Please click here for the audio and click here for the video link to this service. Please click here to view today’s bulletin. Please click here for the audio and click here for the video link to the Sunday School message.
HELD TO ACCOUNT. James 3:1-4. 9/22/2024. #11.
1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 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.
1. Not many teachers
a. James enters a discussion on the tongue
a1. Apparently, his readers were loose in their speech and needed restraint
a2. The tongue is a main topic in the letter
b. James repeats warnings about the tongue often
a1. James 1:19 be slow to speak; slow to anger
a2. James 2 you sit here…be warmed and full…
a3. James 3 the tongue is a burning fire…
a4. James 4 you have not because you ask not or you ask amiss so to fulfill your own lusts
c. James uses 6 illustrations to compare the use of the tongue: a bit, a rudder, fire, an asp, fountains, and the fig tree
d. James begins by warning his readers to not be many teachers (KJV = masters; i.e., schoolmasters)
a1. Many want to be teachers to instruct others
a2. Romans 12:4-6 only some are called to teach
e. Teachers have a stricter judgment than others
a1. Required to teach correctly = right information with right intent and right motivation
b1. 2 Tm. 2:15 students of Word of God
b2. Discerning and wise
a2. Required to live out what they teach
b1. I Corinthians 11:1 a life worthy to follow
b2. A reputation of moral integrity
a3. Required to be circumspect (prudent)
b1. Careful on what is taught, both as a teacher and in life in general
b2. Weighs words for clarity, accuracy, appropriateness, and beneficial impact
f. Who are the teachers?
a. Ephesians 4:11-12 those who are called by God
b. I Timothy 3:2 a necessary trait of elders
c. Hebrews 5 a mature believer who is able to pass on to others what God has taught them
g. Three-fold aspects of teaching:
a. A calling by which God leads to teach other people (family, church, unsaved)
b. Responsibility to teach correctly
c. Accountable for what one teaches and how one lives up to own teaching (Matthew 12:33-37)
2. The rudder of the soul
a. James compares the tongue to a bit in the horse’s mouth or a rudder on a ship
a1. By use of the bit a horse can be turned
a2. By use of a small rudder a ship is turned
b. He who is able to control his tongue, can control his entire body
a1. He is a mature man
a2. He does not stumble by lies, deception, gossip, flattery, anger, accusation, or profane speech
c. Much hurt comes from an untamed tongue
3. From the heart to the lips
a. Philippians 4:8 what a man meditates on is what will reach his lips (a pure heart will control the tongue)
b. If a person can’t control the tongue, he is unable to control anything else
c. The practice of restraint is spiritual discipline
a1. To refrain from cruelty, judgment, corrupt utterances, anger, lies, and inappropriate flirtations is to be able to depart wisdom
a2. Only arrogance presumes to speak when silence and reflection is required
d. Psalm 141:3-4 we must control own tongue (not God)
Key passage: Matthew 12:33-37
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”