<p>3:2 <i>For in many things we all make others stumble. If any does not cause stumbling by his words, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also</i>- We all offend others (James 3:2), and he who offends his brother will be condemned. Those who are sleeping at the Lord&rsquo;s coming will be found unworthy, so says the spirit in Thessalonians. But in the Lord&rsquo;s parable, <i>all</i> the virgins are sleeping at His coming, wise and foolish alike. They were all living on far too low a level, and yet the Lord will save them us by grace alone. God accepts we aren&rsquo;t going to make it as we should. There ought to be no schism in the body (1 Cor. 12:25), but He realizes that inevitably there will be (1 Cor. 11:19).<br />Their desire to be teachers therefore indicated that they were bringing the attitude of their former religion and the surrounding world into the ecclesia. The rest of Chapter 3 is about the tongue; James' argument therefore seems to run 'As a teacher you will have to speak many words, and the chances are (v.2) your words will offend someone in the ecclesia. Remember that as a teacher of the ecclesia you are responsible for the flock, and therefore &quot;we shall receive the greater condemnation&quot;(v.1). Only a &quot;perfect man&quot; who has his words totally in control will not offend anyone, and only he is &quot;able also to bridle the whole body&quot; (v.2)- the ecclesia, the body of Christ'. It is worth noting that our judgement in the last day will take into account the quality of our converts and the effort we have made to build up others. Our receiving condemnation as a result of being masters may be alluding to Mt. 12:37: &quot;By your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned&quot;. In this case, the words Christ is speaking about are specifically our words to our brethren and sisters. The context in v.34 is Christ telling the teachers of the law that it was impossible for them to &quot;speak (i.e. teach) good things&quot; because their heart was evil. &quot;A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things&quot; (v.35), which connects with the description of the Scribes (teacher of the Law) instructed in the Truth bringing forth &quot;out of his treasure things new and old&quot; (Mt.13:52). The ideal ecclesial 'master' will not offend any in the ecclesia because his words are controlled on account of his being a &quot;perfect man&quot;. 2 Tim. 3:16,17 says that the word of God through the spirit has the power to create a perfect man (cp. 1 Cor. 13:8-10; Eph. 4:8-13). James 1:4,5 has shown that by the wisdom of the word, a man can be made &quot;perfect and entire&quot;. Only such a brother will be able to &quot;bridle the whole body&quot; (ecclesia). Earlier, in 1:26, the bridling of the tongue is spoken of as a result of the word acting on the heart. Thus only someone able to bridle his own tongue can bridle the ecclesia. That this interpretation is on the right lines is also suggested by v.6 talking about the &quot;members... the whole body&quot; being influenced by the tongue. This is the language of 1 Cor. 12 concerning the ecclesial body.</p>