Word
of God
Man
does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from
the mouth of God
Matthew
4:4
The
Epistle of James 3:2
(Study
notes by Matthew Henry Edited/Prefaced by Doktor Riktor Von Zhades)
2
For in many things we sin all. If any man sin not in word, he is a
perfect man, and able to bridle all the body.
Brethren:
Consider
also today Isaiah 9:17 and Matthew 7:4-5.
Recall
if you will a few days ago we spoke upon the topic of tempering
judgment with mercy, we would do well to continue in that line of
thought. - Dr. R.V.Z
Were
we to think more of our own mistakes and offenses, we should be less
apt to judge other people. While we are severe against what we count
offensive in others, we do not consider how much there is in us which
is justly offensive to them. Self-justifiers are commonly
self-deceivers. We are all guilty before God; and those who vaunt it
over the frailties and infirmities of others little think how many
things they offend in themselves. Nay, perhaps their magisterial
deportment, and censorious tongues, may prove worse than any faults
they condemn in others. Let us learn to be severe in judging
ourselves, but charitable in our judgments of other people. We are
taught to govern our tongue so as to prove ourselves perfect and
upright men, and such as have an entire government over ourselves: If
any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also
to bridle the whole body. It is here implied that he whose conscience
is affected by tongue-sins, and who takes care to avoid them, is an
upright man, and has an undoubted sign of true grace. But, on the
other hand, if a man seemeth to be religious (as was declared in the
first chapter) and bridleth not his tongue, whatever profession he
makes, that man’s religion is vain. Further, he that offends not in
word will not only prove himself a sincere Christian, but a very much
advanced and improved Christian. For the wisdom and grace which
enable him to rule his tongue will enable him also to rule all his
actions. This we have illustrated by the governing and guiding of all
the motions of a horse, by the bit which is put into his mouth:
Behold, we put bits into the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us,
and we turn about their whole body.
No comments:
Post a Comment