james 3:17 commentary

(b) Eupeithes ( G2138) can mean easy to persuade, not in the sense of being pliable and weak, but in the sense of not being stubborn and of being willing to listen to reason and to appeal. This is a little confusing for us, because we are in the habit of using soul in the same sense as the ancient people used spirit. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950), p. 45. Its attitude is pride in its knowledge rather than humility in its ignorance. There is a moral reason added: "For in many things we offend all. There is no more fruitful source of error than such a course. Study Guide for James 3 by David Guzik - blueletterbible.org 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. An uncontrolled tongue is like a world hostile to God. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" ( Romans 3:10; Romans 3:23). It is honest; it never pretends to be what it is not; and it never acts a part to gain its own ends. Where this has not been taken into account, there need be no surprise that men have misunderstood the epistle of James. It is the true love that interests itself, not only in that which is good, but even in what is, alas! Birds can be trained to talk, and to say phrases. This is evident on the face of it. (i) The wheel is a circle, a rounded and complete whole, and, therefore, the wheel of life can mean the totality of life. It was actually held that a man's duty to his Rabbi exceeded his duty to his parents, because his parents only brought him into the life of this world but his teacher brought him into the life of the world to come. Full of mercy Ready to pass by a transgression, and to grant forgiveness to those who offend, and performing every possible act of kindness. True wisdom does not lie in good notions or speculations so much as in good and useful actions. commentary Again, the epistle of James was written not merely to the church in Jerusalem, but to the twelve tribes that were scattered abroad. The man who is epieikes ( G1933) is the man who knows when it is actually wrong to apply the strict letter of the law. It comes not from God but from Satan, and results in wrong actions. Then it came to mean the kind of work done solely for what could be got out of it. Ben Sirach began his book with the sentence, "All wisdom cometh from the Lord, and is with him for ever" ( Sir_1:1 ); and he makes Wisdom say, "I came out of the mouth of the Most High" ( Sir_24:3 ). The manner of stating a truth, however well-meant, may sometimes stumble souls, through our own want of subjection to the precious truth and the wonderful wisdom of God in His word. [That is a lie against the truth, the bitterness and striving and envyness within your heart.] To ensure stability, all must rest on one who is God as well as man, giving us a nature according to God. Then let him live a life of such beautiful graciousness that he will prove to all that gentleness is enthroned as the controlling power within his heart. We must spend a little longer on this passage, because in it there are two specially difficult phrases. Whatever they may know to be their own proper place as Christians who never were in such a position, and, so far from being led into it, guarded from it. 15; Trall. (i) It is earthly. There is no such thought that enters the mind of God. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." let him demonstrate it by his manner of life, by his works, with the meekness of wisdom. James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. It is grace alone that has communicated the nature of God; it is grace alone that strengthens the new nature by the gift of the Holy Ghost who dwells in us; and yet more than this, "He giveth more grace. Heavenly wisdom is full of mercy and good fruits, inwardly disposed to every thing that is kind and good, both to relieve those who want and to forgive those who offend, and actually to do this whenever proper occasions offer. In the next lecture we shall enter, if the Lord will, on what belongs more to the ordinary train of our Christian associations. We get it in the creation story. He writes, as seen, to the twelve tribes scattered abroad, and sends them greeting. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Nor is this an opinion, but what God says. James 3 For this end there is not a more precious thought nor a mightier word in all the New Testament. Even a casual glance at the life of Jesus reveals that He lived a life of purity. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. There seems to be a complete contrast between the two kinds of wisdom. "He beholdeth himself, and goeth his way." Yet, what an exposure! And the only people who can sow these seeds and reap the reward are those whose life work it has been to produce such right relationships.". (b) Kosmos ( G2889) can mean world. The apostle James it is who lets us know that such was his object in writing. Its source is not God, but the devil. It is interesting how that man has been able to tame all kinds of creatures. Then in James 5:1-20 we have a solemn word for rich men, to weep and howl for their miseries that shall come upon them. Unnatural and wrong such things might be, but they were tragically common. Solomon emphasizes this point as he writes, "Buy the truth, and sell it not" (Proverbs 23:23). For this kind of wisdom descends not from above. This does not refer to the doctrines of religion, but to its spirit. Hence, if a man be wise, the question arises, how is it to be proved? Thus it embraces such of them as were Christians; and it gives a very true and just place to those who had the faith of the Lord Jesus. But a man can drop a malicious word, or repeat a scandalous and untrue story, about someone whom he does not even know or about someone who stays hundreds of miles away, and cause infinite harm. But the wisdom that is from above - Compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 2:6-7. One sin begets another, and it cannot be imagined how much mischief is produced: there is every evil work. Click on the different category headings to find out more. How often one hears people in the habit of quoting from this verse for what they call practice, who dwell on the first part to the exclusion of the last. The margin reads it, without wrangling, not acting the part of sectaries, and disputing merely for the sake of a party; nor censuring others purely on account of their differing from us. Exode 17:3 Les points souligner dans ce sermon sont : I. It is true the Scriptures do not teach that doctrinal purity is to be preferred to a peaceful spirit. However pure a mans doctrine may be, if he has not the peaceful spirit he is none of Christs. But although everyone makes mistakes, communication amplifies the effects of these slip-ups. THE CORRUPTION WITHIN ( James 3:5 b-6 continued). First pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without When Jesus says, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy," He is teaching something new and different for that age. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. - RWP. 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. 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. Philo called the mind the charioteer and steersman of man's life; it is when the mind controls every word and it itself is controlled by Christ that life is safe. c. Confusion and every evil thing: This is the fruit of human, earthly wisdom. He needed it in many ways; and so do we. He also calls it gentle or tractable; by which he means that it widely differs from pride and malignity. We know how easily "learned discussion can produce passion." James tells us. full of mercy and good fruits: "Full of mercy" (meste eleous) and "good fruits" (karpon agathon) continue the characteristics of true wisdom. He now mentions the effects of celestial wisdom which are wholly contrary to the former effects. "Is any among you sick? That is, there is a trial of faith, and there is a temptation of flesh. Had this behavior been allowed to continue, the wall between Jew and Gentile might never have been torn down. Assuredly not in talking much, which usually tends to talking ill. "Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom." But I am persuaded that no man, I will not say despises, but even attempts to dispense with, the epistle of James except to his own exceeding loss. The form of the word used here also occurs in Hebrews 12:11. Therefore, the phrase most probably means the whole of life and living. It is not likely that a Christian would be afraid of the chances and changes of life. In the bright day that is coming God will bless the creature. "Who is he that hath not offended with his tongue?" It is James' conviction that nowhere is this contradiction more evident than in the tongue. Jesus warned men that they would give account for every word they spoke. With such demonstrations, Jesus disturbed the Pharisees. Man should also strive to have peace within himself (Philippians 4:7). Paul begins his letters by wishing peace upon the readers. 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 world hates him and therefore hates his disciples ( John 15:18-19). WebThe Lunar Module landed on the Moon at 21:17:39 BST (16:17:39 EDT) on Sunday, 20 July 1969. With one voice the Jewish sages agreed that wisdom came to men from God. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. Again we are are reminded of Jesus words that good trees bear WebTag: James 3:17-18 commentary. He must never get into the position when his scholars and students cannot hear what he says for listening to what he is. And without hypocrisy - What it professes to be; sincere. To be utterly convinced of one's own beliefs without at the same time being bitter to those of others is no easy thing; and yet it is a first necessity for the Christian teacher and scholar. We know only too well from experience that there is a cleavage in human nature. Full of mercy and good fruits Again, the Saviour's own requirement that those who would be forgiven must themselves be willing to forgive others inspires James' comment in his epistle (see Matthew 7,9 and Matthew 6:14,15). In itself it is three things. James 3:17-18 (Smarty Pants / Heavenly Wisdom) May 8, 2021 / Jeff Stott. But he presses also the necessity of dependence on God in another form in the end of our chapter. They were not to reckon trial a grievance. This sounds strange now as men constantly look and judge out of their own present state; but it is impossible to understand the scriptures thus. Read Introduction to James Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes Then follows undissembling, not saying one thing and meaning another. The gospel writers often portray Jesus as looking upon the crowds with compassion (Matthew 9:36; Matthew 14:14; Matthew 20:34). To James there was something unnatural about this; it was as unnatural as for a stream to gush out both fresh and salt water or a bush to bear opposite kinds of fruit. Hence, therefore, God reverses the judgment of the world in all these matters, "Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted. Proud member The apostle here reproves ambition, and an arrogant magisterial tongue; and shows the duty and advantage of bridling it because of its power to do mischief. Observe he does not speak of himself as the brother of the Lord, although he was, and is so styled "the Lord's brother" in the epistle to the Galatians. Thus he shows that faith supposes confidence in God, and that this doubtful mind, this hesitancy about God, is in point of fact nothing but unbelief. The man revels what's inside of him by his tongue. The first thing which it produces is to make the man himself pure and good; then follows the train of blessings which the apostle enumerates as flowing from that. Verset 17. 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. He does call for works, and is not content simply with faith, but the works he produces are works that owe all their value to faith. WebJames 3:2. It is characterised by the self-judgment which delights in and displays the ways of God. Let him show by the loveliness of his behaviour that all he does is done with gentleness. James 3:17 (KJV) - Forerunner Commentary - Bible Tools Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, But the wisdom that is from above Which has God for its author; which is infused into the soul by the Spirit of God; and leads into the knowledge of things that are above, of heavenly things; and which only is true wisdom and knowledge; and those who are possessed of it are the only true Gnostics; for which, (See Gill on James 3:13) namely, the grace of God: this wisdom. Jesus, one day, said something that is worth considering at this point. Be slow then to speak, swift to hear. However, it is an application of "wisdom from above" that drives these Can faith save?" It is a sobering thing to remember that the wisdom he possesses is devilish rather than divine. WebThe Bible in Basic English for James 3:17 17 But the wisdom which is from heaven is first holy, then gentle, readily giving way in argument, full of peace and mercy and good works, not doubting, not seeming other than it is. "None is righteous, no not one," quotes Paul. Where two persons really take up the same matter, and then give us contrary expressions, they of course contradict each other; but if they deal with two totally different points, although they may be ever so closely connected, contradiction there is none: and such precisely is the fact as to Paul and James in the matter before us, without saying a word of the inspiration which makes it impossible. And so James warns that if we take upon ourselves that position of teacher just know that along with that position goes that awesome responsibility and that one day we will have to give an account before God of how straight forward we were in handling His Word.Now the Bible warns of those who handle the Word of God deceitfully, and I have met so many people who handled the Word of God deceitfully.Now James is gonna talk to us about something of which we all have a problem now or then, and that's our tongue. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. The death thereof is an evil death, the grave were better, than it. Look that thou hedge thy possession about with, thorns and bind up thy silver and gold and weigh thy words in a, balance and make a bridle for thy lips and make a door and bar for, thy mouth. Teaching the Word of God is an awesome responsibility, 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. The word carries with it the idea of being considerate toward others. James 3 Bible Commentary 13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? (ii) A rudder is very small in comparison with the size of a ship; and yet, by exerting pressure on that little rudder, the steersman can alter the course of the ship and direct it to safety. The reason is that God uses it for moral purposes; He deals with the nature which opposes itself to His will. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law." easy to be entreated: James here presents another characteristic of wisdom. from above -- James 1:17; James 3:15; James 3:17; wisdom from above -- The answer to the disorder of v. 16 is to seek wisdom from above, which produces character qualities beginning with purity and concluding with peace (cf. Here at once would spring up a divergence of feeling among them. [40] E. C. S. Gibson, Pulpit Commentary, Vol. In the early church the teachers were of first rate importance Wherever they are mentioned, they are mentioned with honour. This wisdom is pure because it is also connected with Gods word. Nor do I deny that there are answers to prayer of a very striking kind. CHAPITRE 17 A REPHIDIM _1. The true wisdom is full of mercy (eleos, G1656) and good fruits. He is pleading for the control of the tongue. WebSmith's Bible Commentary Let's turn to James chapter three. Here all is exemplified in a plain but striking way. The governing and guiding of all the motions of a horse, by the bit which is put into his mouth: Behold, we put bits into the horses' mouths, that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body, v. 3. There is a great deal of brutish fierceness and wantonness in us. Surely the one stream from the same cleft in the rock does not gush forth fresh and salt water? It refers to that individual whose mind is not closed and is willing to listen to others. In this sense the wheel of life can stand for the weary treadmill of constant reincarnation. There is another principle, with which this has no brotherhood, that denies the right of private judgment, and enforces uniformity by the sword: its progeny are inquisitors, and Lauds and Sharpes; and let it have the credit of its own offspring.). In the LXX it is used mostly of Gods disposition as a King. WebJames 3:17 New American Standard Bible 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, [ a]reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, [ b]impartial, free of hypocrisy. Accordingly "whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed" (or rather "doing"). Scripture knows no such being as a "saved sinner." In this the theologian and the sceptic come to the same conclusion, and from the same source a lack of seeing and appreciating Jesus. Opening. Instead, he must recognize the feelings of others and, at times, sacrifice his own rights (1 Corinthians 8). The people to whom James was writing coveted the prestige of the teacher; James demanded that they should never forget the responsibility. It ranges over the whole earth and reaches to heaven." Everyone makes many mistakes, James says; if someone didnt make any verbal gaffes, such a person would be perfect. The first of the apostle does not indicate even preference of the pure spirit to the peaceful spirit, but only the order in which they are to be exercised. is first pure; it is pure in itself, it is free from everything that is earthly, carnal, or sensual, or devilish; it produces purity of heart, of life, and conversation; and is the means of keeping persons pure and chaste, and free from impure lusts, lusts of uncleanness, pride, envy, wrath, c. which prevail in carnal and unregenerate men: and then peaceable it inclines and engages those who have it to live in peace with the saints, and even with all men; with those of their own household, with their neighbours, yea, with their enemies: it is also "gentle"; or makes men gentle, moderate, and humane, so as that they bear, and forbear; they bear with the infirmities of the weak; readily forgive injuries done them; do not rigidly exact what is their due, but recede from their just right for the sake of peace and love; and do not bear hard upon others for their failings, but cover them with the mantle of love: and it is. 1416. There was no miracle in their part of the business, as far as they were concerned. let him sing psalms." Holy zeal and bitter envying are as different as the flames of seraphim and the fire of hell. Biblical writers composed lists of virtues and vices to inspire changes in behavior (e.g., Psalms 15:1; Proverbs 6:17-19; Hosea 4:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-24; Ephesians 5:3-5). Righteousness produces peace with its qualities of quietness and assurance, but at the same time, peace provides the proper environment for First pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy: The character of this wisdom is wonderful. Surely, brothers, a fig-tree cannot produce olives, nor a vine figs, nor can salt water produce fresh water? "Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. He who realises with God what this world is, and what man's nature is, is humble before Him; as also more grace is given to such. 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. 6. But it is here, as is the case everywhere, blindness and ignorance in those that set one part of scripture against another. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. Ronny Marriott, incumbent second vice president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and pastor of First Baptist Church in Burleson, will be nominated for Texas Baptists first vice president. He has given him a life that loves His ways and word, that hates and revolts from evil, and is pained most of all by falling through unwatchfulness under sin, if it seemed ever so little. In order to discern we need wisdom. "[40] All who teach others should ever be conscious of the fact that a rude or thoughtless word may wound to death an immortal soul. That would mean that it is the organ which can make evil attractive. The person to whom this letter is ascribed can scarcely be one of the two members of the Twelve who bore the name James (see Mt 10:23; Mk 3:1718; Lk 6:1415), for he is not identified as an apostle but only as slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ ().This designation most probably refers to the third New Testament vii. This same word is used as one of the qualifications of the elder (1 Timothy 3:3). 17But the wisdom which is from above. Without partiality - Margin, or wrangling. The word here used ( adiakritos) occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. True peace is also a positive force (not just quitting something but also doing something constructive). How could one think that those who indulge in such thoughts show any real intelligence as to the word of God? He that speaketh evil of his brother" is really speaking evil of God's own law and judging it. 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. ( Sir_19:15 ). WebMatthew Henry's Concise Commentary 3:13-18 These verses show the difference between men's pretending to be wise, and their being really so. The tongue can damage at a distance. The odium theologicum is notorious. Accordingly it is a practical denial of the very attitude you take in asking God. For if we merely look at Abraham, or at Rahab, apart from God, apart from faith, if we regard their ways here cited as a question of human good works who in the world would ever so style that which Abraham or Rahab did? Alas! James is not pleading for a cowardly silence but for a wise use of speech. The heart is the seat of both; but envy and wisdom cannot dwell together in the same heart. Whenever the name of God was mentioned, a Jew must respond: "Blessed be he!" Let us then endeavour to profit by the warning, and above all by the precious lesson in the word of our God. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body." 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 the part of us which disobeys him. 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. O that you and I may always be guided by such wisdom as this! James 3

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