Reading and meditation on Chapter 3 of the Letter of James:
The advice of the disciple James on the use of the tongue: « Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment. 2For we all stumble many times. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able to bridle also his whole body. 3If we put bridles in the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide also their whole body. 4Look also at ships: Although they are so big and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the man at the helm is inclined to go. 5So, too, the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it makes great brags. See how small a fire it takes to set a great forest ablaze! 6The tongue is also a fire. The tongue represents a world of unrighteousness among our body members, for it defiles all the body and sets the whole course of life on fire, and it is set on fire by Gehenna. 7For every kind of wild animal and bird and reptile and sea creature is to be tamed and has been tamed by humans. 8But no human can tame the tongue. It is unruly and injurious, full of deadly poison. 9With it we praise Jehovah, the Father, and yet with it we curse men who have come into existence “in the likeness of God.” 10Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, it is not right for things to happen this way. 11A spring does not cause the fresh water and the bitter water to bubble out of the same opening, does it? 12My brothers, a fig tree cannot produce olives, or a grapevine figs, can it? Neither can salt water produce fresh water » (verses 1-12).
The Gehenna is the symbol of death without resurrection, everlasting death. In verse 6, James shows that it is with the tongue that we can do the sins that can lead to the Gehenna, the everlasting death. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says the same: « However, I say to you that everyone who continues wrathful with his brother will be accountable to the court of justice; and whoever addresses his brother with an unspeakable word of contempt will be accountable to the Supreme Court; whereas whoever says, ‘You despicable fool!’ will be liable to the fiery Gehenna » (Matthew 5:22). And then, a little later, Jesus Christ says that a man can sin against the Holy Spirit with his mouth. The sin against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable, it is an everlasting sin: « For this reason I say to you, every sort of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven. For example, whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the holy spirit, it will not be forgiven him, no, not in this system of things nor in that to come. (…) I tell you that men will render an account on Judgment Day for every unprofitable saying that they speak; for by your words you will be declared righteous, and by your words you will be condemned » (Matthew 12:31,32,36,37).
Let us reject the earthly and animalistic wisdom, but let us practice the wisdom from above: « Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him by his fine conduct demonstrate works performed with a mildness that comes from wisdom. 14But if you have bitter jealousy and contentiousness in your hearts, do not be bragging and lying against the truth. 15This is not the wisdom that comes down from above; it is earthly, animalistic, demonic. 16For wherever there are jealousy and contentiousness, there will also be disorder and every vile thing. 17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, reasonable, ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, not hypocritical. 18Moreover, the fruit of righteousness is sown in peaceful conditions for those who are making peace » (verses 13-18).
There is the same kind of contrasting description between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the spirit, written by the apostle Paul: « Now the works of the flesh are plainly seen, and they are sexual immorality, uncleanness, brazen conduct, idolatry, spiritism, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, dissensions, divisions, sects, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and things like these. I am forewarning you about these things, the same way I already warned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom. On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law » (Galatians 5:19-23).
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Meditation on the Letter of James leading to Christian maturity
When we read the Letter of James, it is surprising to see the likeness of his way of teaching, with that of his older brother Jesus. He uses many illustrations as Jesus did…
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Achieving Spiritual Maturity (Hebrews 6:1)
Table of contents of the http://yomelyah.fr/ website
Reading the Bible daily, this table of contents contains informative Bible articles (Please click on the link above to view it)…
Table of languages of more than seventy languages, with six important biblical articles, written in each of these languages…
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