James 3:2-8 - Geneva Bible

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.

3 Behold, we put bits into the horses’ mouths, that they should obey us, and we turn about all their body.

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 rudder, whithersoever the governor listeth.

5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth of great things: behold, how great a thing a little fire kindleth.

6 And the tongue is fire, yea, a world of wickedness: so is the tongue set 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.

7 For the whole nature of beasts, and of birds, and of creeping things, and things of the sea is tamed, and hath been tamed of the nature of man.

8 But the tongue can no man tame. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

 Lord, help me to learn Your word, and keep it in my heart, amen

Brethren:

The Apostle James herein doth sayest, and it is true, that when men speak they open all divers ill and bad traits. Many boast of their achievements, others speak all sorts of ills upon those they profess to be friends with, and still others openly curse others and God. All of this is most unpleasing to God and reflects badly on the speaker. RP. Woitowitz Sr.

“A little world of evil in itself. This is a very expressive phrase, and is similar to one which we often employ, as when we speak of a town as being a world in miniature. We mean by it that it is an epitome of the world; that all that there is in the world is represented there on a small scale. So when the tongue is spoken of as being “a world of iniquity,” it is meant that all kinds of evil that are in the world are exhibited there in miniature; it seems to concentrate all sorts of iniquity that exist on the earth. And what evil is there which may not be originated or fomented by the tongue? What else is there that might, with so much propriety, be represented as a little world of iniquity? With all the good which it does, who can estimate the amount of evil which it causes? Who can measure the evils which arise from scandal, and slander, and profaneness, and perjury, and falsehood, and blasphemy, and obscenity, and the inculcation of error, by the tongue? Who can gauge the amount of broils, and contentions, and strifes, and wars, and suspicions, and enmities, and alienations among friends and neighbors, which it produces? Who can number the evils produced by the “honeyed” words of the seducer; or by the tongue of the eloquent in the maintenance of error, and the defense of wrong? If all men were dumb, what a portion of the crimes of the world would soon cease! If all men would speak only that which ought to be spoken, what a change would come over the face of human affairs! It stains or pollutes the whole body. It occupies a position and relation so important in respect to every part of our moral frame, that there is no portion which is not affected by it. Of the truth of this, no one can have any doubt. There is nothing else pertaining to us as moral and intellectual beings, which exerts such an influence over ourselves as the tongue. A man of pure conversation is understood and felt to be pure in every respect; but who has any confidence in the virtue of the blasphemer, or the man of obscene lips, or the calumniator and slanderer? We always regard such a man as corrupt to the core. Albert Barnes

 

James 3:1 - Geneva Bible

1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

Father, forgive me for my sins, keep me on the right path, for I struggle at times and fall down many others. Help me to understand Your word this morning, amen.

It is rather difficult to write about this passage, but herein, the Apostle James is sayest that it is reserved unto to God Himself to judge, for if we judge we are likewise guilty of the same sins. Remember that all fall short of the glory that is God, therefore, no matter how godly a people we might be, we're still sinners, saved by grace and mercy. Now, that said, we can and should discern evil from good. We should abhor sin as best we can. “Judge not, less you be judged” RP. Woitowitz Sr.

“This exhortation may have respect to censorious persons, rigid and severe reprovers of others, who take upon them, in a haughty manner, to charge and rebuke others for their faults; reproof for sin ought to be given; sin should not be suffered upon the brethren; to reprove is not blameworthy, but commendable, when it is done in a right manner, with a good spirit, and to a good end: in case of private offences, it should be privately given, and for public ones, men should be rebuked before all; but then this ought to be done in a gentle manner, and in a spirit of meekness; and when it is a clear case, and plain matter of fact, and which ought not to be exaggerated and aggravated; mole hills are not to be made mountains of, or a man be made an offender for a word, or a matter of human frailty; and reproof should be given by persons not guilty of the same, or worse crimes, themselves, and always with a good end; not to screen and cover their own vices, or to be thought more holy and religious than others, or to satisfy a revengeful spirit, but for the glory of God, and the restoring of the person that has sinned.” John Gill

 

James 2:26 - Geneva Bible

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, even so the faith without works is dead.

Father, forgive my sins, and help me to understand Your word, amen

Brethren:

A summation; A person can be good in works, but without faith it is dead in sin. A person can be rich in faith, but without works, is likewise dead in sin. A person that has faith, and has the fruits of that faith, works, is pleasing to our Creator. RP. Woitowitz

 James 2:18-20 - Geneva Bible

18 But some man might say, Thou hast the faith, and I have works: show me thy faith out of thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

19 Thou believest that there is one God: thou doest well: the devils also believe it, and tremble.

20 But wilt thou understand, O thou vain man, that the faith which is without works, is dead?

Father thank You for a good day yesterday. Help me now to understand Your word.

Brethren:

Do not neglect our duties as Christians. We cannot be pleasing to God in our everyday lives if we bring the Gospel, but neglect the needs of those whose lives are in poverty. Be charitable at all times. What does it profit us to say, “go and spread the gospel” but leave without full bellies. RP. Woitowitz

“Those are wrong who put a mere notional belief of the gospel for the whole of evangelical religion, as many now do. No doubt, true faith alone, whereby men have part in Christ's righteousness, atonement, and grace, saves their souls; but it produces holy fruits, and is shown to be real by its effect on their works; while mere assent to any form of doctrine, or mere historical belief of any facts, wholly differs from this saving faith. A bare profession may gain the good opinion of pious people; and it may procure, in some cases, worldly good things; but what profit will it be, for any to gain the whole world, and to lose their souls? Can this faith save him? All things should be accounted profitable or unprofitable to us, as they tend to forward or hinder the salvation of our souls. This place of Scripture plainly shows that an opinion, or assent to the gospel, without works, is not faith. There is no way to show we really believe in Christ, but by being diligent in good works, from gospel motives, and for gospel purposes. Men may boast to others, and be conceited of that which they really have not. There is not only to be assent in faith, but consent; not only an assent to the truth of the word, but a consent to take Christ. True believing is not an act of the understanding only, but a work of the whole heart.”

Matthew Henry

James 2:14, 17 – Geneva Bible

14 What availeth it my brethren, though a man saith, he hath faith, when he hath no works? can that faith save him?

17 Even so the faith, if it have no works, is dead in itself.

 

Lord, help me to understand Your words this morning, amen

 

Brethren:

 

Faith without works is a dead faith. How can one say that they much faith if they don do the works of charity that accompany faith? To walk the walk one must do the works as given unto us by God, to wit; walk justly, show kindness and walk humbly with our Creator. - RP Woitowitz

“It is not though he have faith, but though he say, I have faith. Here therefore true living faith is meant. But in other parts of the argument the apostle speaks of a dead imaginary faith. He does not therefore teach that true faith can, but that it cannot, subsist without works. Nor does he oppose faith to works, but that empty name of faith to real faith working by love. Can that faith which is without works save him? No more than it can profit his neighbor. The faith that does not produce works of charity and mercy is without the living principle which animates all true faith, that is, love to God and love to man. They had faith, such as a man has who credits a well-circumstanced relation because it has all the appearance of truth; but they had nothing of that faith that a sinner, convinced of his sinfulness, God's purity, and the strictness of the Divine laws, is obliged to exert in the Lord Jesus, in order to be saved from his sins.” - Adam Clark

James 2:8 - Geneva Bible

8 But if ye fulfill the royal Law according to the Scripture, which saith, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well.

Lord go before me today and conquer all that stand in my way that I might understand Your word.

Brethren:

The Apostle James herein doth sayest, that to neglect one point of the law is to be guilty of all the law. However, if we love our neighbors, despite rank or stature, we do well and please God. Therefore it is our duty to help ALL peoples are in need. RP. Woitowitz

“Which is the law of love to men, without distinction of rich and poor, high and low, bond and free; and is so called, because it is the law of the King of kings; hence the Syriac version renders it, "the law of God", it is the law of Christ, who is King of saints; and because it is a principal law, the chief of laws; as love to God is the sum of the first and great commandment in the law, and may be called the king of laws; so love to the neighbor is the second and next unto it, and may very well bear the name of the queen of laws, and so has royalty in it; and indeed this last is said to be the fulfilling of the law, ( Romans 13:8-10 ) ( Galatians 5:14 ) and it is also submitted to, and obeyed by such who are made kings and priests to God; and that in a royal manner, with a princely spirit, willingly, and with all readiness. Which is to be understood of every nation, without distinction of Jews and Gentiles, and of persons of every state and condition, rich and poor, without any difference: and when this law is so observed, it is commendable; that which is right, and which is a man's duty to do; this, when done from right principles, and to a right end, is a good work, and is doing a good work well.” John Gill

 James 2:1,5 - Geneva Bible

1 My brethren, have not the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ in respect of persons.

5 Hearken my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world, that they should be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?

Father, help me this day to understand Your words – amen

Brethren:

The Creator is not a respecter of persons as far as the wealthy are concerned. Herein James sayest that men will reveal the evilness in their hearts by preferring the wealthy over the poor. This is not in line with what Christ hath said. God by contrast will take the opposite view that it is the poor and neglected of this world that will be heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven. This is not to say that the wealthy and those of their kind cannot come to Christ, for all that give themselves over to Him will be saved. What is being said is that ALL men, no matter rank or degree should be honored.  RP Woitowitz

“The apostle proceeds to show that the rich, as such, had no special claim on their favor, and that the poor in fact might be made more entitled to esteem than they were. This is the first argument which the apostle suggests why the poor should not be treated with neglect. It is, that God has had special reference to them in choosing those who should be his children. The meaning is not that he is not as willing to save the rich as the poor, for he has no partiality; but that there are circumstances in the condition of the poor which make it more likely that they will embrace the offers of the gospel than the rich; and that in fact the great mass of believers is taken from those who are in comparatively humble life. Though poor in this world‘s goods, they are rich in a higher and more important sense. They have faith in God their Savior; and in this world of trial and of sin, that is a more valuable possession than piles of hoarded silver or gold. A man who has that is sure that he will have all that is truly needful for him in this world and the next; a man who has it not, though he may have the wealth of Croesus, will be utterly without resources in respect to the great wants of his existence. Faith in God the Saviour will answer more purposes, and accomplish more valuable ends for man, than the wealth of the Indies could: and this the poor may have as well as the rich.” - Albert Barnes