INTRODUCTION:

(Deuteronomy 4:2 [KJV])
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

(Proverbs 30:5, 6 [KJV])
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

(Isaiah 28:10 [KJV])
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

(Isaiah 28:13 [KJV])
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

(2 Peter 1:20 [KJV])
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

All of the studies found here, whether book studies or topical studies, are done with research with mainly two things: The KING JAMES BIBLE and a plain old, 1828 Webster's Dictionary. Why? Outside of actually studying secular and Jewish history, archaeology, one needs nothing more. You do not need foreign, dead languages that no one speaks, nor lexicons, nor concordances, nor commentaries, because they differ not only with one another and with the KING JAMES BIBLE, they create division, confusion, debate, and unbelief, apostasy, and a falling away from God Himself. We do not need them. That Word of God written and preserved for us in our own language is supposed to be enough, like the Old Testament was for the Jews, and as the New Testament was for the early Christians in Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, German, etc.

Tyndale Bible
Coverdale Bible
Matthew's Bible
Great Bible
Geneva Bible
Bishop's Bible
King James/Authorized Bible

There are studies within as tangents on words, subjects found within the two testaments, as to broaden the scope of the study, to learn more, deeper truths. This is not an intellectual site with PhDs, theologians, and no worldly wisdom.. Check everything out, everything. Not just here, but with everything you read and see and hear. Be Bereans:

(Acts 17:11 [KJV])
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

(1 Thessalonians 2:13 [KJV])
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Always research for yourself, use all of the context, and never privately interpret!

Start of study

JAMES CHAPTER 3: THE FIERY TONGUE

This chapter is about the worst problem today in the church in America, the most divisive, the most destructive of the very fiber of society, marriages and families, and that is, gossip, which can also be slander, libel, backbiting, talebearing, and especially so in "women's prayer groups". It is often done behind the back of the unknowing husband, often heeded, often without a single person checking with that husband to hear both sides, all of which is clearly against Scripture and practiced freely, with no opposition from the leaders in that church, who either are even unaware of it, or simply do not care.

(Leviticus 19:16,17 [KJV])
Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.

(Proverbs 11:13 [AKJV/PCE])
A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

(Proverbs 18:8 [AKJV/PCE])
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

(Proverbs 20:19 [AKJV/PCE])
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

(Proverbs 26:20 [AKJV/PCE])
Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

(Proverbs 26:22 [AKJV/PCE])
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

(Exodus 23:1 [KJV])
Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

(James 1:26 [KJV])
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

(James 4:11 [KJV])
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

There is no "going to counsel", week after week, to "fix the marriage", without airing a ton of dirty laundry, speaking evil of the other spouse. Talking about in public "prayer groups" that which happens in the home? Is not allowed, because it causes strife, not peace; division, not unity; wounds, not healing; anger and not joy; divorce and not reconciliation. You cannot speak evil of someone in a public setting "for a prayer request" without airing dirty laundry, heaping mud on your spouse and backstabbing them with a fiery tongue. That is pure evil. Most who go to this are not interested in fixing any marriage, nor is that found in Scripture, but rather to justify ending it.

The entire book is about the mature Christian.

THE MATURE CHRISTIAN:

Chapter 1: Being patient in Trouble
Chapter 2: Practices, Lives out Truth
Chapter 3: Controls, Bridles the Tongue
Chapter 4: Get off of your high horse
Chapter 5: Leave judgment where it belongs, in the Hand of the LORD

(James 3:1 [AKJV/PCE])
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

To lead people is one thing, but to lead them means you can lead them in any direction, towards truth or towards lies, toward good or toward evil, either one they will follow so long as they trust you, or think they can or should trust you
Brethren, as in men leaders over congregations, assemblies
Notice that James does not say, "sisters, be not many masters"
With authority comes accountability, heavy responsibility, making one answerable to God and others
One of the very first condemnations that arises is intellectual pride, thinking and acting like that they are more wise than others, and that they have much more knowledge than "the plebeians", so the James is here clearly telling us shows the difference between men's pretending to be wise and actually being wise, and between worldly wisdom which is from beneath (from earth or hell) and godly wisdom

CONDEMNATION, n.

The act of condemning; the judicial act of declaring one guilty, and dooming him to punishment.
For the judgment was by one to condemnation. Rom 5.
The state of being condemned.
Dost thou not fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation. Luke 23.
The cause or reason of a sentence of condemnation. John 3.

(James 3:2 [AKJV/PCE])
For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

This is not just offending here, in its context. It is deliberately offending, insulting, using caustic sarcasm, as in expressing scorn, disdain, in arrogance, belittling
Telling the truth offends, and that is unavoidable
This is why so many compromise today, so as to enlarge their numbers, by not telling the truth, which offends
A healthy, vibrant, assembly, congregation grows spiritually into mature Christians, not just in number
It is a beacon to anyone nearby, a haven of rest, an encouragement
It affects the world around it, not vice versa
The number one destroyer is the tongue, gossip, slander, libel

(James 3:3-5 [AKJV/PCE])
Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

A bit is about twelve ounces, as opposed to about 1,000-2,000 or more pounds
Therefore, something a thousandth to two thousandth its own weight can control the direction of a horse, even a Shire, Percheron, Clydesdale, a Belgian horse
The average human male tongue is about three and a half ounces; female just under three
If a person weighs a hundred and forty pounds, that is about one fiftieth
That small, little, seemingly ineffective member of our bodies is by far the most deadly, dangerous one there
Snakes, serpents, reptiles have projecting tongues they use to taste the ear
The rudder under and even with the helm above in the wheelhouse of a dry docked massive ocean liner is inconsequential in comparison to the mass and weight of the ship, yet it has the ability to steer it on the sea

(James 3:6 [AKJV/PCE])
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

The 1871 Chicago fire was supposedly started by a single cow knocking over a lantern, which destroyed thousands of buildings, killed an estimated 300 people and caused an estimated $200 million in damages
Throughout all of history, a single word, sentence or a few of them have caused untold amounts of damage, more than anything else
Wars have been started, wars have been prevented, people imprisoned, falsely or not, marriages destroyed, created (with two times two words, "I do")
People have been directed, lied to, encouraged, destroyed, offended, corrected

(James 3:7-8 [AKJV/PCE])
For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Many different wild animals have been raised, tamed for circuses, for service, to be kept as pets, of all sorts, kinds
If one can tame lions, elephants, raccoons, snakes, cheetahs, zebras, foxes, monkeys, wolves, dingoes, parrots, killer whales, dolphins, elephant seals, etc.----BUT----not the tongue, what does that say about the tongue?

THE TONGUE

(Job 5:21 [AKJV/PCE])
Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.

(Job 15:5 [AKJV/PCE])
For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.

(Psalms 12:3 [AKJV/PCE])
The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

(Proverbs 6:24 [AKJV/PCE])
To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

(Proverbs 10:20 [AKJV/PCE])
The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.

(Proverbs 12:18 [AKJV/PCE])
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

(Proverbs 15:2 [AKJV/PCE])
The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

(Proverbs 16:1 [AKJV/PCE])
The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

(Proverbs 18:21 [AKJV/PCE])
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

(Proverbs 28:23 [AKJV/PCE])
He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

(Isaiah 32:4 [AKJV/PCE])
The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly.

(Isaiah 35:6 [AKJV/PCE])
Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

(Isaiah 50:4 [AKJV/PCE])
The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

(Isaiah 57:4 [AKJV/PCE])
Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,

(Jeremiah 18:18 [AKJV/PCE])
¶ Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.

Job called it a scourge, like a whipping device to draw blood
Job's "friends" gave him such a tongue lashing, falsely, that Job had to sacrifice for their forgiveness before God, without hitting Job at all, just with their words
God will cut off the proud tongue
The tongue of a strange woman can speak flattery seductively to make a man turn to butter and then melt like wax
A properly used tongue that is in the mouth of a just man is precious like silver
Some words can pierce like swords; some can maintain our health
The tongue of a person reveals whether one is wise or a fool
Leaning solely upon the LORD, our answers of the tongue will come from Him and be fitly spoken
Death, life, all in the power of the tongue, for the one who seeks either one
Using it correctly can make one a friend; incorrectly in flattery is likely not to, in the end
A person can smite or cut or slash or whip with the words of the tongue

(James 3:9-10 [AKJV/PCE])
Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

It is not our place to curse, pronounce a curse on anyone
It is God's to exact revenge

(Romans 12:19-20 [AKJV/PCE])
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

(Hebrews 10:30 [AKJV/PCE])
For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

(Leviticus 19:18 [AKJV/PCE])
¶ Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

(Proverbs 24:29 [AKJV/PCE])
Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

(James 3:11 [AKJV/PCE])
Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

The implied answer is, "NO!"
Water can be life and can be death, if bitter, poisoned
Same water, same mouth, two different things that come out, two different results, one good, one bad

(Revelation 8:11 [AKJV/PCE])
And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

(James 3:12 [AKJV/PCE])
Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Either one will use their tongue for good or for evil; both can not apply at the same time
What comes out is what is inside. Like toothpaste, all one needs to do is squeeze the tube
People will be judged by their words, deeds, thoughts
Good rewards, loss of rewards or eternal punishment, it will depend

(Matthew 12:34-37 [AKJV/PCE])
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

(James 3:13 [AKJV/PCE])
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

A person who has godly wisdom never really has to tell people; they soon discover it by that person's conversation and behavior, and will see if it is real or not
The unwise try to hide it, hoping that the blind follow the blind, and that no one notices the lack of wisdom and more notices the wizardry

WISDOM OR WIZARDRY: CAN YOU TELL?

(James 3:14 [AKJV/PCE])
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

The first evidence of false wisdom is this practice of boasting about how smart one is, causing division, arguing, glorifying oneself and not the LORD Jesus Christ
This is like doing alms before men (Matthew 6:1) or praying in public to be seen (Matthew 6:5)
They do not like the truth, nor people calling them out for it, and they hate that and so lie against them and the Word of God
They make themselves the Fiinal Authority, not the Word which they are commanded to submit to
"Hah! Tsssk tsssk!, "
They further deceive people because they are self-deceived, imagining that they can never be deceived, p[roving they already are

(James 3:15 [AKJV/PCE])
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

This is exactly what worldly wisdom is, not godly, and stems from pride and arrogance, not humility
Today what passes for medicine (pharmakia, psychology, psychiatry, "counseling", "marriage counseling"etc.) is worldly wisdom
Simple our nature, and now add in the enemy in there, controlling all of it (Genesis 3:1)

(James 3:16 [AKJV/PCE])
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

Wrong thinking, wrong living, wrong teaching, confusion, utter deception of the masses
1 John 2:15-16 is loving the wisdom of this world
Leads to rivalry, competition, war, division
Swift to speak, slow to hear, rushing fast to wrath, contrary to James 1:19

(James 3:17 [AKJV/PCE])
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Worldly wisdom: You need a degree in that, you need to go to a school, then university that is recognized, respected (by us of course)-partiality
Godly wisdom: You need to pray, humble yourself and study the Word of God-impartial
Pure wisdom comes only from God
Reliable, trustworthy, having decisiveness, not divisiveness
"I would trust him with my life!" versus "I would not trust him as far as I can throw him!

(James 3:18 [AKJV/PCE])
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Those who teach false doctrines which are contrary to God;'s Word (thereby causing divisions, confusions, doubts), those who do things that glorify themselves, those who walk in worldly wisdom are troublemakers, not causing peace, but strife, wars, unrest
Those who try to correct false doctrines, teachings are often falsely accused of causing this, but there is unity when all have the same Word of God, read, study and believe that same Word of God and can in unison read it aloud as an assembly together

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James chapter 4