Exode 17:3 Les points souligner dans ce sermon sont : I. It was necessarily negative, not positive, in character. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." Wisdom describes this wisdom as "the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty" ( Wis_7:25 ). 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). Enduring Word Bible Commentary James Chapter 3 James 3:13-17 Meaning and Commentary - Bible Study Tools This wisdom is first pure: The reference is not to sexual purity but to the absence of any sinful attitude or motive. (Burdick), ii. Even so the tongue is a little member, but it boasts great things. 3 When Christians live deceptive lives, they become a stumbling block to others who would obey the Lord (Matthew 23:13). It refers to that individual whose mind is not closed and is willing to listen to others. 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). (ii) There is no sin into which it is easier to fall and none which has graver consequences than the sin of the tongue. 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. He means to bring in fulness of blessing by and by. the very fact of its being common proves where people are, how little they have to do with God, how much in common with the world. James 3 forbearing -- It describes, as in Aristotle (Eth. But then this leads the way, and makes one feel the need of wisdom from God in order intelligently and happily to profit by the trial; for, as we know, the blessing of all trial is "to them that are exercised thereby." These words serve to remind the teacher of the great responsibility he has voluntarily chosen. eternal life. (Poole), ii. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. "If we say we have no sin," says John, "we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" ( 1 John 1:8). He is pleading for the control of the tongue. 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 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. These are the two most important points pressed practically throughout the epistle. James 3:1-5 Tongue Care; James 3:5-12 A Little Fire; We can understand that those whose one object was their own importance, glory, and ease in this world, necessarily felt that such an one was a living witness against them, and convicted them of flagrant opposition to the grace of God, who taught by Jesus in word and deed that it is more blessed to give than to receive. We have some account of true wisdom, with the distinguishing marks and fruits of it: Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? Jesus, one day, said something that is worth considering at this point. His very name means, "My great one." Observe here, True wisdom is God's gift. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not." So, then, what James is saying is this, "We are all trying to reap the harvest which a good life brings. James 3:17 - Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary - StudyLight.org He exhorts them to endurance and to patience. I do not know how a man's spirit can with propriety be said to dwell in a man. c. Confusion and every evil thing: This is the fruit of human, earthly wisdom. WebJames 3:2. There is a great deal of brutish fierceness and wantonness in us. The word is used in the LXX. James 3 "If a brother or a sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?" The reason why people often find legality in James is because they themselves bring it. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Read full chapter Footnotes James 3:17 Or willing to yield James 3:17 Or unwavering James 3:17 in all English translations James 2 James 4 The word here used ( epieikes) is rendered moderation in Philippians 4:5; patient in 1 Timothy 3:3; and gentle in Titus 3:2; James 3:17, and 1 Peter 2:18. (i) He is under the temptation to arrogance. In reality our manner of life does demonstrate the source of our wisdom. 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. Oh, if ever there was a work of faith since the world began, it was that work for which Abraham was ready yea, did put his hand to. Peters hypocrisy, as described by Paul in Galatians 2:11-14, shows that no Christian is immune to the threat of hypocrisy. Never reverse this order; it is not only that this wisdom is pure and peaceable, but it is first pure, then peaceable. And sometimes that frightens me. 17 But I am supposing now that a person is required in the name of God to declare what he believes to be the truth in a matter of which he is a witness, the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Mercy is not a mere feeling. In no wise does scripture slight that solemn obligation. Your gold and silver are cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. The order of things here laid down. On the other hand, to "a servant of God" he adds, "and of the Lord Jesus Christ." James 3:17-18 (Smarty Pants / Heavenly Wisdom) May 8, 2021 / Jeff Stott. May we never forget what the new nature loves and feels to be true and holy according to Christ. WebJames 3:17 In-Context. The hypocrite can do as much damage, and sometimes more, than the false teacher in a local congregation. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Therefore, certainly, he in no way contradicts Paul, any more than in what is said of faith, or justification; indeed he does not at all treat of the same question that Paul has before him. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God.". And then, lastly, true wisdom will go on to sow the fruits of righteousness in peace, and thus, if it may be, to make peace in the world, James 3:18; James 3:18. 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. Ask wisdom, and ask it all of God, who gives liberally and upbraids not. Note the key words "wise" and "wisdom" (James 3:13; James 3:17), which bracket the thought of this section, as well of the prominence of "peaceable" and "peace" that conclude it (James 3:17-18). What Every Christian Should Know about the Protestant Reformation. Surely we may ask this; for those who value the word of God are not precluded from enquiring what the object is. This passage should not be applied, as it often is, to the doctrines of religion, as if it were the first duty of a church to keep itself free from errors in doctrine, and that this ought to be sought even in preference to the maintenance of peace - as if it meant that in doctrine a church should be first pure, then peaceable; but it should be applied to the individual consciences of men, as showing the effect of religion on the heart and life. WebJohn MacArthur. _MURMEURS_ Les gens ont murmur. When a man is conscious that his wisdom is of a suspicious kind, one can understand him unwilling to have his mind or will disputed; but the truth is, that there is nothing which so much marks the superiority of grace and truth and wisdom that God gives as patience, and the absence of anxiety to push what one knows is right and true. (c)Without strife, from diakrino, to contend. There is a danger always in approaching the scriptures with a certain mind set. Its works prove its nature and its source. James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. I think that we should keep it just as pure as possible as we seek to teach the Word. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950), p. 45. How it links itself with Peter, and John, and Paul, we need not stop now to enquire. At the same time it is evident that to be a saint and a sinner at the same time is simply a flat contradiction. Accordingly, I have not the slightest doubt that what our Lord and His servants reprobated was the introduction of an oath in common conversation; and this, it is plain, does not apply to an oath administered by a magistrate. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. It is bad enough to heap treasure at any time; but to heap it up in the last days was to add not a little to the evil in the Lord's eyes. I. Here, for instance, we have the righteousness of God clearly in a different sense from that so familiar to us in the Pauline epistles. If this wisdom is not freed from fault, it will be no better than the worldly wisdom. Ronny Marriott nominee for BGCT first vice president. 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). However, nothing can be simpler than that which the apostle here describes and recommends to us, and nothing more certain. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." He must, therefore, all his life struggle to avoid two things. "Variance," the rendition here, means without inconsistency, vacillation or erratic changes. Of all Greek words in the New Testament this is the most untranslatable. "He beholdeth himself, and goeth his way." Doubtless old habits and associations lead to this; but there is no ground for it in the Bible. Instead of ever giving battle for its rights supposed or real, there is clearly the yieldingness of grace about it. It regards its opponents as enemies to be annihilated rather than as friends to be persuaded. (iv) It is arrogant. And there are a lot of things that I wish I had said that I didn't a word of encouragement, a word of forgiveness, a word of comfort. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition (i) The true wisdom is pure. In this the theologian and the sceptic come to the same conclusion, and from the same source a lack of seeing and appreciating Jesus. Peter could say, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you" ( Matthew 26:35), and that very same tongue of his denied Jesus with oaths and curses ( Matthew 26:69-75). For this end there is not a more precious thought nor a mightier word in all the New Testament. [James said there is an inconsistency here.] At the same time we must read it as it is, or rather as God wrote it; and God has addressed it, beyond controversy, not merely to Christian Jews, nor even to Jews, but to the twelve tribes that were scattered abroad. The tongue is a fire] It is often the instrument of producing the most desperate contentions and insurrections. This we know was an old custom. He must never get into the position when his scholars and students cannot hear what he says for listening to what he is. Its attitude is pride in its knowledge rather than humility in its ignorance. 17But the wisdom which is from above. This is not just feelings but actions. And yet the very mouths and tongues which had frequently and piously blessed God, were the very same mouths and tongues which cursed fellowmen. It would be waste of time to speak of such a thing now, if it were not of practical moment; but I am convinced that it is' and that this and other stereotyped phrases of the religious world gravely need and will not bear an examination in the light of scripture. It is the part of us which disobeys him. It produces the kind of situation which the devil delights in, not God. ( Sir_19:15 ). WebJames 3:17-18. 3; Magn. The seed, as ever, must produce its own proper fruit. The apostle James it is who lets us know that such was his object in writing. peaceable: The next characteristic of true wisdom is that it is "peaceable" (eirenike). For in many things, [he said,] we offend all. As the Jewish Rabbis themselves said, "Not learning but doing is the foundation, and he who multiplies words multiplies sin" (Sayings of the Fathers 1: 18). (iv) The phrase had one particular technical use. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. If we are wiser than others, this should be evidenced by the goodness of our conversation, not by the roughness or vanity of it. He must not be childish and always demand his own way. A backbiting tongue hath, disquieted many and driven them from nation to nation; strong. WebJames 3:17,18. He says first that it is pure; by which term he excludes hypocrisy and ambition. Verse 6. We should remember that contextually these words were spoken to the teachers. Here is brought in another essential point of the epistle. James 3:17 knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation ( James 3:1 ). The Greek is hagnos ( G53) and its root meaning is pure enough to approach the gods. Let us look to the grace of the Lord to understand the scripture. The phrase, therefore, could mean that the tongue is the adornment of evil. So this is just good practical advice for getting along with people. But not more certainly was Paul inspired to present Abraham's faith and Abraham's act too in this closing circumstance of his life (we may say, the great and final test of his faith), not more was Paul guided in his application, than James was in that which has been just now before us. Arrogance was the besetting sin of the Rabbis. 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. If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. See James 2:1-4. 15; Trall. The law of liberty brings in the positive for those who love it not the negation of what the will and lust of man desires, so much as the exercise of the new life in what is according to its own nature. Oh, what a difference. This wisdom is pure because it is also connected with Gods word. WebJames 3:17 - Gary Hampton Commentaries THE FRUITS OF HEAVENLY WISDOM In contrast to the wisdom from the devil, James presents the wisdom from heaven. The sense of all around and within leads him out in self-judgment before God. 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. Unnatural and wrong such things might be, but they were tragically common. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. It is not gained by conversing with men, nor by the knowledge of the world (as some think and speak), but it comes from above. "This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. Accordingly it is a practical denial of the very attitude you take in asking God. Pretend what you will, and think yourselves ever so wise, yet you have abundance of reason to cease your glorying, if you run down love and peace, and give way to bitter envying and strife. Do We See Any Gospel Connections in the Book of Numbers? of man but the gift of God. Instead of a friend become not an enemy; for thereby thou shalt inherit an ill name, shame and reproach; even so shall a sinner that hath a double tongue" ( Sir_5:13 through Sir_6:1 ). This is put, first of all, - JFB, pure -- The term hagnos has the same Greek root as holy (hagios). 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. This is the wisdom of those who trust God to provide all they need, to There is no such thought that enters the mind of God. We get it in the creation story. "Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm." either a curious inquiring into the faults of others, to find matter for censures. (Poole), viii. The apostle shows that the spirit of heaping up riches in the last days is the same that in other circumstances slew Jesus Christ the righteous. We may request cookies to be set on your device. This does not mean that mortals are directly inspired by such wisdom, but that God is the ultimate source from which their wisdom is actually received; and the means of their receiving it, while not in view in this text, must surely be allowed as the gospels and apostolic writings themselves, there being no other possible source of it. Everyone makes many mistakes, James says; if someone didnt make any verbal gaffes, such a person would be perfect. In this sense the wheel of life can stand for the weary treadmill of constant reincarnation. He now mentions the effects of celestial wisdom which are wholly contrary to the former effects. (i) There is no man in this world who does not sin in something. Instead of producing peace, it produces strife. In short, holy scripture does not sanction such a combination, and the sooner we get rid of phrases, which deserve no better name than religious cant, the better for all parties. WebAdam Clarke Bible Commentary James 3:6. The oath before a magistrate? The idea of the taming of the animal creation in the service of mankind is one which often occurs in Jewish literature. It was actually said that if a man's parents and a man's teacher were captured by an enemy, the Rabbi must be ransomed first. 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. (Compare Galatians 5:1-26) The natural spirit of man does lust to envy, no doubt; but the Spirit that dwells in us opposes the flesh at all points, as we know scripture does. Alas! Opening. Wisdom in the mind affects ones use of his or her tongue. "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. 3:3-5 If we put bits into horses' mouths to make them obedient to us, we can control the direction of their whole body as well. When Jesus says, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy," He is teaching something new and different for that age. 2. 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. "Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. It has not been unknown for a man to speak with piety on Sunday and to curse a squad of workmen on Monday. There must be no attempts to reach peace by overleaping purity. James is saying that this wrong kind of wisdom is no more than an animal kind of thing; it is the kind of wisdom which makes an animal snap and snarl with no other thought than that of prey or personal survival. He knows, too, that he is not to be carried about by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). His outward life as well as his inner feelings and motivations must be freed from sin. Compare James 2:14-26. James We pray father god here tonight that our hearts would be open to receive all the things you have for us. It is not the stubbornness of self-assertion or opinionativeness. As we have found, he particularly warns against the tongue as the expression of the heart's excitement if not of malice. It means, properly, not to be distinguished. Here it may mean either of the following things: (a)Not open to distinction or doubt; that is, unambiguous, so that there shall be no doubt about its origin or nature; (b)Making no distinction, that is, in the treatment of others, or impartial towards them; or.
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