James 3:1
My fellow believers, not many of you should desire to become teachers of God’s truth, because you know that God will judge us (exc), who teach others, more severely than he will judge other people.
Translation for Translators
In The King James Version
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
In Context
Cross References
Leviticus 10:3Then Moses/I said to Aaron, “That is what Yahweh predicted. He said, ‘Those priests who come near to me, I will show them that they must ◄respect me/treat me as being holy►; in the presence of all the people I am the one who must be honored.’” But Aaron said nothing.
Ezekiel 33:7So, you human, I have appointed you to be a watchman for the Israeli people [MTY]. So always listen to what I say and warn the people for me.
Matthew 7:1“Do not talk about how sinfully others have acted, in order that God will not say how sinfully you have acted.
Matthew 10:24A disciple should not expect to be greater than his teacher, and servants are not superior to their master.
Matthew 23:13Then Jesus said to the religious leaders, “You men who teach the Jewish laws and you Pharisees are hypocrites! There will be terrible punishment for you, because by teaching what is false, you prevent people [MTY/HYP] who are thinking about letting God rule their lives from doing that [MET]. What you are doing is like closing a gate [MET] so that people who are wanting to enter a city cannot go in. As for you, you do not let God rule your lives. Neither do you allow other people to let God rule their lives. What you do is like not going into a house yourselves, and not allowing others to enter it either [MET].”
Luke 6:37“Do not say how sinfully others have acted, and then God will not say how sinfully you have acted. Do not condemn others, and then he will not condemn you [DOU]. Forgive others for the evil things that they have done to you, and then God will forgive you.
Matthew Henry on James 3:1
The apostle here reproves ambition, and an arrogant magisterial tongue; and shows the duty and advantage of bridling it because of its power to do mischief. Those who profess religion ought especially to govern their tongues, ver. 1-12 . True wisdom makes men meek, and avoiders of strife and envy: and hereby it may easily be distinguished from a wisdom that is earthly and hypocritical, ver. 13, to the end . Read the whole commentary →