1Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. 

There is almost a jarring transition here from the point about faithfulness apart form works being dead to James not wanting many to become teachers. The inclusion of himself, “…as such we will incur…”, seems to indicate that he is possibly acknowledging just how difficult his previous teaching on faithfulness and works was. It is as if he is saying, “We teachers have to be very careful when articulating certain things, and not everyone is suited for that.”

While we believe the salvation and judgment of the previous two chapters is of one’s soul (1:19) unto eternal life or not, the judgment we have in 3:1 is more akin to 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. He is specifically talking about the works a believer does, and how God will judge certain Christians more harshly than others based on their role and the gifts He has given them. A teacher is meant to, and equipped by God to, expound upon His word correctly and truthfully for the benefit of the body. If a teacher teaches something incorrect, the teacher is at fault for a lack of diligence and that particular work will not be to the teacher’s credit, though the teacher will still be saved because of their faithfulness.

We believe everyone should strive to become a teacher, but not all are gifted as teachers (1 Cor.12:29; Eph.4:11). Not all are given the gift or giving, or leading, or faith, or administration, or whatever, but all of us are still called to do these things. A good teacher will teach someone to know what they know, and become like them, which is why Jesus says, “A disciple is not greater than his teacher, but everyone when fully trained will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40). Likewise the writer of Hebrews tells his audience, “For though you should in fact be teachers by this time, you need someone to teach you the beginning elements of God’s utterances.” (Heb.5:12). James provides good wisdom to remember that those who teach, also bear responsibility.

2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. 3 Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 

James expands his point about Christian judgment to people other than teachers and admits that everyone falls short. This is echoed throughout the scriptures (1 Kings 8:46; Ecc.7:20; Rom.3:9). James focuses in specifically on a believer’s words. Only a perfect man who has already mastered his whole body can also refrain from stumbling when he speaks.

He uses the analogy of a bit in a horse’s mouth and the rudder of a ship to show how a such a small part of the body can still be a major influence on a person. As Jesus says in Matthew 12:34, “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.” David experienced this himself, “My heart was hot within me, While I was musing the fire burned; Then I spoke with my tongue” (Ps.39:3). James is essentially saying that if a person has tamed their tongue, their sanctification has penetrated to their very heart. This person is “a perfect man”.

The tongue, like a small flame, can cause considerable damage. This is probably something that has been universally experienced.

6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.

James is bringing wisdom here, shared by the wisdom books:

Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love its use will eat its fruit

Proverbs 21:23

The one who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his life from troubles.

Job 15:5

Your sin inspires your mouth; you choose the language of the crafty.

James waxes poetic as he expounds upon his point about the tongue. Like a small fire, it can burn everything around it. Not only can it burn our body, but it can harm or destroy “the course of our life”. He even attributes the destructive ability of the tongue to the fires of hell (gehenna).

Again, this is poetic. Obviously, the fire of hell isn’t literally in people’s mouths burning them and the course of their life up. Even James’ use of the word “tongue” seems to be symbolic of what Jesus calls the heart. It isn’t the tongue itself that is speaking of its own accord. It is the heart of a person that overflows through the person’s words that can destroy themselves and the lives of people around them.

This doesn’t mean that a believer, who has a heart for God, cannot, in the weakness of the flesh, lash out with his tongue.

The concept of these words being fueled by hell is probably James’ way of pointing to the final outcome of such a heart. This person who burns down their world through their words is not in any way honoring God, and their destination is gehenna. Their words are fueled by the sin that condemns a person. Worth pointing out is that no tongue is required for “saying” hurtful things, given our technological age and how much people today write.

7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

James continues with using highly figurative language by comparing the tongue to something worse than a wild animal. Animals of all kinds have been tamed, but the tongue can’t be. This seems to be James rejecting the earlier possibility that if a man has tamed his tongue, he is perfect in all his ways.

James says the tongue is a “restless evil and full of deadly poison”. Again, not literal. The point here seems to be similar to Paul’s personification of “sin” in Romans 7. It springs to life and causes in us all sorts of lusts. In the same way, the tongue (the human heart) is restlessly looking to act in an evil way. He is essentially affirming the weakness of the flesh, and it’s proclivity towards temptation and sin.

Moving back to literal language, James is making the point that there should not be a mix of evil in Christians. His declaration that “these things ought not to be this way” raises the question of just how adamant his point in v8 is. Can nobody tame the tongue? Did James just say that hyperbolically because of the difficulty of the task?

If James thinks the brethren shouldn’t be that way, it follows that he expects them to not be that way. Otherwise, he could just lament the fact that trying is futile. Regarding the question of Christian Perfection, it seems James could be used in favor of that position.

11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.

First, James is not saying that believers cannot produce bad fruit. He already said “we all stumble in many ways”, and scripture makes clear that we continue to sin. James is speaking of our goal.

As new creations in Christ, we shouldn’t bring forth things of God and things of the world. This type of dichotomy within a person cannot last. As Jesus explains, a person cannot love two masters. He will eventually love one and hate the other (Matt. 6:24). When looking at the Parable of the Sower, we see that a love changed, from trusting in God, to pursuing the world. The church of Ephesus, according to Jesus, “Left their first love”. You cannot love two masters. This does not mean you cannot have competing desires, but love is sacrifice, and ultimately you must determine what is the foundation of your love.

Second, James is addressing the need for the brethren to do away with evil in their lives that is evidenced by the words they speak.

13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 

Similar to James’ point in chapter 2 that faithfulness or belief without works is dead, here he is saying that anyone who is “wise and understanding” can prove it through their deeds. A wise person will sanctify himself and exercise self-restraint, resulting in “good behavior” and “deeds in the gentleness of wisdom”. According to his analogy above about a tree producing good and bad fruit, this behavior and gentle deeds would be righteous fruit of the Spirit.

14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

On the contrary, one should not be jealous or selfish. This leads to arrogance and puts one in opposition to the truth. This person would be ignoring the law of liberty to gratify the weakness of the flesh, and put another way, this type of “wisdom” would be “earthly, natural, demonic” because it is wisdom opposed to the law of liberty we now live under.

James points out the disorder and evil that comes from this type of worldly or fleshly wisdom. Keep in mind that he is not only concerned with the individual Christian’s life, but how that Christian relates to the brethren around him. There is no place for this kind of worldly influence within the body because of the disorder it causes.

17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

On the other hand, the wisdom from God is the opposite of worldly wisdom. Those who set their mind on the Spirit will sow seeds of peace that result in righteous fruit that is pleasing in the eyes of God.

These last two verses sound very similar to the fruit of the Spirit explained by Paul in Galatians 5.