It is the true love that interests itself, not only in that which is good, but even in what is, alas! There was a remarkably direct intervention of God, but it was in no way connected with any gift of miracles committed to the people who were praying. He means to bring in fulness of blessing by and by. Without hypocrisy. The world cannot receive the Spirit ( John 14:17). without partiality: "Without partiality" (adiakritos) is the next characteristic mentioned. without hypocrisy: "Without hypocrisy" (anupokritos) is the last characteristic of wisdom James mentions in this verse. He knows that truth has nothing to fear from hearing other viewpoints, even though he does not accept everything he hears as being the truth. The form of the word used here also occurs in Hebrews 12:11. But, he is not so proud as to think he knows all truth and someone else cannot possibly teach him anything. Let us remember that peace, eirene ( G1515) , means right relationships between man and man. We can never say that we have truly pitied anyone until we have helped him. James 3:17 from above; NET NOTE. If such is the nature of the wisdom which is from above, who is there that should be ashamed of it? Behold, we count them happy which endure. God was indeed eulogetos ( G2128) , The Blessed One, the One who was continually blessed. That, indeed, is the peril of the tongue. The heart is the seat of both; but envy and wisdom cannot dwell together in the same heart. But yet what trouble it can get us into. Worldly wisdom might well wish to escape Gods sight" (95). "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Consequently there is a word for those of them that were clearly not born of God, as well as for those who were. In its own province there is nothing better, plainer, or more striking. It is rendered by the Vulg., as not judging uncensorious; by Beza, without contending incontroversial; by Erasmus, making no difference impartial; and by Hammond, not doubting, i.e., as to the faith. Those who are truly wise do what they can to preserve peace, that it may not be broken; and to make peace, that where it is lost it may be restored. Wisdom from Above: Lesson from James 3:17-18 - the Moorings It is the habit of many, if they find the same expression, to give it always the same meaning. Founded, then, on this, the communication of His own nature, with its moral judgment, we. We are ourselves born of Him: He communicates His nature to the believer. Gibson says this means "forbearance, even under provocation. I press, then, that the word "sinners" here clearly to my mind shows that the Spirit of God in this epistle takes in a larger range than most allow. The courts are swamped with lawsuits of complainers who are demanding their rights. They are under that influence in their souls, and accordingly they cloud the light of James with that which was meant to veil the guilty in darkness. All that is founded on a mere temporary set of circumstances is doomed, and in no way belongs to the nature of God as revealed in truth and grace by the Son of God. This is the wisdom of those who trust God to provide all they need, to Therefore, the wheel of life can stand for the ups and downs of life. without hypocrisy; either with respect to God or man; not making show of that which they have not, or do not intend. There was nothing good from man's nature as a fallen creature,-nothing but good from God. Just as the Hebrew scriptures are not without this exception, so in the New Testament you have another exception. James enters upon this expressly in the next chapter. There is no disguise or mask assumed. Strenuously by the Holy Ghost, there is no question that the facts which scripture presents to us regarding the church in Jerusalem are as I have endeavoured to state them. 3; Magn. In this sense the phrase very nearly means the wheel of fortune, always changing and always variable. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. James 3:17 NKJV - But the wisdom that is from above is - Bible Paul uses this word in Philippians 4:5 to encourage the Christian to let his "moderation" be known to all men. We had it at the commencement of the chapter; we have it again here that it should by all means be remembered. WebJames 3, Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible, James Burton Coffman's commentary on the Bible is widely regarded for its thorough analysis of the text and practical application But this is not all. This he brings in: "If any of you lack wisdom." A good conversation. And then He said it is "out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks" ( Matthew 15:11 , Matthew 15:18-19 ). The body (soma, G4983) is our physical flesh and blood; the soul (psuche, G5590) is the physical life which we share with the beasts; the spirit (pneuma, G4151) is that which man alone possesses, which differentiates him from the beasts, which makes him a rational creature and kin to God. Here we have the full contrast, and the reason why all this is brought in; for there is a perfect chain of connection between these verses, little as it may appear at first sight. He is speaking of what is not pleasing to, because, inconsistent with, His nature; and clearly the wrath of man is offensive to Him. The wisdom that is from above The pure religion of the Lord Jesus, bought by his blood, and infused by his Spirit. Temptations elsewhere mean trials, not inward solicitations of evil; they have no bearing upon, nor connection with, the evil nature, but on the contrary are the ways in which the Lord out of His love tries those in whom He has confidence, and works for the greater blessing of those whom He has already blessed. That is to say, instead of bringing people together, it drives them apart. Text Commentaries by John MacArthur Gods word is perfect and needs no human improvement. WebThe idea of master there is a teacher, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation ( James 3:1 ). In man there is something of the ape and something of the angel, something of the hero and something of the villain, something of the saint and much of the sinner. James 3:17 (cf. This is a critical time as far as the unity of the church is concerned. The people to whom James was writing coveted the prestige of the teacher; James demanded that they should never forget the responsibility. Jesus mentions that a good tree brings forth good fruit and that one can know a man by the fruit (works) he produces (Matthew 7:16). One of the distinguishing characteristics of Christianity can be found in the Christians attitude toward others. In no wise does scripture slight that solemn obligation. James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. The writer of Ecclesiasticus repeats the same idea: "God put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion over beasts and fowls" ( Sir_17:4 ). The seed, as ever, must produce its own proper fruit. Still he is careful in this place to show that the word deals inwardly with the man, that it is this implanted word, as he calls it, and not an external law, that is able to save the soul. We ought all to know how much we need to watch against such an ignoring of God above us, and the coming of the Lord. James sets down two ideas which were woven into Jewish thought and literature. How truly it bears the very stamp of inspiration, and the more so because we know the apostle Paul refers to Abraham at least for a totally different purpose! Beware thou slide not by it, lest thou fall before him, that lieth in wait and thy fall be incurable unto death. Had this behavior been allowed to continue, the wall between Jew and Gentile might never have been torn down. James 3 James 3:17 Commentaries: But the wisdom from above is first It might be easy to say one thing to one individual and an entirely different thing to another, but wisdom does not do that. Thus it has been often and very aptly described as a loving parent who tells his child that he must go here or there; that is, the very places which he knows perfectly the child would be most gratified to visit. - MSB, peaceable -- This is the Greek term eirene. He who thinks well, or he who talks well, is not wise in the sense of the Scripture, if he does not live and act well. And yet those who exhibited all those evil things thought that they had wisdom! It has not at all the character of resisting the will of the child, but rather of directing his affections in the will of the object dearest to him. The rudder on a ship, a small part of the ship, but yet it turns the ship. There were many great and saintly Rabbis, but the Rabbi was treated in a way that was liable to ruin the character of any man. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. An arrow kills at forty or fifty paces, but of the tongue it is said ( Psalms 73:9), 'They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.' God blessed, as we know, at the very beginning blessed everything that He had made; but there was no stability in a blessing itself. James 3:17 - Commentary, explanation and study verse by verse Far from being theoretical and speculative, Jamess concept of wisdom is thoroughly practical. The image is faded and gone. Ye have heaped treasure together "not exactly "for the last days." Not he who thinks well, or he who talks well, is in the sense of the scripture allowed to be wise, if he do not live and act well. You can check these in your browser security settings. Read James (BBE) Read James 3:17 (BBE) in Parallel Common English Bible for James 3:17 17 What of the wisdom from above? It is not all that the Corinthian was vain in his speculations, but the Jew not less, who thus spoke and acted. His word for zeal is zelos ( G2205) . On the Temple of Aesculapius at Epidaurus there was the inscription at the entrance: "He who would enter the divine temple must be pure (hagnos, G53) ; and purity is to have a mind which thinks holy thoughts." Easy to be entreated . 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. Blessing now is not in ease and honour, but, contrariwise, counting joy in trial, accepting what is painful from God, certain that He never mistakes, and that all is ordered of Him for the perfect blessing of His own people. WebTag: James 3:17-18 commentary. If we ought as a rule to be slow to speak, there is no exception in setting up to teach others; for thus we certainly incur severer judgment. It means easily persuaded, compliant. In the third place, he calls itkind or humane, that we may know that it is far away from that immoderate austerity which tolerates nothing in our brethren. And as he was the person who gave the sentence, it is not without interest to see the link between what was written on that day, and what James writes here. Hence many are of opinion (and to this I am rather disposed, though I would not venture to say more) that the verse ought to be thus divided: "Do ye think that the scripture speaketh in vain? James 3:17,18 - Wisdom That Is From Above - Bible WebAdam Clarke Bible Commentary James 3:6. Never reverse this order; it is not only that this wisdom is pure and peaceable, but it is first pure, then peaceable. Was this the time for an Israelite to lie for profit and get gain by it? I believe, therefore, that it is the bounden duty of every man to whom an oath is put, to take it in the fear of the Lord. "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." (iii) It is selfishly ambitious. No, but as the hand kills, so the tongue. They will be free of any trace of deceit or dishonesty (17). James 3:4. It is plain that we find ourselves throughout on the practical side of the manifestation by life. "Do not err, beloved brethren. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. In those that are fallen there must be the communication of the divine nature; and this there is in Christ, and so there always has been. This wisdom is full of good fruits: This wisdom can be seen by the fruit it produces. To the reader who enters on the consideration of the epistle of James from the epistles of Paul, the change is great and sudden, and by no means least of all from the epistle to the Hebrews, which, in the arrangement of the English Bible, immediately precedes James. Yet the remarkable feature we have also to weigh here is that when works are thus introduced, attention is directed to what would be perfectly valueless if they were not the result of faith, nay, worse than valueless, positively evil, and entailing the severest punishment. We have no ground whatever to suppose that these left off either sacrifices or the functions properly sacerdotal. "Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. It is James' conviction that nowhere is this contradiction more evident than in the tongue. Thus the break is by no means so marked, but on the contrary natural and easily understood; for, in point of fact, James coalesces with the state of things that we find in the churches of Judea, and notably in the church at Jerusalem. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. 17But the wisdom which is from above. James first of all warns against a desire to teach the Word of God that would stem or emanate just from your own desire to be in front of people or whatever. While both meanings may be possible, the second one seems to be the correct one here. If on the contrary there were bitter envy and strife in their hearts, how could they boast against the truth, or he against it? The word here used ( hagne) is that which would be applied to one who is innocent, or flee from crime or blame. James does not deal with such matters; he never takes up the question how a sinner is to be justified. Many a man speaks with perfect courtesy to strangers and even preaches love and gentleness, and yet snaps with impatient irritability at his own family. At first it had only a ceremonial meaning and meant nothing more than that a man had gone through the right ritual cleansings. It is the part of us which disobeys him. You see at once that we have an exhortation founded on, first, the spiritual anatomy, if I may so say, of our nature, and then we are given to know the wondrous character of the new life that we have received by faith of Jesus Christ, and know to be ours, because we are "begotten by the word of truth." A pure heart cannot but be faithful to the truth; it could not otherwise be pure, provided conscientiousness and love of truth form any part of moral purity. It is nothing more. The tendency of the true wisdom is not that of producing faction and strife, but that of healing divisions, and pouring oil upon the troubled waters of human relationships. In this place he describeth the sum and subject of the disputation, and he putteth down two members concerning Christ, that he must have died and risen again, and that the son of Mary which was crucified is Christ. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense. It has not been unknown for a woman to speak with sweet graciousness at a religious meeting and then to go outside to murder someone's reputation with a malicious tongue. The wisdom of the world, the flesh, and the devil may be able to accomplish things, but always with the ultimate fruit of confusion and every evil thing. WebMatthew Henry's Commentary. It is not a connection that we could have anticipated, but it is just such an one as would be discerned by the Holy Ghost ever sensitive to the Lord's glory; and so in fact it is as we may feel on reflection. It becomes very confusing, especially to new Christians, to see other Christians wavering or being uncertain about certain issues on which they once stood firm. There is a kind of person who is undoubtedly clever, with acute brain and skilful tongue; but his effect, nevertheless, in any committee, in any church, in any group, is to cause trouble and to disturb personal relationships. ", And how is this then to be effected? Instead of helping on holiness, one may on the contrary, by an unguarded word, give somewhat of a loose rein to the old nature. Without making a difference-rendering to every man his due; and being never swayed by self-interest, worldly honour, or the fear of man; knowing no man after the flesh. At the same time it only confirms, as it appears to me, what has already been shown to be the comprehensive character of the epistle. Look at ships, too. True wisdom, then, serves to break down hostilities between all parties and bring man closer to God and all others. Web1. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. Do not you try to settle difficulties, but put yourself in the attitude of dependence. It has not been unknown for a man to utter the most pious sentiments one day and to repeat the most questionable stories the next. There were teachers who tried to turn Christianity into another kind of Judaism and tried to introduce circumcision and the keeping of the law ( Acts 15:24). And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace, of them that makes peace ( James 3:18 ). or a more evident token of the blindness of unbelief in him who made it? It is extremely frustrating to speak to a "religious know-it-all." If we are wiser than others, this should be evidenced by the goodness of our conversation, not by the roughness or vanity of it. Jesus warned men that they would give account for every word they spoke. 3:17-18 The wisdom which comes from above is first pure, then peaceable, considerate, willing to yield, full of mercy and of good fruits, undivided in mind, without hypocrisy. It was true that a Rabbi was not allowed to take money for teaching and that he was supposed to support his bodily needs by working at a trade; but it was also held that it was a specially pious and meritorious work to take a Rabbi into the household and to support him with every care. "It is the nature of man to sin both in private and in public life," said Thucydides (3: 45). Philip Lilley reminds us that Dr. H. F. Stewart said that the arguments of Pascal with the Jesuits reminded him of Alan Breck's fight with the crew of the Covenant in Stevenson's Kidnapped: "The sword in his hand flashed like quicksilver into the middle of our flying enemies, and at every flash came the scream of a man hurt." He said, "It's not really that which goes into a man that defiles a man, but that which comes out of a man that defiles him. In the last place, he says that it is full of mercy, etc., while hypocrisy is inhuman and inexorable. Here is brought in another essential point of the epistle. Compare James 2:14-26. That wisdom that is earthly, sensual, devilish, envying, striving, bitterness.Now, what marks your life? i. At the same time it is evident that to be a saint and a sinner at the same time is simply a flat contradiction. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." Need it be told you that this verse has been a matter of much difficulty to many minds? The very reverse is true. James 3 Click on the different category headings to find out more. Accordingly it is a practical denial of the very attitude you take in asking God. - ESVSB, first pure -- literally, chaste, sanctified: pure from all that is earthly, sensual (animal), devilish (James 3:15). When we are mild and calm, we are best able to hear reason, and best able to speak it. He exhorts them to endurance and to patience. The Jewish Rabbis had this picture: "Life and death are in the hand of the tongue. Thus, the wisdom Corinthians "Who shall set a watch before my mouth and a sea, of wisdom upon my lips, that I shall not suddenly fall by them and my tongue destroy me not?" Worldly wisdom might well wish to escape God's sight; the true wisdom is able to bear his very scrutiny. JFB, without hypocrisy it must refer, like the rest of the six epithets, to our relations to others; our peaceableness and mercy towards others must be without dissimulation. - JFB, Not hypocritical, sincere, unfeigned (Romans 12:9). In their twisted way of thinking, the heart had nothing to do with purity. This is the place which becomes him that is born of God. in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones. (a) In Christian thought eleos ( G1656) means mercy for the man who is in trouble, even if the trouble is his own fault. Whether we want to admit it or not, we are products of our environment. "And lie not against the truth." Will any man argue still that this means the saints of God? The mass of Israelites would of course altogether repudiate such a service; but James writes of both. Seeking nothing but Gods glory, and using no other means to attain it than those of his own prescribing. (Clarke), ix. Pretending outwardly to be faithful to the Lord with words, while inwardly the heart is far from loving Him, is another example of hypocrisy (Matthew 15:7-9). the fruit of unjudged evil. Whence such wisdom cometh: It descendeth not from above, but ariseth from beneath; and, to speak plainly, it is earthly, sensual, devilish,James 3:15; James 3:15. In virtue of his office he will either be teaching those who are young in years or those who are children in the faith. But though he had sufficiently condemned hypocrisy, when he said that wisdom is pure or sincere; he makes it more clear by repeating the same thing at the end. We can use our tongues to bless people, to build them up, to encourage them, or we can use our tongues to destroy them. There seems to be a complete contrast between the two kinds of wisdom. "We all sin," said Seneca, "some more grievously, some more lightly" (On Clemency 1: 6). Man has learned how to train and to bring into control all these of these wild things in nature. if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." It has no disguises nor deceits. 3:2 There are many things in which we all slip up; but if a man never slips up in his speech, he is a perfect man, able to keep the whole body also on the rein. Temptations, trials (for clearly he refers to outward trials), are in no way the dreadful ogres that unbelief makes them to be. This bitter and arrogant wisdom, so-called, is very different from real wisdom. The word James uses means to slip up. Without variance Gibson tells us that scholars are not altogether sure of the meaning of the word thus rendered, "without variance, without doubtfulness or without partiality,"[42] all being possible denotations of it. Must we translate and punctuate as in the common Greek Testament and English Bible? So far from there being any contradiction of others in the epistle of James, although there is not a little which in form is new (for the twelve tribes) both in its breadth and in its speciality, the mind of God is one. Clearly there we have a broad ground which even a Jew would respect. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. It is full of love and a giving heart, consistent with the holiness of God. Life in Christ is positive; the law was essentially negative. This is not just feelings but actions. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." Now he is touching upon another character; "for God cannot be tempted by evils," you must read it as it is in the margin, "neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.". What Does Colossians 2:6-7 Teach Us about Our Faith Walk? It is James' warning that the teacher has of his own choice entered into a special office; and is, therefore, under the greater condemnation, if he fails in it. True wisdom may be know by the meekness of the spirit and temper. This is everywhere the nature of true religion. - Utley, This refers to spiritual integrity and moral sincerity. When the question is concerning Christ, there come three things in question, Whether he be, who he is, and what he is. We can see the need, value, and wisdom of what has been said, but we may find here the occasion of it: with Israel there was peculiar danger of taking up the doctrines of Christianity as a system. Solomon emphasizes this point as he writes, "Buy the truth, and sell it not" (Proverbs 23:23). (ii) There is no sin into which it is easier to fall and none which has graver consequences than the sin of the tongue. 21, James (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. He knows how to make allowances, when not to stand upon his rights, how to temper justice with mercy, always remembers that there are greater things in the world than rules and regulations. His thorough examination of (i) He is under the temptation to arrogance. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation," instead of being exposed either to the instability of unbelief which we saw, or to the mere dependence on natural resources which was next proved. Those who profess religion ought especially to govern their tongues ( v. 1-12 ). 3:5b-6 See how great a forest how little a fire can set alight. Wisdom in the mind affects ones use of his or her tongue. It does not change according to the circumstance but remains constant. and even gloried in it! It is, in the end, more eager to display itself than to display the truth; and it is interested more in the victory of its own opinions than in the victory of the truth. Are they the persons called to weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon them? Matthew Arnold called it "sweet reasonableness" and it is the ability to extend to others the kindly consideration we would wish to receive ourselves. It ranges over the whole earth and reaches to heaven." And so here; when the last days were proclaimed by God's word in solemn warning, the heaping up of treasure in such days as these was indeed most offensive to Him. One sees thoroughly, in the midst of the utmost difference otherwise, how it is the same divine mind a mind above the contractedness of man. James uses eight words to describe this wisdom, and every one has a great picture in it.