James 3:1-5 On T.A.P.

Theology

• The Jews desired to become teachers (Rabbi’s) because that title came with prestige, popularity and recognition. It was said, if you had to choose who would live between your parents and your Rabbi, you should choose your Rabbi, because your parents bring you into “This World” and your Rabbi brings you into “The Next World”; thus their job was “more important”.
• Therefore, James encourages the Jews, who are scattered abroad, not to desire to become teachers; for a couple of reasons.
• One, they will incur a stricter judgment [James 3:1]. Two, they are sinners [James 3:2]
• James correlates the control of our tongue with Jesus’ teaching of controlling the heart [Matthew 12:34, 15:18, 10:26]. If one can do this they are perfect and able to control the whole body.
• However, gives us two practical examples of why this is impossible. You must put a bit into a horses mouth to direct it and you must add a rudder to a ship to guide it. Without those “additions” the horse will go where it wants and the ship will be blows around by the wind and you will never get to your destination.
• James correlates a teachers responsibility to be the bit to a horse or a rudder to the ship. When we become a child of Jesus, we get something added to us, the Holy Spirit and we get the church. The church has a hierarchy of those blessed with specific gifts of the Holy Spirit to various things. One of those is teaching, a teacher is the bit or rudder working synergistically with the Holy Spirit to guide and direct you through your lives.
• If a teacher doesn’t know how to respond to trials [James 1:1-18], God’s word [James 1:9-17], discrimination [James 2:1-13] or religion [James 2:14-26] their teaching is not from above and is demonic [James 3:15].
• A teacher must be able to rebuke, correct and sanctify their students with scripture and not just words or feelings, but the living and active Word of God [Hebrews 4:12; John 17:17] and we must be willing to put ourselves under the authority.

Application

• James is calling out these Jews on their lack of alignment with their walk in the name of Jesus. James tells us In Chapter 2, a person’s works show one depth of faith and a in Chapter 3 he tells us one’s speech is the spiritual thermometer.
• Think of your teacher/pastor/elder/deacon etc., do their works show their faith? If so, is it a shallow faith or a deep faith? Do they sacrifice? How much time and effort do they put into their ministry?
• Do you know what your teacher/pastor/elder/deacon does for the church or do you only see them teaching? Reach out to your teacher/pastor/elder/deacon and get to know them, ask them what they do and ask if you can assist them.
• Think of your teacher/pastor/elder/deacon etc., what does their speech look like? When they speak to do speak scripture or do they speak about “good ideas” or “catchy lines”?
• It is highly important a teacher/pastor/elder/deacon know how to use the Word of God; therefore, evaluate your teacher/pastor/elder/deacon speech and see if it reflective of scripture.
• Have you been corrected by a teacher/pastor/elder/deacon, if so, did they use scripture or did they just talk?
• Have you reached out to your teacher/pastor/elder/deacon for discernment? If so, did they use scripture or did they just “talk through it”.
• Do you need a teacher/pastor/elder/deacon whose works and speech align with scripture? Most people who have a teacher/pastor/elder/deacon whose works and speech align with scripture can offend us, because we are being confronted, for the purpose of redemption, about our sin and this creates a anger for those “calling us out” [John 15:18]

Prayer

• Praise God for His Word that progressively sanctifies you.
• If you have put yourself under a teacher/pastor/elder/deacon who is not congruent with what scripture says one is, confess to God your sinfulness and begin to look for that new teacher/pastor/elder/deacon to put yourself under their authority.
• Thank God for time and effort teacher/pastor/elder/deacon put into the Jesus. Find out what yours does and thank them for it.
• Ask God to give you the wisdom to make Biblical decisions and provide you with a teacher/pastor/elder/deacon you can submit to.

Grace & Peace, You Are Loved,
Judson

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