Behold, we put bits in the horses” mouths ... - The meaning of this simple illustration is, that as we control a horse by the bit - though the bit is a small thing - so the body is controlled by the tongue. He who has a proper control over his tongue can govern his whole body, as he who holds a bridle governs and turns about the horse. read more
Behold also the ships - This illustration is equally striking and obvious. A ship is a large object. It seems to be unmanageable by its vastness, and it is also impelled by driving storms. Yet it is easily managed by a small rudder; and he that has control of that, has control of the ship itself. So with the tongue. It is a small member as compared with the body; in its size not unlike the rudder as compared with the ship. Yet the proper control of the tongue in respect to its influence on the... read more
Even so the tongue is a little member - Little compared with the body, as the bit or the rudder is, compared with the horse or the ship.And boasteth great things - The design of the apostle is to illustrate the power and influence of the tongue. This may be done in a great many respects: and the apostle does it by referring to its boasting; to the effects which it produces, resembling that of fire, James 3:6; to its untameableness, James 3:8-9; and to its giving utterance to the most... read more
James 3:1-2. Be not many masters Διδασκαλοι , teachers. Let none of you rashly, and without proper qualifications, undertake the office of teachers of others; an office into which many are ready to intrude themselves, without being called of God to it. “The great desire which the Jewish Christians, to whom this letter was written, had to become teachers in the church after their conversion, and to inculcate the obligation of the law of Moses, is noticed by St. Paul, 1 Timothy 1:7. ... read more
James 3:3-5. Behold, &c. As if the apostle had said, Think not the tongue a weak member because it is small; we put bits in the horses’ mouths that they may obey us May go as we direct them; and, strong, and sometimes furious as they are; we turn about their whole body Influence as we please all their motions. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great So large and heavy, and are driven frequently by fierce winds which seem to be irresistible, yet are they turned... read more
3:1-5:6 WORLDLY AMBITION AND CHRISTIAN FAITHControl of the tongue (3:1-12)James warns his readers not to be too ambitious to be teachers in the church, because if they instruct others and then fail themselves, they will receive greater judgment. This places teachers in particular danger, because they cannot avoid making some mistakes (3:1-2). A person who can control his tongue can control the whole self. Just as the bit controls the horse and the rudder controls the ship, so the tongue... read more
masters = teachers. App-98 . James 3:4 . knowing . App-132 . condemnation . App-177 . read more
offend all = all stumble. See James 2:10 . If . App-118 . any man = any one. App-123 . in . App-104 . word . App-121 . perfect . App-125 . man . App-123 . also . Should come after "body". bridle . See James 1:26 . read more
Behold . App-133 .; but the texts read ei ( App-118 . a) de, "But if". bits . Greek. chalinos. Here and Revelation 14:20 . that = to the end that ( App-104 .), but the texts read eis (vi). obey . App-150 . turn about . Greek. metago. Only here and James 3:4 . read more
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Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 3:2
For in many things we offend all - We all offend. The word here rendered offend, means to stumble, to fall; then to err, to fail in duty; and the meaning here is, that all were liable to commit error, and that this consideration should induce men to be cautious in seeking an office where an error would be likely to do so much injury. The particular thing, doubtless, which the apostle had in his eye, was the peculiar liability to commit error, or to do wrong with the tongue. Of course, this... read more