willing to yield -- reasonable; easy to be entreated; accommodating; submissive; It implies a willingness to hear and respond appropriately, not selfishly or egotistically. text. v. This wisdom is full of mercy: It does not judge others strictly on the basis of the law, but will extend a generous hand full of mercy. James 3 - Clarke's Commentary - Bible Commentaries So this type of wisdom knows when to listen to others and consider their viewpoint. There is, however, the need of attending to the other side of the picture: "If any man seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.". We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. There is no disguise or mask assumed. Eirene ( G1515) means peace, and when it is used of men its basic meaning is right relationships between man and man, and between man and God The true wisdom produces right relationships. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. (ii) It is uncontrollable. Every teacher runs the risk of becoming "Sir Oracle." When Christians enjoy receiving the praise of men for doing their Christian duties, they are in danger of hypocrisy (Matthew 6:2; Matthew 6:5; Matthew 6:16). Just as the Hebrew scriptures are not without this exception, so in the New Testament you have another exception. Abstention from anything is never a complete substitute for control in its use. Its source is not God, but the devil. WebTHE LETTER OF JAMES. Family Bible Time | Study of the book of Galatians with pastor Cliff WebJames 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. How could one think that those who indulge in such thoughts show any real intelligence as to the word of God? Proud member Receive its address in simplicity of faith, and every word of God is intelligently found to tell. The word here used ( hagne) is that which would be applied to one who is innocent, or flee from crime or blame. It contrasts sharply with spiritual wisdom, which is characterized by humility and uprightness (13-16).In addition, those who act according to spiritual wisdom will consider the well-being of others before their own. And is such wisdom as produces these effects to be gloried in? Holy zeal and bitter envying are as different as the flames of seraphim and the fire of hell. This wisdom is gentle: The man who is epieikes is the man who knows when it is actually wrong to apply the strict letter of the law. James and John he surnamed Boanerges This word, says Dr. Hammond, is the corruption of the Hebrew , benei ragnash, sons of earthquake, tempest, or any other commotion, such as is here styled, , thunder. He is not one who cannot be affected by any appeals which may be made to him on the grounds of patriotism, justice, or benevolence; but is one who is ready to yield when truth requires him to do it, and who is willing to sacrifice his own convenience for the good of others. "Variance," the rendition here, means without inconsistency, vacillation or erratic changes. 2. We can use our tongues to bless people, to build them up, to encourage them, or we can use our tongues to destroy them. While we all desire peace within a congregation, it is not to be peace "at any cost." (b) Kosmos ( G2889) can mean world. It was the advice of one of the wise men: "It rests with thy colleagues to choose whether they will adopt thy opinion: it is not for thee to force it upon them." The wisdom that is from above The pure religion of the Lord Jesus, bought by his blood, and infused by his Spirit. "Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. If you bring this or any other preconception to the word of God, no wonder His word leaves you outside its divine and holy scope. Whoso hearkeneth unto it shall, never find rest and never dwell quietly, neither shall he have a, friend in whom he may repose. (James 1:2-3) Thus it is at once apparent that we are on practical ground the manifestation of godliness toward both man and God, that here the Holy Ghost is pressing this as the very first injunction of the epistle. The mouth is the voice piece of the heart of man. He must have every care that he does not contradict his teaching by his life, continually, as it were, not, "Do as I do," but, "Do as I say." WebSupplements to Commentaries Chapter 17: 2.1 New Testament Introductions Chapter 18: 2.2 New Testament Theologies Chapter 19: 3. (128) The word is found only here, and has been variously rendered, because the verb from which it comes has various meanings, to discern, to make a difference, to judge, to examine, to contend or litigate, and to doubt. He will surely clear up whatever is for His own glory. "Pure" simply means to be free from every fault and stain. Thus if there is peace in the way, righteousness is alike the seed and the fruit. Teaching the Word of God is an awesome responsibility, "Blessed is the man who has not slipped with his mouth" ( Sir_14:1 ). Editorials. That ought to be the unrighteous world. "Is any among you sick? . Lie not against the truth. We may request cookies to be set on your device. Surely, brothers, a fig-tree cannot produce olives, nor a vine figs, nor can salt water produce fresh water? The more a mistake (or a hurtful word) is repeated, and the more authority with which it is clothed, the greater are its Proverbs 17:6: , We can never say that we have truly pitied anyone until we have helped him. This is God's wisdom. Two individuals can fight bitterly, call a truce, and yet let hate continue to smolder in their hearts. As a whole, the New Testament addresses itself to the Christian body; but James does not. Now, if you look at nature, it is plain that sin is there first, and in consequence of the sin that dwells in the nature, there are lusts as the effects of it. either a curious inquiring into the faults of others, to find matter for censures. (Poole), viii. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the tongue is a fire; in the midst of our members the tongue stands for the whole wicked world, for it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the ever-recurring cycle of creation, and is itself set on fire by hell. Do We See Any Gospel Connections in the Book of Numbers? 17 As we have found, he particularly warns against the tongue as the expression of the heart's excitement if not of malice. Demonic: Demoniacal- inspired by demons, and maintained in the soul by their indwelling influence.. 3:7-8 Every kind of beast and bird, and reptile and fish, is and has been tamed for the service of mankind; but no man can tame the tongue. It works nothing suitable to His moral nature. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways." Peters hypocrisy, as described by Paul in Galatians 2:11-14, shows that no Christian is immune to the threat of hypocrisy. We have to remember that the danger is not only in what may be breathed in private; but, adds he, James 3:1-18; James 3:1-18 "Be not many masters," that is, in the sense of teachers "knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation." (i) The tongue, says the Revised Standard Version is an unrighteous world. - RWP. Thus there is often a great deal of importance even in the way in which a truth is stated. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Is it too much to ask that a document be judged by its express and manifest design? - Utley, This refers to spiritual integrity and moral sincerity. WebTo this truth - that the body of every Christian is a temple of the Holy Spirit of Christ - St. Paul returns again and again (Galatians 2:20; Galatians 4:19; Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 1:27). Here, it would seem, we begin to learn more definitely the reason. ( James 3:2-5 ). However, it is an application of "wisdom from above" that drives these If such is the nature of the wisdom which is from above, who is there that should be ashamed of it? True wisdom, then, serves to break down hostilities between all parties and bring man closer to God and all others. How can a man have evidence that he is a true Christian, who is not such? At some point early in the history of the church, Peter pays a visit to Antioch. Will any man argue still that this means the saints of God? But it is here, as is the case everywhere, blindness and ignorance in those that set one part of scripture against another. But ye have despised them." Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site.