寫這封書信的雅各正是耶穌的兄弟，當他說「我們在許多事上會有過失」，令我們想到連耶穌的兄弟也會有過失，我們應覺安慰了。雅各在那城聞名，因他被視為猶太人中的猶太人，他是一個極虔誠、又獻身給教會的人，他有一個長期以來維持的習慣，每天到教會時用膝蓋跪著上階梯，人們尊重他像尊重特別的法利賽人一般，在耶路撒冷，很少人會說他的任何缺點。在初期教會他是一個非常優秀的領導者和牧者（徒12：17，15；21：18），一位行為如此嚴謹的屬靈領袖，都需要每日悔改認罪，並且把自己包括在會有過失的人中，他的勸勉實在能激勵我們。

        雅各的信息說，雖然我們可以有一個無可指責的生命，但我們仍會不時在言語上失敗犯錯，幾時我們的舌頭有過失，我們就不算完全，雅各生動的描述舌頭的能力：

        像一個小嚼環可以牽制一匹馬。像一個小小的舵，在大風浪中仍能控制一艘大船。像一點星星之火，可以點燃森林之火。而舌頭是一個不可制服又充滿致死毒藥的東西，如果一句話能實際的影響到人的生命而導致咒詛。

        那麼我們能怎麼辦呢？把舌頭割掉嗎？禁止自己說話嗎？或像一位哲學家所說：「保持沉默，被想成傻瓜，比開了口而被確定是傻瓜好。」

        事實上，雅各已經給了我們答案，他說：快快的聽，慢慢的說，慢慢的動怒（1：19），在我們說話之前先考慮清楚。

        主啊！您說：「一句話說的合宜，像金蘋果落在銀網中。」你看重我們所說的話，求您看顧我們的口，使我們只說能取悅您的話，改變我們能彰顯出您的樣式來。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        If, indeed, the writer of this letter was Jesus' half-brother, then it should comfort us to hear him say, "We all stumble in many things". James was known in Jerusalem as "a Jew of the Jews", a man of utmost piety and devotion to the Temple. There is a long-standing tradition that he used to climb the stairs to the Temple each day on his knees. He was highly regarded and respected as an ultra-Pharisee, and there were few, if any, in Jerusalem who would say anything bad about him. He was an excellent choice as the first leader, or bishop, of the early church (see Acts 12:17; 15; 21:18). So, when James includes himself as part of "all [who] stumble", it should encourage us to know that even the greatest of leaders has need of daily confession and repentance.

        The implied message here is that even though we may have a "blameless" life, we all fail from time to time in what we say. And, as long as our tongue trips us up, we're far from perfect.
James very colourfully illustrates the power of the tongue.

        A small bit turns a huge horse. A small rudder turns a huge ship — even when storm winds are blowing. A small spark starts a huge forest fire. The tongue is untameable and "full of deadly poison" (v.8). One word can literally affect a person for "the whole course of his life" (v.6).

        So what can we do about it? Cut it out? Muzzle ourselves? Or, as one philosopher put it, "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."

        Maybe the answer lies in something James has already said, "Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" (1:19, NIV). Let's think before we speak.

        O Lord, You said in Your Word, "Words fitly spoken are like apples of gold in settings of silver." You place a great importance on our words. We pray that You would put a watch on our mouths, that we might say only that which would please You. Please change us to reflect Your image.