Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

James 3

Clinging to a Counterfeit Cross
Introduction

1  We are not rashly or arrogantly to reprove others;
5  but rather to bridle the tongue, a little member, but a powerful instrument of much good, and great harm.
13  They who are truly wise are mild and peaceable without envying and strife.
Verse 1

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
be
Malachi 2:12, Matthew 9:11, 10:24, 23:8-10,14, John 3:10, Acts 13:1, Romans 2:20,21, 1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11, 1 Timothy 2:7, 2 Timothy 1:11; *Gr: ; 1 Peter 5:3
knowing
Leviticus 10:3, Ezekiel 3:17,18, 33:7-9, Luke 6:37, 12:47,48, 16:2, Acts 20:26,27, 1 Corinthians 4:2-5, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Hebrews 13:17
condemnation
or, judgement.
Matthew 7:1,2, 23:14, 1 Corinthians 11:29-32; *Gr:
Verse 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.
in
1 Kings 8:46, 2 Chronicles 6:36, Proverbs 20:9, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:10, 7:21, Galatians 3:22, 5:17, 1 John 1:8-10
If
5,6, 1:26, Psalms 34:13, Proverbs 13:3, 1 Peter 3:10
a perfect
1:4, Matthew 12:37, Colossians 1:28, 4:12, Hebrews 13:21, 1 Peter 5:10
to bridle
1 Corinthians 9:27
Verse 3

Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
1:26, 2 Kings 19:28, Psalms 32:9, 39:1, Isaiah 37:29
Verse 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.
are driven
Psalms 107:25-27, Jonah 1:4, Matthew 8:24, Acts 27:14-38
Verse 5

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
so
Exodus 5:2, 15:9, 2 Kings 19:22-24, Job 21:14,15, 22:17, Psalms 10:3, 12:2-4, Psalms 17:10, 52:1,2, 73:8,9, Proverbs 12:18, 15:2, 18:21, Jeremiah 9:3-8, 18:18, Ezekiel 28:2, 29:3, Daniel 3:15, 4:30, 2 Peter 2:18, Jude 1:16, Revelation 13:5,6
matter
or, wood.
Verse 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.
the tongue
Judges 12:4-6, 2 Samuel 19:43, 20:1, 2 Chronicles 10:13-16, 13:17, Psalms 64:3, 140:3, Proverbs 15:1, 16:27, 26:20,21, Isaiah 30:27
a world
2:7, Genesis 3:4-6, Leviticus 24:11, Numbers 25:2, 31:16, Deuteronomy 13:6, Judges 16:15-20, 1 Samuel 22:9-17, 2 Samuel 13:26-29, 15:2-6, 16:20-23, 17:1,2, 1 Kings 21:5-15, Proverbs 1:10-14, 6:19, 7:5,21-23, Jeremiah 20:10, 28:16, Matthew 12:24,32-36, Matthew 15:11-20, Mark 7:15,20-22, 14:55-57, Acts 6:13, 20:30, Romans 3:13,14, Romans 16:17,18, Ephesians 5:3,4, Colossians 3:8,9, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12, Titus 1:11, 2 Peter 2:1,2, 2 Peter 3:3, 3 John 1:10, Jude 1:8-10,15-18, Revelation 2:14,15, 13:1-5,14, 18:23, Revelation 19:20
it is
Luke 16:24, Acts 5:3, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, 2 Thessalonians 2:9, Revelation 12:9
Verse 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:
kind
Gr. nature. is tamed.
Mark 5:4
Gr
mankind. Gr. the nature of man.
Verse 8

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
an unruly
6, Psalms 55:21, 57:4, 59:7, 64:3,4
full
Deuteronomy 32:33, Psalms 58:4, 140:3, Ecclesiastes 10:11, Romans 3:13, Revelation 12:9
Verse 9

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
Therewith
Psalms 16:9, 30:12, 35:28, 51:14, 57:8, 62:4, 71:24, 108:1, Acts 2:26
bless
1 Chronicles 29:10,20, Psalms 34:1, 63:4, 145:1,21, Isaiah 29:13, Ephesians 1:3, 1 Peter 1:3
therewith curse
Judges 9:27, 2 Samuel 16:5, 19:21, Psalms 10:7, 59:12, 109:17,18, Ecclesiastes 7:22, Matthew 5:44, 26:74, Romans 3:14
made
Genesis 1:26,27, 5:1, 9:6, 1 Corinthians 11:7
Verse 10

Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
of
Psalms 50:16-20, Jeremiah 7:4-10, Micah 3:11, Romans 12:14, 1 Peter 3:9
these
Genesis 20:9, 2 Samuel 13:12, 1 Corinthians 3:3, 1 Timothy 5:13
Verse 11

Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
place
or, hole.
11
Verse 12

Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
the fig tree
Isaiah 5:2-4, Jeremiah 2:21, Matthew 7:16-20, 12:33, Luke 6:43,44, Romans 11:16-18
so
Exodus 15:23-25, 2 Kings 2:19-22, Ezekiel 47:8-11
Verse 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.
is a
1, Psalms 107:43, Ecclesiastes 8:1,5, Jeremiah 9:12,23, Matthew 7:24, 1 Corinthians 6:5, Galatians 6:4
endued
2 Chronicles 2:12,13, Job 28:28, Isaiah 11:3, Daniel 2:21
let
2:18, Isaiah 60:6, 2 Corinthians 8:24, 1 Peter 2:9
a good
Philippians 1:27, 1 Timothy 4:12, Hebrews 13:5, 1 Peter 2:12, 3:1,2,16
with meekness
17, 1:21, Numbers 12:3, Psalms 25:9, 45:4, 149:4, Isaiah 11:4, 29:19, 61:1, Zephaniah 2:3, Matthew 5:5, 11:29, 21:5, 2 Corinthians 10:1, Galatians 5:23, 6:1, Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 3:12, 1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:25, Titus 3:2, 1 Peter 3:4,15
Verse 14

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
if
16, 4:1-5, Genesis 30:1,2, 37:11, Job 5:2, Proverbs 14:30, 27:4, Isaiah 11:13, Habakkuk 1:3, Matthew 27:18, Acts 5:17, 7:9, 13:45, Romans 1:29, 13:13, 1 Corinthians 3:3, 13:4, 2 Corinthians 12:20, Galatians 5:15,21,26, Philippians 1:15, 2:3, 1 Timothy 6:4, Titus 3:3, 1 Peter 2:1,2
glory
Romans 2:17,23-29, 1 Corinthians 4:7,8, 5:2,6, Galatians 6:13
and lie
2 Kings 10:16,31, John 16:2, Acts 26:9
Verse 15

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
wisdom
17, 1:5,17, John 3:17, 1 Corinthians 3:3, Philippians 3:19
but
2 Samuel 13:3, 15:31, 16:23, Jeremiah 4:22, Luke 16:8, Romans 1:22, 1 Corinthians 1:19,20,27, 1 Corinthians 2:6,7, 3:19, 2 Corinthians 1:12, Jude 1:19
sensual
or, natural.
1 Corinthians 2:14
devilish
Genesis 3:1-5, John 8:44, Acts 13:10, 2 Corinthians 11:3,13-15, 1 John 3:8-10, Jude 1:19, Revelation 9:11, 12:9
Verse 16

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
where
14, 1 Corinthians 3:3, Galatians 5:20
there
Genesis 11:9; *marg: ; Acts 19:29, 1 Corinthians 14:33
confusion
Gr. tumult, or, unquietness. every.
1 John 3:12
Verse 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.
the wisdom
15, 1:5,17, Genesis 41:38,39, Exodus 36:2, 1 Kings 3:9,12,28, 1 Chronicles 22:12, Job 28:12,23,28, Proverbs 2:6, Isaiah 11:2,3, Daniel 1:17, Luke 21:15, 1 Corinthians 2:6,7, 1 Corinthians 12:8
first
4:8, Malachi 3:3, Matthew 5:8, Philippians 4:8, Titus 1:15, 1 John 3:3
peaceable
1 Chronicles 22:9; *marg: ; Isaiah 2:4, 9:6,7, 11:2-9, 32:15-17, Romans 12:18, Hebrews 12:14
gentle
Isaiah 40:11, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 2 Corinthians 10:1, Galatians 5:22,23, Ephesians 5:9, 1 Thessalonians 2:7, 2 Timothy 2:24, Titus 3:2
full
John 1:14, Acts 9:36, 11:24, Romans 15:14, 2 Corinthians 9:10, Philippians 1:11, Colossians 1:10
without
2:4, Malachi 2:9, 1 Timothy 5:21
partiality
or, wrangling. hypocrisy.
Isaiah 32:6, Matthew 23:28, Luke 12:1,2, John 1:47, Romans 12:9, 1 Peter 1:22, 2:1, 1 John 3:18
Verse 18

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
the fruit
1:20, Proverbs 11:18,28,30, Isaiah 32:16,17, Hosea 10:12, Matthew 5:9, John 4:36, Philippians 1:11, Hebrews 12:11
make
Matthew 5:9

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