In the third chapter of James, he starts off by saying, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1).
Do our words align with our faith in Christ? Should churches carefully examine those in the office of teaching?
As believers we should pay careful attention to those we learn from, many teaching pastors are a blessing to God’s people, but they are not Jesus and they are not perfect. How teachers speak in unguarded moments can be a good indicator of where there heart really is. How do they speak to their spouse or children? Do they privately slander others? When they curse, what do they curse about? How do they respond to ungodly authorities? How do other leaders lovingly correct teachers who make errors? Are they open to criticism? Is someone other than Jesus the focus when a teacher shares God’s Word?
Here is my homiletic breakdown of James three, this helps me get to applications, let me know your feedback.
Content Summary: (listing in my own words a summary of facts, events, and what the passage is about).
James instructs that not many should presume to be teachers because those who teach will be judged more strictly. (James 3:1)
James states that “we all stumble in many ways” and in areas of what we say (to others, to ourselves, written, spoken, or in our mind) we have faults or else we would be perfect keeping our body in check. (James 3:2)
James illustrates that teachers have great influence and compares it to “when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal”. (James 3:3)
James gives another illustration of that ships though large are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants it to go. (James 3:4)
The tongue is small part of the body but can be deadly, just as a small spark can set a large forest on fire, so the tongue can be a fire, an instrument of destruction. (James 3:5-6)
Wild animals and creatures can be tamed, but no man can tame the tongue, it can be the most destructive poisonous part of the body. (James 3:7-8)
The tongue can be used to praise God and curse mankind who is made in His likeness, this should not be the case among God people.(James 3:9-10)
Just as fresh water and salt water do not come from the same spring, nor do fig trees bear olives, or the grapevine bears figs, our hearts should be centered on God and the by product will reflect in our words. (James 3:11-12)
A wise person does deeds not out of self-promotion, but in humility and wisdom. (James 3:13)
When envy and selfish ambition and promotion are present, this is worldly wisdom that comes from the enemy not God. (James 3:14-15)
The byproduct of envy and selfish ambition is disorder and with-it destructive conduct and practices. (James 3:16)
Wisdom from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, good fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17)
Those who are peacemakers and sow peace will raise a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:18)
The tongue has the power to bless, deceive, and destroy. How can believers ask for His help in this area?
Endnotes:
Teachers – Greek word is “Didaskalos”, meaning Teacher. Word is used to describe the teachers in the early church of Antioch referring to Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, and Saul (Paul) Acts 13:1., Used to describe different gifts in the church: “11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” – Ephesians 4:11-13
The word teacher in New Testament Greek is “Didaskalos” and is different than Pastors (Poimen), which means Shepherd. Regarding Pastors and Shepherds, ‘the tasks of a Near Eastern shepherd were: - to watch for enemies trying to attack the sheep - to defend the sheep from attackers - to heal the wounded and sick sheep - to find and save lost or trapped sheep - to love them, sharing their lives and so earning their trust” (Source: https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/poimen.html#:~:text=Poimen%20Definition,and%20whose%20precepts%20they%20follow .
Curse – Moses warned about the people about cursing national leaders and God himself. “Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.” – Exodus 22:28. When Peter denied Jesus, he used cursive words to do so, “Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” – Matthew 26:74.