James 3: 1
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
I believe this verse means that people will hold us as teachers to a higher standard. I know that those who teach are held accountable for teaching the truth but I believe James here is speaking of the fact that people will judge those of us who teach more harshly. Countless times I have had people say they can do things that I cannot because I am a preacher. How sad that one would think that God holds preachers to a higher standard than every other child of God. Don’t kid yourself any longer. If your pastor shouldn’t do it, then you shouldn’t do it either.
James goes on to say that ALL if us are human and falter.
2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
We should all work at taming the tongue when it comes to JUDGING others. Stop with the excuse, “Well, it’s just the truth.”
James 3:18
18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
James 4
James says there are two reasons why we may not get what we ask God for in our prayers.
#1. We don’t ask in the first place.
#2. We ask with wrong motives.
By the way, it isn’t wrong to ask God for things that we will enjoy, it is wrong to ask God for things because we want power, because what we ask for would hurt others, or because we are just being selfish in our asking.
James 4:4
4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God?Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
Too often we take this verse the wrong way. James said do not be a friend of this world but we are to befriend the people in this world. If not, how will we ever win the world to Christ.
James 4:7
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
If we will honestly resist the devil, we have this promise that he will run away from us. Problem is, we don’t often resist.
James 4:17
17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
This is the sin of OMISSION. If we know we need to do something and don’t do it, that is sin. Listen, no one, no one, no one, will live a sinless life in this world, only Jesus. For those who believe they are perfect, guess again. There is not a day that goes by that we don’t certainly sin, either by Commission or Omission.
James 5: 1-6
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
James is not saying there is anything wrong with being wealthy, James is saying the same thing Jesus said, money will make it harder for one to do the right thing. Money is not the root of all evil as some have said, the love of money is the root of all evil. You may know understand this but even a poor person can love money to the point of making their lives miserable. The bile says for those who always want more, they will never have enough. We cannot serve both God and money,we will love one and hate the other. Let money serve you.
James 5:7-8
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.
Jesus is coming soon. Maranatha!
James 5:14-16
Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
I hope that my church family understands this passage of scripture. If you are sick then ask and we will anoint you with oil and pray for your healing. Notice also that James says here that some have sinned and your healing will come from confession. There are some things that you need just confess to God but there are some things that you need to confess to each other. There is freedom in the light.
Matthew
Ah, Matthew is one of my favorite Books of the Bible but then I have a lot of favorites. I taught through the book of Matthew on Sunday evenings a long time ago now, it took almost 2 years and I loved it. I look forward to us reading this one together.
Introduction to Matthew’s Gospel.
Matthew is one of Jesus 12 disciples. Each of the 4 Gospels were written to different audiences. Matthew’s gospel is written to the Jews of the Old Covenant to bring them into the New Covenant, and of course it is written for us also.
Matthew Chapter 1
In Matthew Chapter 1 we have the Genealogy of Jesus. there are so many reasons for this but here is what I want to point out. We serve a God of Grace and Forgiveness, notice some of the people included in the Lineage of our Savior.
Rahab the prostitute.
King David who is guilty of murder and adultery.
And the list goes on, my point is this, if I had written the Bible I would have covered up the bad stuff. God is giving us a real account of fallen humanity and how He uses us in the plan of redemption. That is the God we serve.
In verses 18 and 19 it seems a little confusing. It says they were pledged to be married but Joesph gave thought to divorcing Mary. In that day when a person was pledged to be married, they were already legally bound, it was only when the couple had sexual relations that the marriage was consummated. I have a Three Minute Thursday Video that you may want to watch about this topic.
Chapter 1: 24-25
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Matthew Chapter 2
Verses 16-17
16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
Most people think when the Magi followed the star it was the night of Jesus birth but it was probably about 2 years after the birth of Christ as Herod had the boys killed who were 2 years old and younger.
Matthew 2:18 is the fulfilled prophecy of Jeremiah 31:15
18 “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Jeremiah 31:15
15 This is what the Lord says:
“A voice is heard in Ramah,
mourning and great weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”
