Lesson 43, October 3
Summary 3:1
1. All Believers are
to exercise self-control over the tongue - their speech - but for the teacher this is even a
greater responsibility.
2. The greater
privilege of teaching means greater responsibility.
3. The teacher must
be sure his content is free from error, speculation and inappropriate speech
that might bring reproach on the Word and our Savior Jesus Christ.
1 Tim 1:3-7;
4. The teacher of
BD's public and private speech should be above reproach.
5. James being aware
of the great responsibility of the teacher of BD issues this warning.
6. He's not attacking
the function or gift of teaching in any way but is seeking to restrain those
who are not qualified or prepared.
7. Some desire the
esteem of the position w/o exercising the self discipline demanded of the
position. (failed to count the cost) 1 Tim 1:7
8. They need to know
that those who aspire to be teachers will incur a more rigorous evaluation -
judgment than others.
9. This judgment is
in the future at the Bema seat. 1 Cor
10. The one teaching
must realize that teaching BD is a serious function not to be taken lightly.
3:2 The tongue and maturation
For we all stumble in many ways
- stumble - (pres act
- it
doesn't suggest a total reversal of the spiritual direction of the life but
refers to a temporal set-back in our daily walk, a failure of the faith to be
reflected in the life
- in many ways - polu,j - denotes wide areas in which stumbling occurs brings into
focus other areas besides the area of danger the tongue, the focus here.
- This phrase -in many ways - tells us that
James could have picked many areas to deal with but chose to emphasize the
abuse of the tongue.
If anyone (1cc sets up hypothetical
situation to reveal reality of 2 conditions)
#1 - establishes that some of them
were of the opinion that they were indeed perfect had realized - sinless
perfection.
#2 - establishes what
is the criteria for
maturation - self control
does not stumble in
what he says, he is a perfect man,
able to bridle the
whole body as well.
#1 - For those who think
they have attained sinless perfection this is designed to wake them up.
#2 - Overt indication
of spiritual maturity is the control not only of the tongue but the body also -
other areas of weakness of sin nature.
Summary 3:2
1. James states an
axiom - universal fact for believers - We all stumble in many ways. (sin nature leads in many ways besides the tongue)
2. Other scripture
supports the fact that men stumble in many ways:
1 Kgs