The change of thought seems very abrupt here, yet perhaps it is not as much so as it seems. The misuse of the tongue is a fault James is very eager to correct, and we find it often mentioned in his epistle. Verse 18 tells of our birth into God's family and we are a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. This relationship to Him brings corresponding responsibilities. Being His sons and His daughters, we should manifest a spirit similar to that of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

A clamorous, wrathful spirit: The early Jewish Christians were, in some cases, exhibiting a clamorous, wrathful spirit, which was not at all Christ-like. As we read the New Testament, we notice this was true of the Jews in their synagogue meetings (Luke 4:28, 29; Acts 13:45). After one would bring a message, others would rise, and in a boisterous way, contradict and accuse. Some have thought that this prevailed even in some of the meetings of the early Jewish Christians. Such things have, on rare occasions, happened in our time, to the shame of a few Christians. This has been known to happen when meetings are held to discuss the business affairs of the church of our Lord.

"Wherefore ..." The word, "wherefore" refers to what has gone before. Some of the old manuscripts have it, "this ye know" (See Revised Version). Because you know you have been born again by the Word of Truth, and are a kind of firstfruits of His creation, therefore "be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath."

"... my beloved brethren ..." This is the third time James uses the expression, "my brethren" (1:2, 1:16) and the second time he qualifies it by saying, "my beloved brethren." As he exhorts them in a rather severe way, he wants them to feel that he is not a superior, commanding them, but an equal, exhorting them. He also desires that they know that all he is saying comes from a real heart of love. If we are swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath, we will be the type of brethren easy to love. However, if we are: hard listeners, clamorous, wrathful, and bent upon objection and criticizing everything said by others, it will be hard for others to love us.

Hard exhortation to obey: The exhortation of this verse is perhaps one of the wisest in the Scriptures, yet, one of the most difficult to obey. Some, by the very nature of their work, must talk a great deal. This is true of preachers. Talk is their work, yet it would be better if some, perhaps most, talked less – for one who does a lot of talking, it is hard to listen.

"... swift to hear ..." It has often been noted that man has two ears to hear with and no bars to keep out sound. He has only one mouth with teeth and lips to hold the tongue in check. If the tongue has an urge to run wild, press your lips and clamp your teeth, and if you need further help, put your hand over your mouth. Some have little or no patience to listen to the other side of a story. Maybe the other person has something worth hearing, too. Especially, be swift to hear the Word of God.

Faith cometh by hearing: The first step in salvation is hearing the Word of God. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17). As sinners hear the Bible read and expounded, they see themselves as lost, and in need of a Savior. Then the day comes when they are convinced, and they turn to Christ for salvation. A Christian needs to have faith in the Lord for many things day by day. This is also developed and strengthened by hearing the Word of God.

Hear it as the Word of God: Paul highly commends the Thessalonians, because as he says, "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" (1 Thess. 2:13). When we hear the Word of God read, or someone speak from it, let us listen with reverence and attentive silence, realizing it is God speaking to our hearts. Further, let us be ready to submit to whatever it may say. Let us listen to see if it corrects us in any way. Be like David, who says, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me" (Ps. 139:23, 24). Lastly, be ready to walk in its precepts. "But be ye does of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (James 1:22).

All still need instruction: We can all still learn from others. No man living will ever know all there is to know from the Word of God. So let none of us show impatience at instruction, and let us not pass hasty judgment on what another says. The right Christian spirit is to be receptive, "swift to hear."

Socrates and the tongue: The story is told of a young man coming to Socrates, the Greek philosopher, to be instructed in oratory. The moment the young man was introduced, he began to talk, and there was an incessant stream for some time. When Socrates could get in a word, he said, "Young man, I will have to charge you a double fee." "A double fee? Why?" The old sage replied, "I will have to teach you two sciences. First, how to hold your tongue, and then how to use it."

"... slow to speak ..." A wise man is slow to speak. He will let others talk away, but he will not speak until he is sure he has something worth while to say. He realizes, "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise" (Prov. 10:19; 17:17, 28; Eccl. 5:2) One who is conscious of his own infirmities will be slow to speak. When we hear one talking incessantly, we rightly conclude that such is a proud man.

Troubles from hasty speech: Words slip out so easily, but they are hard, so hard, to recall. And often, they do a great deal of damage. A hasty, unguarded word often does great harm among the people of God. James takes up the subject at length in Chapter 3.

A way to speak: James says, "slow to speak," but he does not say "never speak." "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so" (Prov. 107:2). We must witness for Christ, but even in this we can be too hasty. We must weigh our words well, to bring just the right word at the right time. A wrong word quickly spoken can spoil an opportunity forever. We need to be very cautious whenever we are proclaiming the Word of God, whether to saved or unsaved. It is necessary to be careful even of the tone of our voice. If a thing is said in a kind loving voice, it may do much good. Exactly the same words spoken in a hard or sarcastic tone may do much harm. A pleading tone or a commanding tone can make all the difference in the world.

"... slow to wrath." One has put this verse this way: "a quick ear, a cautious tongue, a calm temper." This latter is so important. My, how words fly when one loses his temper. We need to be very cautious when discussing things with others. Discussion often leads to debate, and debate, to temper, and then things are unwisely spoken. If we are subject to fits of temper, we do well to ask the Lord for wisdom in overcoming this sin.

Better than the mighty: "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city" (Prov. 16:32). How this exalts a man with a calm temper. He is greater than a mighty conqueror. One who can control his temper is also called an exceedingly wise man. "He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding" (Prov. 14:29).

Anger with God: Let us be careful never to be angry with the Lord, like Cain or Jonah. Jonah was very angry because the gourd vine that shaded him withered by a worm that the Lord prepared. He actually replied to God, "I do well to be angry, even unto death" (Jonah 4:9). Of course, he was wrong, and so are we if we let God's providential dealings irritate or anger us in any way or for any reason.

Wrath everywhere condemned: Wrath and anger are everywhere condemned in the Word. Hear what our Lord has to say, "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment" (Matt. 5:22). Wrath is condemned as one of the works of the flesh, in Galatians 5:20, and it is one of the things we are told to put away in Ephesians 4:31.

A Soft answer: Sometimes, others get angry with us. It is easy to retaliate in kind. This never helps, but only makes things worse. "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger" (Prov. 15:1). Many grievous troubles would have been avoided if this wise counsel had been followed.

Scripture Reading: James 1:20 (KJV)

This verse tells us that the wrath of man does not in any way help the cause of God. I know that often it has definitely hindered a work for Him. The righteousness of God here does not speak of the righteous standing we have before Him when we trust Christ. It speaks of the righteous character of God, and of His righteous dealings with man.

When angry, man is not rational: When man is angry, he is quite likely to say unrighteous things, and even act unrighteously. Sometimes we say things in fits of temper that we never would say in sober moments. Anger borders on insanity, and, at such a time, we are apt to do irrational things.

We must not strive: We need to be very cautious in our discussions. These discussions, even on things of the Scriptures, have at times caused tempers to rise higher and higher, until eventually, hard, mean, things have been said. Absolutely nothing is accomplished by this sort of thing. "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men" (2 Tim. 2: 24). Some men, while preaching, rise higher and higher in tempo as they go, until one feels they are speaking in anger. This does not advance the righteousness of God. The cause of the Lord is far better served by meekness and mildness. "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves" (2 Tim. 2:25).

Shepherd not soon angry: An overseer is one who has the shepherd's care over a local group of Christians. He is the same as the ones elsewhere called elders. One of his qualifications is "not soon angry" (Tit. 1:7). A man with a bad temper should never be permitted to serve in this capacity. He is sure to damage the cause of Christ. In the oversight of a group of Christians, trying circumstances are sure to arise. Difficult decisions must be made. A man who cannot control his temper will be a menace in such a position.

Hearers get angry: Sometimes, hearers get angry with what a preacher says from the pulpit. This is understandable when the hearers are not Christians. However, Christians should never get angry under such conditions, especially if God's Word has been preached. To do so is the same as getting angry with the Lord Himself. Occasionally, a Christian might become angry with a preacher of the Gospel, thinking that he was purposely picking on them. But this is something a true Gospel preacher would never purposely do. A Gospel preacher is to faithfully give all the counsel of God (Acts 20:27). If something strikes home, it does no good to become angry. In other words, if the shoe fits, put it on.

Cain's wrath: Cain became very angry with the Lord when He would not accept his bloodless sacrifice (Gen. 4). The Lord pleaded with him, but he would not be appeased. Instead, his anger increased and we see him slaying Able in a fit of temper. Did this do him any good? He became an outcast and a vagabond on the earth.

Moses' anger: For the second time, the children of Israel, in their wanderings in the wilderness, suffered from the lack of water. The Lord said to Moses, "Speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth water" (Num. 20:8). But Moses, in a fit of anger, says, "Hear now ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?" (Num. 20:10). Then, instead of speaking to the rock, he smote it twice with his rod. God brought forth the water in spite of this, but Moses had to pay for his anger and disobedience. He never entered the Promised Land.

Other angry ones: Naaman was angry because the prophet told him to dip seven times in the river Jordan. He was not healed of his leprosy until he obeyed. Jonah's anger got him nothing but a reprimand from the Lord. The elder brother in Luke 15 was angry, too, but he gained nothing by it either. We are not told whether he went into the house, but if he did not, he only was the loser. Ah, beloved, there is nothing in man's anger that God can accept as righteousness, so let us be meek and quiet before Him. "The words of wise men are heard in quiet" (Eccl. 9:17).

Anger is usually foolish: There are few things over which it is worthwhile losing our tempers. If we are wrong in a matter, we surely should not get angry when told of it. If the other man is wrong, he is not worth getting angry at. A man contested with Augustine. He said in a fit of anger, "Hear me, hear me." Augustine answered, "Neither let me hear thee, nor do thou hear me, but let us both hear the apostle." This was good counsel. Let all hear the Word of God. If the Word has nothing to say on the subject, in fact or principle, it is probably too trivial to quibble over.

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