1. James 3-5 © John Stevenson, 2011

2. Taming the tongue (3:1-12) Warning against partiality — Show your faith by your works (2) Visiting orphans and widows in their distress (1:27) Bridling the tongue (1:26) A prayer for wisdom (1:5-7)

3. James 2 Faith without works. James 3 Faith without words. Faith is perfected by works (2:22). The one who does not stumble in what he says is a perfect man (3:2). Illustrated by the problem of partiality within the church (2:2- 4). Illustrated by one who blesses God while cursing men (3:9-10).

4. James 3:1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.

5. James 3:1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. mei/zon kri,ma Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. “mega judgment”

6. James 3:1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you (Matthew 7:2).

7. 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.

8. James 3:3 Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.

9. James 3:4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. What is the point of these two illustrations?

10. James 3:5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!

11. Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows and death, So is the man who deceives his neighbor, And says, “Was I not joking?” For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down. Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. (Proverbs 26:18-21).

12. 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. ge,enn a

13. “For the sons of Judah have done that which is evil in My sight,” declares the LORD, “they have set their detestable things in the house which is called by My name, to defile it. 31 And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, and it did not come into My mind.” (Jeremiah 7:30-31).

14. “Therefore, behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, "when it will no more be called Topheth, or the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of the Slaughter; for they will bury in Topheth because there is no other place. 33 And the dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the sky, and for the beasts of the earth; and no one will frighten them away.” (Jeremiah 7:32-33).

17. James 3:7-8 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.

18. The Tongue Defiles the body Is set on fire by hell Sets on fire the course of our life

19. 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.

20. James 3:11-12 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.

21. Wisdom from above (3:13-18) Taming the tongue (3:1-12) Warning against partiality — Show your faith by your works (2) Visiting orphans and widows in their distress (1:27) Bridling the tongue (1:26) A prayer for wisdom (1:5-7)

22. James 3:13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

23. James 3:14-16 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

24. James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

25. Wisdom from Below Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition Wisdom from Above Good deeds manifest the gentleness of wisdom ArrogantHumble (1:21) Lies against the truthA hearer and a doer of the Word (1:22-25)

26. Wisdom from Below Wisdom from Above Earthly, natural and demonic: The world, the flesh and the devil Pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy Disorder and every evil thing Fruit of righteousness is sown in peace EarthlyHeavenly

27. Wisdom from Below Wisdom from Above Natural wisdom – the Greek term can be translated “soulish” – we would call it “humanistic” Supernatural wisdom coming down from the Father of Lights.

28. James 3:18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who are making peace

29. James 4:1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? h`donh,

30. James 4:1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? How do pleasures wage war in your members?

31. James 4:1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? What is the opposite of making pleasure a priority?

32. James 4:2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.

33. James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

36. James 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

37. For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the LORD of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth. (Isaiah 54:5).

38. For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. 3 But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2-3).

39. James 4:5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?

40. James 4:6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

41. For though the LORD is exalted, Yet He regards the lowly; But the haughty He knows from afar. (Psalm 138:6).

42. Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted (Proverbs 3:34).

43. For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isaiah 57:15).

44. Ten Imperatives Submit therefore to God (4:7). Resist the devil (4:7). Draw near to God (4:8). Cleanse your hands (4:8). Purify your hearts (4:8). Be miserable (4:9).

45. Ten Imperatives Mourn (4:9). Weep (4:9). Let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom (4:9). Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord (4:10).

46. ProblemSolution Quarrels and conflicts from focusing on your pleasures (4:1) Submit therefore to God, resist the devil, draw near to God (4:8). Spiritual murder (4:2).Cleanse your hands (4:8). Problems in prayer (4:3). Purify your hearts (4:8). Spiritual adultery (4:4- 5). Be miserable, mourn and weep (4:9).

47. ProblemSolution God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble (4:6). Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord (4:10).

48. James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. How do you resist the devil?

49. James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. di,yucoj (dipsuchos)

50. James 4:9-10 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. tapeinw,qht e (tapeinothete) Aorist passive imperative plural of tapeino, w “Be humbled”

51. Verses 7-10Verses 11-12 Looks at the believer’s relationship with God Looks at the believer’s relationship with other men Positive commands given in the aorist tense (Do this now!) Negative command given in the present tense (Stop doing that!)

52. James 4:11-12 Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

53. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother Speaks against the law… Judges the law… If you judge the law… You are… Not a doer of the law A judge of the law

54. James 4:13-14 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

55. As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away. (Psalm 90:10). So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12).

56. James 4:15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” Does this mean we should stop making plans about the future?

57. James 4:16-17 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

58. And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. (Luke 18:9-10).

59. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ (Luke 18:11-12).

60. But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ (Luke 18:13).

61. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:14).

62. James 5:1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.

63. James 5:2 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten.

64. James 5:3 Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!

65. James 5:4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

66. James 5:5-6 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.

67. James 5:7-8 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. makroqum e,w (makrothumeo) Makroj : Distant, far Qumoj : Anger

68. James 5:7-8 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Perfect active indicative

69. James 5:9 Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. The Judge is standing right at the door Are to be patient because… The poor who have been cheated by the rich…

70. James 5:10 As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Why are the prophets such a good example of suffering & patience?

71. James 5:11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

72. The attitude of the Poor as they are oppressed by the Rich (5:12-20) Warning against the Rich who are oppressing the Poor (5:1-11)

73. James 5:12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.

74. Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, “You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.” (Matthew 5:33).

75. But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your statement be, “Yes, yes” or “No, no”; and anything beyond these is of evil. (Matthew 5:33-37).

76. People of PatiencePeople of Patience People of PromisePeople of Promise People of PrayerPeople of Prayer

77. James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.

78. James 5:14-15 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. avlei,f w From li,poj, oil

79. James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

80. James 5:17-18 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit. Literally, “he prayed a prayer”

81. Beware, lest your hearts be deceived and you turn away and serve other gods and worship them. 17 Or the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and He will shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its fruit; and you will perish quickly from the good land which the LORD is giving you. (Deuteronomy 11:16-17).

82. James 5:19-20 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

83. Asking God for Wisdom (1:1-18) Hearing & Doing the Word (1:19-27)  Be a doer of the Word Problem with Partiality (2:1-13) Faith and Works (2:14-21) Taming the Tongue (3:1-12)  Be a sayer of the Word Wisdom from Above (3:13-18) Warnings… Over Quarrels & Conflicts (4:1-10) Against Arrogant Boasts (4:11-17) Against the Rich (5:1-11) About Patience & Prayer (5:12-20)