Henry Krabbendam - James - World Evangelical Alliance

(first statement) no fresh fountain simultaneously gushes sweet and bitter or
brackish water that is unfit for drinking (Martin, 120) from the same opening
in the ground (See Ex. 33:22; Judg. 15:11; Ezek. 8:7; Heb. 11:38). The conclusion
is (fourth statement) that one fountain produces one type of water
(Martin, 121). Anything else is not only illogical but also unnatural and impossible
(Mt. 7:16-17). Incidentally, the importance of the spring illustration
cannot be overestimated in a country where fresh, useful, water is a matter of
life, and bitter, useless, water a matter of death (Moo, 1985, 129, with reference
to Ps. 64:3 and Prov. 5:4).
Furthermore, no fig tree yields olives (second statement), and no grapevine
bears figs (third statement). This second, twofold, illustration heavily
underscores James’ point so that it cannot possibly be missed! For the Christian
the type of “cursing” James is talking about, however frequently it may
occur, is at the same time a non-negotiable impossibility! This is the message
of the three questions, which all imply a negative answer, and the conclusion
which spells it out. James is fully in line with the teaching of Jesus. A good
heart cannot produce bad fruit, just as a bad heart cannot produce good fruit
(Mt. 7:16-20; 12:33-35; Lk. 6:43-45; see also 1 John 3:6, 9). In short, the
warning is quite clear. Regeneracy equals pure and wholesome speech (See
also Moo, 1985, 130). While “perfection is impossible (3:2), a consistent behavior
pattern akin to the outpouring of fresh water is nonetheless expected
from a Christian” (Martin, 122). Incidentally, the return to the water analogy
following the plant metaphors has been called “disconcerting” (Johnson,
263). Quite frankly, chiastically it is fully its opposite. It conclusively underlines
James’ thesis that the co-existence of blessing and cursing is a veritable
impossibility. The final judgment, in which one’s words will be instruments
of either acquittal or condemnation, will fully bear this out (Mt. 12:36-37).
His final water analogy once and for all turns off the faucet of misunderstanding
in this regard!
Of course, all this sounds puzzling, even more so in the light of all the
information we receive in the first section of James 3. When even the best
Christian is an “open sewer,” how can it be “impossible” for him to spout
sewage? This is a puzzle that needs to be solved. Since James’ teaching in
this section runs parallel, if not gives rise, to John’s teaching in John 15:1-17;
1 John 1:8-10; 3:6, 9; and 5:18, where the same truth is presented, but in a
more extensive fashion, it will pay off to take a quick look at these passages.
John wishes to bring two points across.
First, a man who is born again has received a new heart, a new nature, a
new disposition, a new direction, a new thirst. To sin runs counter to this new
heart, new nature, new disposition, new direction, and new thirst! This thirst
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