Teachers must control their tongues
James 3:1-5
The words of teachers direct the church. Words are powerful; the judgment of them will be likewise severe. Be slow to assume to teach.
Shared April 30th, 2016
Main point summary
Arc
Notes
notes
Main point summary
Be slow to assume to teach. If you would teach, you must take control of your tongue, and direct if for the good of the church.
Arc
editing
NT
James 3:1-5
esv
mine
c Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers,
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers,
for you know
because you know
that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
that is, we who teach will face a greater judgement
ideaexplanation
For d we all stumble in many ways.
Furthemore, we all fail in many ways
And if anyone does not stumble
If anyone does not stumble
in what he says,
by what he says
actionmanner
e he is a perfect man,
then , he is a perfect man
f able also to bridle his whole body.
that is, he is able to control his whole body
conditional
If we put g bits into the mouths of horses
Explaining ... if we put a bit in a horse's mouth
so that they obey us ,
so that it obeys us
actionresult
we guide their whole bodies as well.
then , we guide the horse's whole body
Look at the ships also:
And , consider also the ships
though they are so large
they are massive
and are driven by strong winds,
and they are battered by relentless gales
series
they are guided by a very small rudder
and yet they are guided by a very small rudder
wherever the will of the pilot directs.
that is, guided to the will of the pilot.
concessive
So also the tongue is a small member,
So also, the tongue is a small member of the body
yet h it boasts of great things.
and yet it boasts/speaks of great things.
comparison
progression
ground
Through controlling the rudder, the pilot is able to direct a massive ship according to his will, even in the midst of a gale.
Through a tiny bit, we guide the horse's whole body.
I wasn't sure if this should be Csv or +/-. In the case of Csv, the meaning would be "We stumble in many ways (with our tongues), and yet the one who controls the tongue can effectively guide big and powerful things." In the case of +/-, I would make 2b-5 as '+' because it is the side that is being held up as what we should aspire towards.
discourse
Notes
Think of your tongue as a ship's rudder or the horse's bit: small but of critical and powerful significance. It will make great claims, and so it must be controlled and directed for good ( 1 Cor 1:31 ). Our tongues' guide our lives; those who teach are guiding the church, and therefore their words will face a greater judgement. So not many of you should assume to teach the church. And if you would assume this role, you must take control of your tongue, and direct if for the good of the church.
Comments
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