James 3 and verse 1 reads.
James 3:1] My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
Don’t have so many teachers in the congregation talking at one time. Notice we receive the greater condemnation. This is for those that teach falsely. It is written in 1Pet.4:17 that judgement begins at the house of God.
James 3:2] 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.
This word perfect is mature, meaning the leader of the church.
James 3:3] Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
[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.
Showing us here that a pastor or a priest can lead the whole body of the church in the direction he wants. This is why you should always check your teachers, it’s easy, are they teaching God’s word or theirs.
James 3:5] Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
[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 hell.
Still talking about the false teachers in the church who are leading their congregation.
James 3:7] 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:
[8] But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
[9] Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
Let’s go to Jeremiah 17 and read verses 5-7.
Jer.17:5] Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
[6] For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
[7] Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
Back to James and verse 10 reads.
James 3:10] Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
You can find the cursing in Deut.28 and the blessings in Lev.26 but what is being said here is don’t listen to someone that says one thing one moment then opposite the next.
James 3:11] Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
[12] Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
[13] Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
You will always know them by their works, meekness is one being humble, do they speak the word of God or out of their own hearts.
James 3:14] But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
Now we know he has been talking this whole time about false teachers.
James 3:15] This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
[16] For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
We are not of this world as those that live in this world, we are of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit within us that leads us. Let’s go to 1Cor.3 and read verses 3-7.
1Cor.3:3] For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
[4] For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
[5] Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
[6] I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
[7] So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
An easy way for us to understand what might have sounded complicated was really a simple truth. Back to James and verse 17 reads.
James 3:17] But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
This word intreated is understood. And the Word of God is just that, easy to understand, with the right teachers.
James 3:18] And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Fruit is always after the work that comes from faith. Jesus said this in Mat.5:8 and it reads.
Mat.5:9] Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
When teaching the Word of God always let it do the talking, and you can never go wrong. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible