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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 3:2

3:2 There are many things in which we all slip up; but if a man never slips up in his speech, he is a perfect man, able to keep the whole body also on the rein. James sets down two ideas which were woven into Jewish thought and literature. (i) There is no man in this world who does not sin in something. The word James uses means to slip up. "Life," said Lord Fisher, the great sailor, "is strewn with orange peel." Sin is so often not deliberate but the result of a slip up when we are off... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 3:3-5

3:3-5 If we put bits into horses' mouths to make them obedient to us, we can control the direction of their whole body as well. Look at ships, too. See how large they are and how they are driven by rough winds, and see how their course is altered by a very small rudder, wherever the pressure of the steersman desires. So, too, the tongue is a little member of the body, but it makes arrogant claims for itself. It might be argued against James' terror of the tongue that it is a very small... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 3:5

3:5b-6 See how great a forest how little a fire can set alight. And the tongue is a fire; in the midst of our members the tongue stands for the whole wicked world, for it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the ever-recurring cycle of creation, and is itself set on fire by hell. The damage the tongue can cause is like that caused by a forest fire. The picture of the forest fire is common in the Bible. It is the prayer of the Psalmist that God may make the wicked like chaff before the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 3:5

We must spend a little longer on this passage, because in it there are two specially difficult phrases. (i) The tongue, says the Revised Standard Version is an unrighteous world. That ought to be the unrighteous world. In our bodies, that is to say, the tongue stands for the whole wicked world. In Greek the phrase is ho ( Greek #3588 ) kosmos ( Greek #2899 ) tes ( Greek #3588 ) adikias ( Greek #93 ), and we shall best get at its meaning by remembering that kosmos ( Greek... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 3:2

For in many things we offend all ,.... Or "we all offend", slip and fall; no man lives without sin; in many, in most, if not in all things, a good man himself does, he sins; and this extends to the most solemn services, and best works of a good man; there is sin in his holy things, imperfections in all his performances; his righteousnesses are as filthy rags; hence no man can be justified by his works before God, nor is any man perfect in this life, so as to be without sin in himself: the... read more

John Gill

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

Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths ,.... By this, and the following simile, the apostle not only expresses the smallness of that member of the body, which is like the bit in the horse's mouth, and the helm of a ship, but the good use of it, and the great influence it has over the whole body. Horses are without understanding, and need direction in what path to go, and are strong, and would be truly and ungovernable unless bits and bridles were put into their mouths: that they may... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 3:4

Behold also the ships, which though they be so great ,.... Of so large a bulk, of such a prodigious size, and are such unwieldy vessels: and are driven of fierce winds ; with great vehemence, rapidity, and swiftness: yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth ; the helm, or tiller of a ship, is a beam or piece of timber fastened into the rudder, and so coming forward into the steerage, where he that stands at helm steers the ship F5 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 3:5

Even so the tongue is a little member ,.... Like the bit in the horse's mouth, or like the helm of a ship. And boasteth great things : and does them; for this word may be taken in a good sense: a bridled and sanctified tongue, that is influenced by the grace of God, and directed by the Spirit of God, as it speaks great and good things, it has great power, weight, and influence: the tongue of the just is as choice silver, and the lips of the righteous feed many, Proverbs 10:20 , the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:2

In many things we offend all - Πταιομεν ἁπαντες· We all stumble or trip. Dr. Barrow very properly observes: "As the general course of life is called a way, and particular actions steps, so going on in a regular course of right action is walking uprightly; and acting amiss, tripping or stumbling." There are very few who walk so closely with God, and inoffensively with men, as never to stumble; and although it is the privilege of every follower of God to be sincere and without offense to... read more

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