"Let not many of you become teachers" – KJV: "be not," a present, middle, imperative with the negative. Literally, "stop becoming many teachers." – Apparently "many" were presuming to be teachers with, as we shall see, no appreciation for the responsibility assumed by the same. In view of the material just covered in chapter two (v. 14-26), that is, the presentation of false, "faith only" teaching, along with perhaps the very human tendency to rush to the glory of the limelight afforded for teaching, James saw the need for this serious caution.

Note: It is doubtful that James meant to discourage from becoming teachers those who were qualified and morally prepared with the right humble attitude. Indeed, increasing maturity for some ought to lead to their naturally becoming teachers. (See Hebrews 5:12: "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.") God-fearing, responsible, careful, humble teachers are needed in every generation. It seems most reasonable to believe that James was discouraging those not qualified or those who did not understand the huge impact of their teaching on themselves and others. (This will become clearer as we study this chapter.) It is entirely possible to be a teacher for the wrong reasons, as Jesus noted regarding the Pharisees in Matthew 23:6-7: "And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called by men, Rabbi." He followed up that statement with solid instruction to shun the human honor afforded to some: Matthew 23:8-12: "But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted." The exaltation of self while in the role of teacher is an egregious error with serious consequences.

"teachers" – Greek: didaskalos, instructors. The KJV rendering of "masters" is archaic.

"knowing that as such" – Every teacher should know that the position carries with it special requirements and responsibilities.

"we shall incur a stricter judgment." – Those who teach, as a necessary attachment and consequence of their work, incur a stricter (greater, more serious, more exacting) judgment. The Greek word for "judgment" is krima from the verb krino. It refers to decision, judgment, and even in some cases, condemnation. While not applied directly to teachers, consider Jesus’ words about causing others to stumble in Matthew 18:5-8: "And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!" Everyone who desires to teach is wise to carefully weigh the risk and responsibility before assuming the role. If it be accepted (and in some instances it should be) all diligence should be applied to discharge the responsibility with diligence, wisdom, dignity, faithfulness, and humility. It is the desire to impart the pure teaching of Christ and not the desire for prominence and self importance that should motivate every teacher. Those who teach merely for self promotion are on the wrong track and run the risk of strict judgment.

Though it is probably most commonly (and rightly) thought that the "stricter judgment" that James mentions here is the judgment of God, we ought not to forget that teachers are also held to a stricter judgment by others, most notably the world. Consider King David, who was in a high position as king of Israel and the judgment that the enemies of the Lord held him to: 2 Samuel 12:13-14: "Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die.’"

This "stricter judgment" would also seem to carry over to the church. Paul instructs Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:19-20: "Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also may be fearful of sinning." A primary task of an elder is teaching (1 Timothy 3:2). He is to be protected from spurious accusations (an accusation is not received on the basis of a single witness). Yet if the accusations are found to be true and he will not repent (he continues in sin) he is to be exposed in front of the congregation. This is a very harsh, strict judgment! Those who teach for Christ should not complain that they are held to a higher standard by the church. This comes with the job!

"For we all stumble in many ways" – Note that in using "we" James included himself in the indictment. Perhaps the meaning is this: "The tendency among all of us is to stumble in what we say, so we should take this admonition very seriously."

"perfect" – Greek: telio - Mature, of full age, full grown.

"able to bridle the whole body as well." – One who can bridle his tongue is powerful enough to handle every other part of the body that needs to be controlled. Apparently the tongue is the hardest body member to control.

This is an illustration of what James stated in verse 2. The bit, a tiny part of a bridled horse, directs the entire will and body of the horse. So the tongue, a tiny member, influences the whole body of its possessor.

"Behold, the ships also" – Another apt illustration of the power and influence of the tongue – a tiny rudder directs a huge ship.

"So also the tongue is a small part of the body" – Like the horse’s bit and the ship’s rudder. Remember, the tongue is the member of the physical body a teacher uses most. While these statements about the tongue apply to a wider area than teaching, the tongue of the teacher is what is under consideration by James.

"yet it boasts of great things" – The human tongue weighs only a few ounces, yet it can claim and do great and powerful (and destructive) things.

"Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!" – Again, the illustration is of a tiny member with a huge effect. The tiny unattended campfire or even a spark sets a whole forest ablaze. Think for of the turmoil, unrest, and even wars that have been started because of words!

"The tongue is a fire" – Just as the forest fire, so is the tongue – tiny in its beginning but hugely destructive. The devastating power of a few words should never be underestimated! The power of the tongue of the teacher to save or destroy is great.

"the very world of iniquity" – Greek for "world" is kosmos. It is used here to indicate the entire sum of iniquity. Were all men to suddenly lose the faculty of speech, the number of sins of which men are continually guilty would be sharply reduced!

"defiles the entire body" – The effect of an unbridled tongue affects the whole of a person.

"sets on fire the course of our life" – One who does not control his tongue is like a flame thrower, setting things on fire wherever he goes.

"is set on fire by hell." – Thus the human tongue is like the always present tinder which hell ignites to the benefit of the devil. Imagine the influence of hell in the tongue of a man like Adolf Hitler.

Some sins of the tongue are: Lying, cursing, blasphemy, slander, perjury, flattery, backbiting, gossip, false accusation, and many more.

"For every species" – Greek word translated "species" here is phusis. Probably our English word "species" is not the best rendering since it has a literal meaning much more specific than the word James used. The KJV renders it "kind" which is probably better since not every "species" of animal in the 21^st century has been tamed, but perhaps the various "kinds" have.

"is tamed, and has been tamed" - Literally, "is being tamed and has been tamed."

Note: Man’s taming of wild animals has been exercised since the beginning of creation with great results but he has yet to tame his tongue. What a picture of the wild nature of the tongue!

"No one can tame the tongue" – One does not have to keep a tamed animal chained. The tongue however, cannot be tamed and thus, must be kept under constant vigilance and restraint.

"it is a restless evil" – Thus it can never be trusted and must always be kept restrained. The tongue can spring forth at any time, day or night, and do its damage. It is never in a state of rest such that it can be trusted.

"full of deadly poison" – Cf. Romans 3:13-14: "Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving, the poison of asps is under their lips, whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness…."

Note again that James started out talking about the tongue of a teacher!

"With it we bless our Lord and Father" – We use our tongues for the highest and most noble occupation open to man – praising God. The Greek word for "bless" is eulogeo – to speak well of. The verb is present, active, indicative. It means we continually bless our Lord.

"and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God." – All the while we are blessing God, the same tongue is capable of cursing men (who ought not to be cursed because they are made in God’s image.) The meaning of the word "curse" is interesting and significant. It is compounded from kata, down, and araomai, to curse. While looking up to God, such a one presumes to look down on man and curse him. Such an elevated position for man surely displeases God. See Romans 12:14: "Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not."

"from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing." – Such is the inconsistency of the tongue – and the reason it cannot be tamed or trusted and must always be governed with vigilance. Remember, that James included himself in these considerations (verse 2).

Thus the teacher should never forget that within the soft confines of his own mouth lives a tiny organ which can never be fully tamed and must be kept under tight control. This organ is as influential as the bit in a horses’ mouth or the rudder of a ship, as dangerous as fire in super dry conditions. It is restless, evil, and capable of the hypocrisy of multi-tasking good and evil (cursing and blessing at the same time). Surely, as James says, "these things ought not to be this way." Only by constant vigilance can the tongue be a consistent organ for good. Recall James words in James 1:19: "This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger…."

To a people accustomed to getting their water from wells and springs, this would be a vivid analogy. A certain spring would gain a reputation for good water while another for bad water. A spring didn’t alternate between good and bad. Yet the tongue is capable of this.

Each plant produces that which is its nature and identity. Again, James gives a familiar image that points to the fact that the tongue is in a class by itself – demanding our special vigilance. Consider Matthew 12:34-37: "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man out of his good treasure brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil. And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned." A tongue that brings forth evil is simply tattling on what is inside of the person.

"Who among you is wise and understanding?" – This is doubtless a reference to those who thought they should be teachers. Such a one would be prone to consider himself wise and understanding enough to instruct others.

"let him show by his good behavior" – Don’t just talk about it. Show it in your behavior! Is character important in a teacher? As long as he speaks the right things in public, can he be of reprobate character on the inside? We believe not.

The KJV renders this: "Let him shew out a good conversation…." This rendering is archaic.

"bitter jealousy" – Greek: zelon pikron – zelon: an envious and contentious rivalry (Thayer). In context James seems to have in mind the rivalry that might come among teachers whose motives are to put themselves forward above and ahead of others. Such bitter rivalries have developed among well known leaders of religion – to the detriment of the body of Christ. (Consider some of the bitter rivalries that developed between well known televangelists of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.)

"selfish ambition" – Greek: eritheian – According to Thayer’s Lexicon: "a courting distinction, a desire to put oneself forward, a partisan and factious spirit which does not disdain low arts; partisanship, factiousness…." We might describe it as competition to be first that knows no low to which it is unwilling to stoop. Probably refers to selfish ladder climbers among teachers.

"in your heart" – Such motives aren’t always immediately evident, but in time the actions will show the truth. A teacher who seeks prominence for selfish reasons tries to cover these motives and thus lies against the truth. Perhaps Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7:15-18 is pertinent here: "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit."

"do not be arrogant" – Arrogance often accompanies a self-serving, ladder climbing teacher. Thayer defines the Greek word here, katakauchaomai, as "to boast oneself to the injury of (a person or thing)."

"do not lie against the truth." – Such a one presents a deceptive picture of himself and tries to keep the truth (about himself and his motives) a secret. He pawns off his "wisdom" as coming from God. However, its true source (see next verse) is something entirely different.

"This wisdom" – That is, the wisdom just described that is characterized by bitter jealousy, selfish ambition, and arrogance.

"is not that which comes down from above" – While a false, self-serving teacher might claim that his message is from God, James says no.

"earthly, natural, demonic" – as opposed to heavenly, supernatural, and godly. See again James 1:5, 17. James’ use of the word "demonic" indicates that such wisdom originates with the devil.

"For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist" – See verse 14 above.

"there is disorder" – Greek: akatastasia – instability, commotion, confusion, tumult. This is the same word ("unstable") as appears in James 1:8.

"and every evil thing" - Disorder and the presence of vile things often accompany this kind of jealousy and selfish ambition. After all, why should a person who is only interested in the attention and acclaim of men work on the inner things that matter to God? Remember that Jesus said a bad tree cannot produce good fruit.

"But the wisdom from above" – The only wisdom that qualifies one to be a teacher!

"is first pure" – As opposed to the vile and evil things mentioned in the previous verse. Concern for purity (Greek: hagnos, from hagios, holy.) Concern for purity ought to be the major concern for the teacher: Pure teaching, pure motives, pure intents. His quest to teach begins with purity.

"then peaceable" – As opposed to the disorder mentioned in the previous verse. The wisdom residing in a qualified teacher will bring peace wherever there are people of like precious faith. However, we should remember that not even Jesus was at peace with falsehood and evil and those who promoted the same. The wisdom from above does desire peace whenever it can be legitimately found.

"gentle" – Greek: epiekes – from epi, unto and eikos, seemly, fitting, or appropriate; hence equitable, fair, moderate, forbearing, considerate.

"reasonable" – KJV: "easily entreated." Today we might say "approachable" or "willing to listen."

"full of mercy" – Greek: elios – one who feels sympathy with the misery of others. Knowing that he has received mercy is a prime motivator for the teacher to be a purveyor of mercy.

"good fruits" – Recall again Jesus’ words about knowing them by their fruits. Good teaching produces good fruit.

"unwavering" – Greek: adiakritos – a, negative, diakrinos, - to separate or part, thus, not wishy-washy, stable.

"without hypocrisy" – Doesn’t teach one thing, do another.

The eight qualities above are characteristics of a good teacher. While no person is perfect, the growing presence of these marks of "the wisdom from above" ought to be present in one who claims to have God’s wisdom and to be able to impart it to others.

This verse contains characteristics of good teaching in the church:

1. The material they teach: "the seed whose fruit is righteousness"
2. The manner of sowing – "sown in peace."
3. The men who are qualified: "those who make peace."

What a great finale for this section on the teacher and his teaching!

Dave Redick is Minister of the Hwy 20 Church of Christ in Sweet Home, Oregon and Editor of The Preacher's Study. He may be reached at pstudysupport@comcast.net.

Copyright © 1996-2008 by The Preacher's Study. Permission is granted to subscribers to use this document in total or in sermon preparation in the context of the local congregation only. Publishing it in a book, on the Internet, or anyplace beyond the local congregation is prohibited.

All Scripture quotations and references are from the New American Standard Version unless otherwise stated.

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