Winston Salem church of Christ

Let not many of you become teachers.  James warns his readers with a hard hitting reality – knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment (Jms.3:1).  James himself was a “teacher” (i.e., we) and knew the dangers.

We know why James said that many should not be teachers, but do we know why many of his readers might have wanted to?  Are we sure we understand the real danger he warns against?  If we have missed it, then we need to be warned ourselves.  From a personal point of view, I think I have witnessed “teachers” not knowing the danger they willingly put themselves in.

At first glance, James 3:1 appears disconnected – chapter divisions can do that.  From faith without works being dead in chapter 2; to don’t be too quick to become a teacher – what’s the connection?  It might be more than both faith and teaching are aspects of religion.  Both texts discuss the misuse of the tongue:

• James 2:12-14 – So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.  (13)  For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.  (14)  What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
• James 3:8-10 – But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.  (9)  With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; (10) from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

The danger of disconnecting texts is that we do not see the immediate application – we see what we are expecting to see.  Taking James 3:1 by itself, I always had thought that the stricter judgment would be knowledge based.  The more we know, the more responsible we are in what we teach.  While that is true Biblically, I doubt that is the immediate reason behind James’ warning.

Thematically, James is filled with various trials (Jms.1:2).  Again taken out of context, one might consider these the same various trials (1 Pet.1:6) Peter warns against.  However in Peter’s letter, the trials are persecution.  In James’ letter, the trials are between the rich and poor, the haves and have-nots, those with some money and those with little to none.  Read James with that background and passages come alive in a way that they hadn’t before, at least for me.

For example, we are to ask for wisdom, and God will give it – how?  Generously and without reproach.  When the poor ask those who are better off financially, those are often two missing traits.  James then declares that the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation (1:9-10).  The chapter ends with If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.  Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.  Those that can are to help those who can’t.  That is faith and works and the tongue.

James 2 introduces another trial between the rich and poor – playing favorites, and the misuse of language between the two – “You sit here in a good place” a “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool” (2:3).  Then, again faith and works and the tongue play into this theme of trials – James 2:15-16  If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,  (16)  and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?  That person failed his test of faith.

That leads us to the warning against teaching.  Obviously we all should teach (Heb.5:12-14), or else we could not fulfill many other commands.  So this “teacher” of James 3:1 must be a specific type.  Personally, I believe the teacher is an elder (Eph.4:11).  The Jewish audience of James would associate a teacher with a religious leader (Mt.23:8).  What does this have to do with money?  In the first century elders did receive compensation:

• 1 Timothy 5:17-18 – The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.  (18)  For the Scripture says, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
• 1 Peter 5:2 – shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;

Contextually it makes sense that many in James’s audience would want the role of a teacher to enhance their pocketbooks and prestige.  That is a dangerous motive.  In making application today, since most elders are not paid, we can see the danger in men wanting to preach for money and prestige.  What a dangerous motive.

But what about the stricter judgment?  Contextually is the warning against teaching false doctrine?  No.  The context is the danger of the tongue, but not in teaching falsely, but in how people are treated.

• James 3:2 – For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.

The word “bridle” is only used twice in the entire NT – here and James 1:26:

• James 1:26 – If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

Earlier in chapter one James cautions:

• James 1:19 – This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;

What is the danger of being a “paid teacher or preacher?”  So often in the way we use our tongues, in anger or condescension, embarrassing unnecessarily publicly instead of speaking to our brothers and sisters in private.

• James 3:9-10 – With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; (10) from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

Understanding the passage this way makes me wonder if James has a double meaning in the following passage:

• James 3:6 – And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.

Could we teachers, elders, preachers be guilty of defiling the body of Christ with our tongues?  

Let not many of us become teachers for we will incur a stricter judgment if we mistreat people.

Perry D. Hall