James 3-5James 3-5

© John Stevenson, 2011

Taming the Taming the tongue (3:1-12)tongue (3:1-12)

Warning against Warning against partiality — Show partiality — Show your faith by your your faith by your

works (2)works (2)

Visiting orphans Visiting orphans and widows in and widows in their distress their distress

(1:27)(1:27)

Bridling the Bridling the tongue (1:26)tongue (1:26)

A prayer for A prayer for wisdom (1:5-7)wisdom (1:5-7)

James 2Faith without works.

James 3Faith without words.

Faith is perfected by works (2:22).

The one who does not stumble in what he

says is a perfect man (3:2).

Illustrated by the problem of partiality

within the church (2:2-4).

Illustrated by one who blesses God while

cursing men (3:9-10).

James 3:1James 3:1Let not many of you become

teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.

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

James 3:1James 3:1Let not many of you become

teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.

mei/zon mei/zon kri,makri,ma

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

““mega judgment”mega judgment”

James 3:1James 3:1Let not many of you become

teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.

For in the way you judge, you will For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of be judged; and by your standard of

measure, it will be measured to measure, it will be measured to youyou (Matthew 7:2). (Matthew 7:2).

James 3:2James 3:2For 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.

James 3:3James 3:3Now if we put the bits into the

horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.

James 3:4James 3:4Look 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.

What is the point of these What is the point of these two illustrations?two illustrations?

James 3:5James 3:5So 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!

Like a madman who throws firebrands, Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows and death,arrows and death,

So is the man who deceives his neighbor,So is the man who deceives his neighbor,And says, “Was I not joking?”And says, “Was I not joking?”

For lack of wood the fire goes out,For lack of wood the fire goes out,And where there is no whisperer, contention And where there is no whisperer, contention

quiets down.quiets down.Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to

fire,fire,So is a contentious man to kindle strife. So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

(Proverbs 26:18-21).(Proverbs 26:18-21).

James 3:6James 3:6And 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.

ge,ennge,ennaa

““For the sons of Judah have done that For the sons of Judah have done that which is evil in My sight,” declares the which is evil in My sight,” declares the LORD, “they have set their detestable LORD, “they have set their detestable

things in the house which is called by My things in the house which is called by My name, to defile it. name, to defile it. 3131 And they have built And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, and it did not which I did not command, and it did not

come into My mind.” (Jeremiah 7:30-31).come into My mind.” (Jeremiah 7:30-31).

““Therefore, behold, days are coming,” Therefore, behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, "when it will no declares the LORD, "when it will no

more be called Topheth, or the valley of more be called Topheth, or the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of the the son of Hinnom, but the valley of the Slaughter; for they will bury in Topheth Slaughter; for they will bury in Topheth because there is no other place. because there is no other place. 3333 And And the dead bodies of this people will be the dead bodies of this people will be

food for the birds of the sky, and for the food for the birds of the sky, and for the beasts of the earth; and no one will beasts of the earth; and no one will

frighten them away.” (Jeremiah 7:32-33).frighten them away.” (Jeremiah 7:32-33).

James 3:7-8James 3:7-8For 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.

The TongueThe Tongue

Defiles the Defiles the bodybody

Is set on Is set on fire by hellfire by hell

Sets on Sets on fire the fire the

course of course of our lifeour life

James 3:9-10James 3:9-10With 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 3:11-12James 3:11-12Does 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.

Wisdom from Wisdom from above (3:13-18)above (3:13-18)

Taming the Taming the tongue (3:1-12)tongue (3:1-12)

Warning against Warning against partiality — Show partiality — Show your faith by your your faith by your

works (2)works (2)

Visiting orphans Visiting orphans and widows in and widows in their distress their distress

(1:27)(1:27)

Bridling the Bridling the tongue (1:26)tongue (1:26)

A prayer for A prayer for wisdom (1:5-7)wisdom (1:5-7)

James 3:13James 3:13Who among you is wise and

understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

James 3:14-16James 3:14-16But 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.

James 3:17James 3:17But the wisdom from above is

first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

Wisdom from Below

Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition

Wisdom from Above

Good deeds manifest the gentleness of

wisdom

Arrogant Humble (1:21)

Lies against the truth A hearer and a doer of the Word (1:22-25)

Wisdom from Below

Wisdom from Above

Earthly, natural and demonic: The world,

the flesh and the devil

Pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full

of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy

Disorder and every evil thing

Fruit of righteousness is sown in peace

Earthly Heavenly

Wisdom from Below

Wisdom from Above

Natural wisdom – the Greek term can be

translated “soulish” – we would call it

“humanistic”

Supernatural wisdom coming down from the

Father of Lights.

James 3:18James 3:18And the seed whose fruit is

righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who

are making peace

James 4:1James 4:1What is the source of quarrels

and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?

h`donh,

James 4:1James 4:1What is the source of quarrels

and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?

How do pleasures wage How do pleasures wage war in your members?war in your members?

James 4:1James 4:1What is the source of quarrels

and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?

What is the opposite of What is the opposite of making pleasure a making pleasure a

priority?priority?

James 4:2James 4:2You lust and do not have; so you

commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.

James 4:3James 4:3You ask and do not receive,

because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

James 4:4James 4:4You adulteresses, do you not

know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

For your husband is your Maker,For your husband is your Maker,Whose name is the LORD of hosts;Whose name is the LORD of hosts;

And your Redeemer is the Holy And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel,One of Israel,

Who is called the God of all the Who is called the God of all the earth. (Isaiah 54:5).earth. (Isaiah 54:5).

For I am jealous for you with a godly For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one jealousy; for I betrothed you to one

husband, that to Christ I might husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. present you as a pure virgin. 33 But I But I

am afraid, lest as the serpent am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to simplicity and purity of devotion to

Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2-3).Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2-3).

James 4:5James 4:5Or do you think that the

Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?

James 4:6James 4:6But He gives a greater grace.

Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

For though the LORD is exalted,For though the LORD is exalted,Yet He regards the lowly;Yet He regards the lowly;

But the haughty He knows from But the haughty He knows from afar. (Psalm 138:6).afar. (Psalm 138:6).

Though He scoffs at the Though He scoffs at the scoffers,scoffers,

Yet He gives grace to the Yet He gives grace to the afflicted (Proverbs 3:34).afflicted (Proverbs 3:34).

For thus says the high and exalted For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose One Who lives forever, whose

name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the holy place, and also with the

contrite and lowly of spirit In order contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” to revive the heart of the contrite.”

(Isaiah 57:15).(Isaiah 57:15).

Ten ImperativesTen Imperatives

• Submit therefore to God (4:7).

• Resist the devil (4:7).

• Draw near to God (4:8).

• Cleanse your hands (4:8).

• Purify your hearts (4:8).

• Be miserable (4:9).

Ten ImperativesTen Imperatives

• Mourn (4:9).

• Weep (4:9).

• Let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom (4:9).

• Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord (4:10).

Problem SolutionQuarrels and conflicts from focusing on your

pleasures (4:1)

Submit therefore to God, resist the devil,

draw near to God (4:8).

Spiritual murder (4:2). Cleanse your hands (4:8).

Problems in prayer (4:3).

Purify your hearts (4:8).

Spiritual adultery (4:4-5).

Be miserable, mourn and weep (4:9).

Problem SolutionGod is opposed to the proud, but gives grace

to the humble (4:6).

Humble yourselves in the presence of the

Lord (4:10).

James 4:7James 4:7Submit therefore to God. Resist

the devil and he will flee from you.

How do you resist the How do you resist the devil?devil?

James 4:8James 4:8Draw near to God and He will

draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

di,yucoj(dipsuchos)

James 4:9-10James 4:9-10Be miserable and mourn and

weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.

10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

tapeinw,qtapeinw,qhtehte(tapeinothete)

Aorist passive Aorist passive imperative plural imperative plural ofof tapeinotapeino

,w,w“Be humbled”

Verses 7-10 Verses 11-12Looks at the believer’s relationship with God

Looks at the believer’s relationship with other

men

Positive commands given in the aorist

tense

(Do this now!)

Negative command given in the present

tense

(Stop doing that!)

James 4:11-12James 4:11-12Do not speak against one

another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

He who speaks against a brother He who speaks against a brother or judges his brotheror judges his brother

Speaks against Speaks against the law…the law…

Judges the Judges the law…law…

If you judge the law…If you judge the law…

You are…You are…

Not a doer of Not a doer of the lawthe law

A judge of the A judge of the lawlaw

James 4:13-14James 4:13-14Come now, you who say,

“Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

As for the days of our life, they contain As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, seventy years,

Or if due to strength, eighty years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away. For soon it is gone and we fly away.

(Psalm 90:10).(Psalm 90:10).

So teach us to number our days, So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of That we may present to You a heart of

wisdom. (Psalm 90:12).wisdom. (Psalm 90:12).

James 4:15James 4:15Instead, you ought to say, “If the

Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”

Does this mean we Does this mean we should stop making should stop making

plans about the future?plans about the future?

James 4:16-17James 4:16-17But as it is, you boast in your

arrogance; all such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

And He also told this parable to some people

who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with

contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee

and the other a tax collector. (Luke 18:9-10).

The Pharisee stood The Pharisee stood and was praying this to and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like You that I am not like

other people: swindlers, other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or unjust, adulterers, or

even like this tax even like this tax collector. collector. 1212 I fast twice I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of a week; I pay tithes of

all that I get.’ (Luke all that I get.’ (Luke 18:11-12).18:11-12).

But the tax collector, But the tax collector, standing some distance standing some distance

away, was even away, was even unwilling to lift up his unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but eyes to heaven, but

was beating his breast, was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be saying, ‘God, be

merciful to me, the merciful to me, the sinner!’ (Luke 18:13).sinner!’ (Luke 18:13).

I tell you, this man I tell you, this man went down to his went down to his

house justified rather house justified rather than the other; for than the other; for

every one who exalts every one who exalts himself shall be himself shall be

humbled, but he who humbled, but he who humbles himself shall humbles himself shall

be exalted. (Luke be exalted. (Luke 18:14).18:14).

James 5:1James 5:1Come now, you rich, weep and

howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.

James 5:2James 5:2Your riches have rotted and your

garments have become moth-eaten.

James 5:3James 5:3Your gold and your silver have

rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!

James 5:4James 5:4Behold, the pay of the laborers

who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

James 5:5-6James 5:5-6You have lived luxuriously on

the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.

James 5:7-8James 5:7-8Therefore be patient, brethren,

until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.

makroqumakroqume,wme,w(makrothumeo)

MakrojMakroj: Distant, far

QumojQumoj: Anger

James 5:7-8James 5:7-8Therefore be patient, brethren,

until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.

Perfect active Perfect active indicativeindicative

James 5:9James 5:9Do not complain, brethren,

against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.

The The Judge is Judge is standing standing right at right at

the doorthe door

Are to be Are to be patient patient

because…because…

The poor who The poor who have been have been cheated by cheated by the rich…the rich…

James 5:10James 5:10As an example, brethren, of

suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Why are the prophets Why are the prophets such a good example of such a good example of

suffering & patience?suffering & patience?

James 5:11James 5:11We count those blessed who

endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

The attitude of the Poor as they are oppressed by the

Rich (5:12-20)

Warning against the Rich who are oppressing the Poor (5:1-11)

James 5:12James 5:12But above all, my brethren, do

not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.

Again, you have heard that the ancients Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, “You shall not make false vows, were told, “You shall not make false vows,

but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.” but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.” (Matthew 5:33).(Matthew 5:33).

But I say to you, make no oath at all, either But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 3535 or or

by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. King. 3636 Nor shall you make an oath by your Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or head, for you cannot make one hair white or

black. black. 3737 But let your statement be, “Yes, But let your statement be, “Yes, yes” or “No, no”; and anything beyond these yes” or “No, no”; and anything beyond these

is of evil. (Matthew 5:33-37).is of evil. (Matthew 5:33-37).

• People of PatiencePeople of Patience

• People of PromisePeople of Promise

• People of PrayerPeople of Prayer

James 5:13James 5:13Is anyone among you suffering?

Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.

James 5:14-15James 5:14-15Is anyone among you sick?

Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.

avlei,favlei,fww

From li,poj, oil

James 5:16James 5:16Therefore, confess your sins to

one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

James 5:17-18James 5:17-18Elijah was a man with a nature

like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

Literally, “he prayed a prayer”Literally, “he prayed a prayer”

Beware, lest your hearts be deceived Beware, lest your hearts be deceived and you turn away and serve other and you turn away and serve other gods and worship them. gods and worship them. 1717 Or the Or the anger of the LORD will be kindled anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and He will shut up the against you, and He will shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain heavens so that there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its fruit; and the ground will not yield its fruit; and you will perish quickly from the and you will perish quickly from the good land which the LORD is giving good land which the LORD is giving you. (Deuteronomy 11:16-17).you. (Deuteronomy 11:16-17).

James 5:19-20James 5:19-20My brethren, if any among you

strays from the truth and one turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Asking God for Wisdom (1:1-18)

Hearing & Doing the Word (1:19-27) Be a doer of the Word

Problem with Partiality (2:1-13)

Faith and Works (2:14-21)

Taming the Tongue (3:1-12) Be a sayer of the Word

Wisdom from Above (3:13-18)

Warnings…Over Quarrels & Conflicts (4:1-10)Against Arrogant Boasts (4:11-17)Against the Rich (5:1-11)About Patience & Prayer (5:12-20)