The High Calling of Teaching | Sermon 05/08/2022

James 3:1-2

James moves on from his discourse on the harmony of faith and works to the tongue. He first speaks on how not many of them should become teachers. Christ was the ultimate teacher. A teacher ought to be objective, teach truth and fact and that is what Jesus did. In addition to His formal teachings, He modeled His doctrine through His life and death. A true teacher lives out what they teach. Having influence over others is significant and should not be considered a light thing. The morality and faithfulness of a teacher are paramount to them having the authority to teach. That is, teachers cannot be hypocrites.

There are temptations that arise with being a teacher such as catering to the carnal man, tickling the ears, pontificating a novel idea that is absent from God’s Word, and using your position for self-exaltation and sordid gain. For those reasons, teacher will receive greater scrutiny on the final day. They will give an account for every careless word and error taught because it didn’t just affect them but others. James makes it clear that the tongue is most substantial way a teacher can stumble. Controlling the tongue is the way to be a teacher above reproach and found complete for final day.