James 3:1

This entire chapter is a "self-contained section dealing with the bridling of the tongue,"[1] and fitting exactly into James' overall theme of "perfection" (see introduction). By such a vigorous address to this area of human behavior, in which the totality of all mankind is revealed as transgressors, either in small or in great degree, it must not be thought that James was requiring sinless perfection of Christians, his object being rather that of turning all men to Jesus Christ our Lord who alone is perfect, and in whom alone perfection is available for any mortal (see Matthew 5:48 and Colossians 1:28,29). In this chapter, as throughout the epistle, the remarkable consonance with the teachings of Christ should be noted. Had not Christ himself said, "By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned?" (Matthew 12:37); and did he not also caution his followers against seeking the adulation accorded teachers, saying, "Be not ye called Rabbi (teacher)," etc. (Matthew 23:1-12)?