A Youth Worker's Commentary on James by David P. Nystrom

Author:David P. Nystrom [Christie, Les; Nystrom, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780310890744
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2013-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

In verse 2 James admits a very human truth—none of us is perfect; we all stumble and mess up from time to time. But it will happen less often if we learn to discipline our tongue and take control of our conversations. The word “many” might refer either to the number or the variety of sins, but it most likely refers to both. Yet there’s at least one sin that’s common to all—the sin of the tongue. At this point James has in mind not only teachers, but all Christians—although, of course, the effects of a stumble in the case of teachers can have far wider effects.

But if, as James imagines, there was someone who never sinned in speech, then that person would be perfect. The notion of a perfect man (teleos aner) must be that of completeness and maturity, just as in 1:4. This is completeness in Christian virtue, not sinlessness.

To keep their whole body “in check” implies control of the passions. The expression also means “to bridle,” which introduces the analogies James uses next. Speech—and especially the tongue as emblematic of speech—is often the tool of the yeser ha-ra (the evil impulse).

James 3:3-4

3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

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