This teaching follows straight after his teaching about good works
We are to bear fruit
This is an outworking of an inward change – salvation by faith alone
A logical progression
Do not desire to be a teacher
Teachers have a stricter judgment
Teachers handle the word of God and speak
However, this is not just for teachers
Who is a teacher?
The Greek means a teacher or master
Someone authoratative who can instruct the people in God’s word
E.g. Rabbi’s in James’ time
But someone of the Rabbi’s in Jesus’ time were poor teachers
Jesus gives the example of being servant minded
Church leadership and teaching requires humility
Such answer not to men but to God
It is a burdened blessing
We must rely on Christ
Pray for those who serve the Church
What is the stricter judgment?
First for the false teacher
Second for the faithful teacher
Leaders are subject to a stricter judgment because they are handling the word of God
We must all handle Scripture aright – because it is supremely powerful
A broader discussion about the tongue
We all use the tongue (not just teachers)
We all stumble
James speaks strongly about speech
Jesus said "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." (Matt 15:11)
Not just speaking about avoiding swearing or blasphemy
Does our speech honour God?
Does our speech reflect God’s love?
Our speech often shows our fallen nature
It is reflective of our thoughts and attitudes
Especially when we are tired or stressful
How is our speech to be?
Eph 4:29 – "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."
To be uplifting (even when correcting)
Grace and tenderness (even when correcting)
This is challenging and why Scripture exhorts us to be slow to speak
We are to be reflective
Jesus is our example (e.g. the road to Emmaus) – He speaks with tender authority
Luke 4:22 – "So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?"
Often we judge people (and people may judge us)
Do you feel you have done something that irreparably damaged your witness?
Our past does not disqualify us for our role in the Kingdom
Example of Peter
Though there are consequences for our actions
How would those around us characterise our speech?
James is speaking about perfection and completiton
v2 and v8 – but this is not humanly possible
Three examples: rudder, bit, fire
Explanation
v6
A complicated verse
Speaking about the physical body (not the body of Christ)
The tongue can set on fire/ruin our whole life
In chapter 4 James speaks about slandering, in chapter 5 about grumbling
Our speech is important
It has power to damage the body of Christ/the Church
We must look to the speech of our Captain of salvation – Jesus Christ
We must pray for God’s help in our speech
We are not to speak kind words to have favour
Our speech is to be a reflection of our salvation
v8-9
Humans are made in God’s image
Therefore, an insult against people is an insult against the creator God
