Friends, Read about the analysis of James 3:1 “ My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgement.” Be not many masters] Do not affect the teachers office, for many wish to be teachers who have more need to learn. There were many teachers or rabbis among the Jews, each desiring strongly to have the truth, and to draw disciples after him. This desire was common among the Jewish people, who coveted the name and the office of Rabbi, equivalent to that here used, (compare Mt 23:6-9,) and who were ambitious to be doctors and teachers. See Ro 2:19; 1Ti 1:7. This fondness for the office of teachers they naturally carried with them into the Christian church when they were converted, and it is this which the apostle here rebukes. If there is anything which ought to be managed with extreme prudence and caution, it is that of introducing men into the Christian ministry. Compare 1Ti 5:22; Ac 1:15-26; 13:2-3. It is a caution against the desire prevailing among many to be ranked among public teachers, Considerations to check and modify that desire. These considerations are the following: (1.) The fact that public teachers must give a more solemn account than other men, (2.) The evils which grow out of an improper use of the tongue; (3.) The importance of wisdom; that is, of suitable qualifications to give public instruction. A young man, when about to make choice of a calling in life, should place himself by anticipation at the judgment-bar of Christ, and ask himself how human pursuits and plans will appear there. A small number, Spirit-led, would better discharge the duties of the office, and do more good, than many would. How many at the close of life, in the ministry and out of it, feel, when too late to make a change, that they have wholly mistaken the purpose for which they should have lived! This caution is still necessary; there are multitudes, whom God has never called, and never can call, because he has never qualified them for the work, who undertake to show us the way of salvation, who know nothing of that ways and are unsaved themselves. These are found among all descriptions of Christians, and have been the means of bringing the ministerial office into abuse. Their case is awful; they shall receive greater condemnation than common sinners; they have not only sinned in thrusting themselves into that office to which God has never called them, but through their insufficiency the flocks over whom they have assumed the mastery perish for lack of knowledge, and their blood will God require at the watchmans hand. A man may have this mastery according to the law of the land, and yet not have it according to the Gospel; another may affect to have it according to the Gospel, because he dissents from the religion of the state, and not have it according to Christ. Blockheads are common, and knaves and hypocrites may be found everywhere. I thank God that here in The Lovers of God, one is our Teacher and Master, that is Jesus Christ, through His Holy Word – the Bible. Let’s keep on sharing more. God bless you!
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 12:56:15 +0000
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