James 3:9

James 3:9 says, Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.  Still speaking of the tongue, James said that we can both bless God and curse men with it. We cannot be a witness to God if we if we are always cursing people with our words at the same time.  As James said, all people are made in the likeness of God, even if they refuse to acknowledge Him, so we should be at work trying to present God's plan of salvation to them instead of cursing them. 

Verse ten adds, Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.  James said that out of the same mouth came blessings and cursings and this should not be true.  God has not changed His standards for us today.  We cannot speak of people out of hatred and profess the love of God at the same time. 

Verse eleven continues, Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?  James then uses the analogy of a fountain, asking if it can have both bitter and sweet water coming out of it.  Our words should be the same way.  We should not profess the love of God while at the same time professing hatred for other people.  Jesus Christ died for all people, and we should reach out to them with His love if we are His followers. 

Verse twelve concludes, Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.  James added to the question by asking if a fig tree could produce olives or if a vine could produce figs.  The answer was no, but that they could only bear the fruit that they were created to produce.  He then said that a fountain cannot produce both salt water and fresh water.  The lesson is that we cannot use our tongue to both glorify God and curse people if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.

James 3:5

James 3:5 says, Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!  After referring to the bit in the horse's mouth and the rudder of a ship controlling them, James then equated them to the tongue of a person.  It is small compared to other parts of the body, but it can boast of great things, and when it does, it can also control how others see us and often even how we react to others.  James then says that like a little kindling being able to start a large fire, the things that we say can start a fire of iniquity in our relationship with other people.   

Verse six continues, And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.  James expanded on the power of the tongue, or what we say, as a powerful instrument of iniquity.  He said that what we say can defile the whole body, I believe because what we say reflects what we believe.  The tongue can start fires of sin between other people and us. 

Verse seven continues. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:  James said that all the beasts, birds, servants and things of the sea could be tamed by mankind.  We might say that not all can, but people will always have power over them, even if they are not controlled. 

Verse eight concludes, But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.   James then stated that unlike all the things mentioned in the previous verse that the tongue cannot be tamed.  The tongue is going to speak what we believe, even if we often attempt to control our words.  We will not be able to prevent what we believe from being expressed by what we say, so if we don't want our tongue to speak evil, then we need to have our mind set on truth of God.  If we do, then we need not worry about what we may say.  

James 3;1

James 3:1 says, My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.  James said that we should not want to be masters, which I believe would refer to leaders in the church, because as such, we receive greater condemnation if we fail spiritually.  Of course, if we are called to be a leader, we should not refuse.  We just need to faithfully do what God calls us to do, which is really true of every Christian.  

Verse two adds, For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.  James said that in many things we offend all, and that if we don't offend God's word, we are perfect.  Of course, only one Person was able to do this, and that is Jesus Christ.  James said if we were to be perfect, we would need to control our whole body and not allow sin to rule any part of it.  

Verse three continues, Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.  James gave the example of putting a bit in a horse's mouth to control the horse's whole body.  A bit is a small thing, but it controls the whole horse's direction.  

Verse four concludes, Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.  James then gives the example of a ship being guided by a small rudder even in high winds.

James 2:21

James 2:21 says, Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  James then gives the example of Abraham being willing to offer Isaac as a sacrifice.  This was a work, or action, that Abraham took in obedience to God, and it showed his faith.  

Verse twenty-two adds, Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  James asked could they not see that Abraham's faith led him to do this and by his willingness to do what God asked, he proved his faith in God.  If we say we have faith but are unwilling to do something that God calls us to do, then where is our faith.  

Verse twenty-three continues, And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.  James said that Abraham believed God when He asked him to take Isaac up the  mountain to offer as a sacrifice out of faith in God, and because he was willing to put his faith in God, he was known as a Friend of God.  If we want to be known as a friend of God, we must put our faith into action when God calls us to do something, even if we don't know what the outcome will be.  

Verse twenty-four concludes, Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.  James then asked if we cannot see that we are justified by putting our faith into action and not by just professing that we have faith and having nothing in our life change.  We are saved by faith in Jesus Christ alone, but once we are saved, our faith should be shown by our works, or the way we live our life.  

Verse twenty-five states, Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?  James then asked if the actions, or work, of Rahab the harlot had not justified her, since her action in helping the spies was based on her faith in God.  Many of the people of Israel professed to have faith in God, but they were unwilling to live by that faith.  Their lack of works proved their faith to either be weak or false.   

Verse twenty-six adds, For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.  James said just as our body without the spirit is dead, so is faith without works.   We cannot see our spirit, but as long as we are live we know that it is there, and our actions prove this. It is the same with faith being shown by our works, even if faith cannot be seen physically.