‘in your hearts’, for it flows from the gall; it shows that the man is in the gall of bitterness, and of kin to the star called Wormwood, Revelation 8:11. It is also an evil wherein is steeped the venom of all other vices. It is the observation of a late reverend divine, that, Genesis 38:29, Pharez was the son of Tamar, division, of a palm tree, which hath its name ‘ab amaritudine’, from bitterness, saith Pagnine. Division comes from bitterness, and envy drinks up the most part of its own venom. It infecteth also others with her venomous breath; as that maid mentioned by Avicen, who fed upon poison…. (John Trapp)— ‘and self-seeking’… ‘in your heart’— ‘do not boast and lie against the truth.’ — by falsely boasting of these as the fruits of true wisdom…” (Justin Edwards)—> “Envyings, the sectarian spirit, the party spirit, producing bitterness and contentions, these things are not the manifestations of the wisdom which is from above, the fruit of the new nature and of the Spirit, but it is the earthly wisdom, springing from the natural man, behind which stands the author of sin.” (Arno Gaebelein) This is to slander God’s truth
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
"‘But the wisdom that is from above’- true wisdom, which is of God- ‘is first pure.’ It converses with glory, it hates sin, and shuns its first approach. Then peaceable, doing nothing to vex or grieve another. Gentle, full of equanimity. Calm and temperate, easy to be entreated. Such is the state of mind where truth and love, and all the graces reign. This wisdom is without partiality. Levi knew not his father or his mother, when the glory of God was concerned. It is noble and divine in conduct, scorning all hypocrisy, to cover evil with a spotless garb.” (Jos. Sutcliffe)
“This text is often misapplied. It is used to promote rather than restrain religious controversy, whereas the whole context of the passage shows that its application is designed to foster the Christian graces.” (Church Pulpit Commentary) But the meaning is, “that disputes and contentions are not the measures by which the cause of God is, to be promoted; the seed from which the fruits of righteousness are to be produced is sown in peace, by peaceable laborers.” (Abbott’s NT) “The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace, and produces peace.” (Arno Gaebelein)