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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - James 3:1-12

The foregoing chapter shows how unprofitable and dead faith is without works. It is plainly intimated by what this chapter first goes upon that such a faith is, however, apt to make men conceited and magisterial in their tempers and their talk. Those who set up faith in the manner the former chapter condemns are most apt to run into those sins of the tongue which this chapter condemns. And indeed the best need to be cautioned against a dictating, censorious, mischievous use of their tongues.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 3:9-12

3:9-12 With it we bless the Lord and Father and with it we curse the men who have been made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth there emerge blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers. Surely the one stream from the same cleft in the rock does not gush forth fresh and salt water? Surely, brothers, a fig-tree cannot produce olives, nor a vine figs, nor can salt water produce fresh water? We know only too well from experience that there is a cleavage in human... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 3:11

Doth a fountain send forth at the same place ,.... "Or hole"; for at divers places, and at different times, as Pliny F13 Nat. Hist. l. 2. c. 103. observes, it may send forth sweet water and bitter : and it is reported F14 Isodor. Hispal. Originum, l. 13. c. 13. p. 115. , there is a lake with the Trogloditae, a people in Ethiopia, which becomes thrice a day bitter, and then as often sweet; but then it does not yield sweet water and bitter at the same time: this simile is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:11

Doth a fountain send forth - sweet water and bitter? - In many things nature is a sure guide to man; but no such inconsistency is found in the natural world as this blessing and cursing in man. No fountain, at the same opening, sends forth sweet water and bitter; no fig tree can bear olive berries; no vine can bear figs; nor can the sea produce salt water and fresh from the same place. These are all contradictions, and indeed impossibilities, in nature. And it is depraved man alone that can... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:11

Verse 11 11Doth a fountain. He adduces these comparisons in order to shew that a cursing tongue is something monstrous, contrary to all nature, and subverts the order everywhere established by God. For God hath so arranged things which are contrary, that inanimate things ought to deter us from a chaotic mixture, sure as is found in a double tongue. (123) read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:1-12

WARNING AGAINST OVER - READINESS TO TEACH , LEADING TO A DISCOURSE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF GOVERNMENT OF THE TONGUE . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:1-12

Speech I. THE GREAT RESPONSIBILITY OF TEACHERS . This is forcibly shown by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:15 , etc. Even of those who have built upon the right foundation the work is to be tested by fire, and "if any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." What, then, must be the "greater condemnation "in store for others whose very foundation was faulty? In a commentary especially designed for teachers of others, a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:1-12

The ethics of speech. In these verses is dealt a rebuke against the craving for authority, which, as he reminds them, involves "heavier judgment." How? Partly as coming under judgment itself (see Matthew 23:8-10 ); partly as involving increased responsibility. And responsibility and judgment are very near akin. More especially, in these words of warning, he has in view that confused assembly of theirs, in which all vied together in attempts to speak. How great the danger of "stumbling"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:7-12

The tongue ungovernable and inconsistent. At first the apostle had reminded his readers that speech may be made a great power for good ( James 3:2-4 ). Then he went on to say that in actual fact it is employed by most men as an engine of evil ( James 3:5 , James 3:6 ). He proceeds now to justify his strong language on this point. I. THE UNTAMABLENESS OF THE TONGUE . ( James 3:7 , James 3:8 ) We have here a fourfold classification of the inferior creatures. God gave... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:11-12

Illustrations showing the absurdity of the conduct reprobated. From one principle opposite things cannot be produced. Nothing can bring forth that which is not corresponding to its nature. How, then, can the tongue yield both blessing and cursing? It will be seen that the thought in (2) is different from that in Matthew 7:16 , to which it bears a superficial resemblance. There the thought is that a good tree cannot yield bad fruit. Here it is that a tree must yield that which... read more

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