The Epistle of James
NOT MANY TEACHERS
Scripture Reading: James 3:1 (KJV)
James now takes up a different subject, although one closely related. He has been writing about a say-so faith that produces nothing. Now he is taking up idle talk which likewise produces nothing. He seems to be a man who hates mere talk, but wants to see a moral walk.
The tongue in the Word: There are many things said about the tongue all through the Word. This third chapter of James is the summing up and the classic. This portion is right in the center of the book of James. The tongue seems to be his principal subject, and he mentions its sin in every chapter (1:19, 26; 2:12; 4:11; 5:12).
Sins of the tongue: Sins of the tongue must have been very prevalent in the time of James; in fact they always have been, and are so today. An unbridled tongue has caused much trouble in the world and among Christians too. In some places the Lord could do great things if His people could only learn to control their tongues. This portion is especially against those who substitute words for works. Christ is our great example. His tongue was always absolutely controlled. It was always a great power for good, never evil.
"… be not many masters …" The word "masters" in our verse would be better translated "teachers." It seems natural for some to want to teach. They like to boast of their great faith, and are ever ready to teach and lecture others. At the same time they may be quite destitute of good works.
Teachers are necessary: When James says, "not many teachers," he admits that teachers are necessary, but they must be in the minority. It is bad when an assembly of Christians has no teachers, but perhaps worse when everyone wants to teach. We have all probably seen congregations suffer from the lack of suitable teachers. You say, "What is wrong? Has the Lord failed in that He has not endowed any there with a teaching gift?" (See Eph. 4:11; 1 Cor. 12:28). This is not what is wrong. Wherever the Lord desires a congregation established, He will raise up some gifted to teach. However, some are not willing to exercise, perfecting the gift the Lord has given them. Some are too much occupied with things of this life – not willing to take time out to study the Word, seeking His face in true supplication for help and guidance. They are not willing to sacrifice time, money, pleasure to be of service to the Lord and His people.
Teachers have great responsibility: While James admits that teachers are necessary, he seeks to warn such of their great responsibility. If you are a teacher, maybe a Bible School teacher, the Lord will hold you responsible for those you teach. If you are teaching the unsaved and teach them wrongly, the Lord will hold you responsible for their souls. If you teach the Lord's people, and teach them wrongly, He will hold you responsible for the pitfalls into which they stumble.
For this reason, a teacher should be much before God, asking for wisdom as to what and how to teach the people.
Practical teaching: Some teachers do no more than give out information. The Word of God, if rightly taught, will always tend to improve the life and conduct of those who hear. We should apply it so that it has a tendency to prick the conscience and stir actions. A true preacher will do more than make passages of Scripture that are hard to understand plain: he will also stress those that are hard to practice day by day. Let him not neglect the practical portions of the Word in order to tickle the ears with profound expositions, showing forth ones wonderful Bible knowledge. Yes, the book of James is practical, maybe too practical for some. Could that be one of the reasons why it’s so seldom taught?
Teaching not an easy work: Teaching the Bible is a very honorable work, but not one that can be quickly learned, or easily done in an acceptable way. Books have been written giving advice to true preachers and teachers. So, perhaps only a few suggestions should here be offered: the first necessity, of course, is the new birth. Without this, one is not even a true Christian. Sad to say, some profess to be Bible teachers and preachers, who have never experienced the new birth; another necessity is an intimate acquaintance with the Lord. A preacher or teacher must be much in prayer, having the realization that the Lord is with him; he will also need a thorough and accurate knowledge of the Word of God – he must himself be a student; he will need keen intellect and spiritual insight; he will be grappling with human souls and lives, so he will need to understand human nature; he must himself be a highly moral man, or how will he be able to lift up others; he will need, above all this, a natural gift for public speaking and teaching. Is the mark too high? One might say, "There are not many like that." This is true, but they are badly needed today. Perhaps, with the help of the Lord and diligent study of His Holy Word, you will be one.
Personal Bible teaching: Of course, James is thinking of public teachers who stand before an audience or class, teaching the Word of God. It is never wrong to spread Bible knowledge, any more than it is wrong to spread the Gospel. If you can, at any time, instruct any of the Lord's own to a better knowledge of the Word, it is a fine thing to do. This is altogether different than taking the place of an evangelist or teacher. Priscilla was a Christian woman. According to 1 Corinthians 14:34, 35 and 1 Timothy 2:11, 12, women are not to teach or speak in the church. Yet, she and her husband Aquilla took Apollos, a mighty man in the Scriptures, and taught him "the way of God more perfectly" (Acts 18:26). A woman certainly may teach others in a personal way.
False teachers: A Bible teacher should remember he is like a city set on top of a hill. All around observe him, and some look to him for guidance – like an airman looks to the beacon or the sailor to the light house. It is truly a terrible thing to lead souls in the wrong way, in fact there could be no greater crime. Unconverted preachers or teachers, who teach the wrong way of salvation, will find themselves held guilty of the blood of their hearers.
The right to teach: As we read the New Testament, we notice that in the synagogues anyone who had a word of instruction for the people was privileged to speak. In Luke 4, we see the Lord Jesus given this privilege. Paul took advantage of this constantly as he traveled about (Acts 13:15 etc.). We find exactly the same thing in the early church (notice particularly 1 Cor. 12 and 14). This is something the Body of Christ today could use with great advantage.
This privilege can be abused: However, this privilege certainly can be abused. If one aspires to be a teacher or preacher who is not fit for it, then this will hurt and not help. The Lord says in Matthew 23:6, 7 of the Pharisees, "and love – to be called of men Rabbi, Rabbi;" rabbi is teacher. Let us be careful not to have similar ambitions unless we have the gift from God. Someone once said, "I’ve heard all kinds of sermons – some practical, some prophetic, and some pathetic." Unless we have a gift, let us not presume to take a big place in the assemblies of God's people. To do so will hurt more than it will help, and surely we want what we do to be profitable. Let us seek to fit into the place for which the Lord has fitted us, and not where our natural desires would dictate. Some places need exactly the exhortation of our verse, "Be not many teachers." In speaking of elders, who did much of the teaching in the early church, Paul writes, "Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil" (1 Tim. 3:6).
"… the greater condemnation." The word "condemnation" in this verse would be better translated "judgment." All of us, Christians and those that never obeyed the Lord will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ to be judged according to our works; the greater our knowledge, and the more responsible our position, the greater our accountability. In Matthew 12:36, we read, "That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment." If this is so of every idle word, it certainly is even more so in connection with every wrong word. How cautious this should make us in our speech. "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Matt. 12:37).
Teach and do: "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required" (Luke 12:48). To teach others and then not do what we preach ourselves, will make our judgment more severe (note Matt. 23:3). To be a God-sent and God-directed teacher or preacher will bring great reward, but to be a self-appointed and flesh-directed teacher or preacher will bring His disapproval at the judgment seat of Christ.
