But therein lies the solution. Promote health with wise words (Proverbs 12:18). --Dennis De Haan. Gabriel. Notice that many of these passage describe gentleness as the virtue that should be exhibited by believers to other people and are thus good illustrations of "living wisely.". (James 3:13-18 Wisdom for Harmonious Relationships), Barclay on eleos -The Greeks defined it as pity for the one who is suffering unjustly; but Christianity means far more than that by eleos. (Ibid). This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. "He that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction" (Proverbs 13:3). James Russell Lowell, The tongue is the ambassador of the heart. William Penn, A word spoken is physically transient but morally permanent. (The Early Christian Letters for Everyone), In your heart (kardia- used in Jas. Our role as Christians is vastly different from the ancient Greek actors. 12:34). ESV And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. It is not intelligence that keeps the lock on that cage; it is wisdoma wisdom that is characterized by humility, grace, and peace. Song of Solomon Their tongues are loaded with lies. ), Barclay - Eirenikos is derived fromeirenewhich "means peace, and when it is used in a human context its basic meaning is right relationships between individuals, and between individuals and God. My name is Gossip. See "Tongue Control"), Barton -No person can tame the tongue, but Christ can. A philosophy professor ended his letter with "It just beats me. He is, however, a homely and spiritual writer, and his work is good reading for the many. But James used the word in a specific context. People can tame tigers, dolphins, and falcons, but God must tame our tongues by transforming our hearts. SOME NOTABLE SERMONS. This is nature's way of trying to get by contention what it desires to possess,-fighting, and warring, and killing, yet the result of all this is nil. NET James 3:16 For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice. Wisdom is the beauty of holiness. Unlike the human mouth (James 3:10), a fountain will not send forth sweet and bitter from the same opening. But when the next paper contains the identical mistakes, I begin to get a little irritated. Jeremiah BBE James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire; it is the power of evil placed in our bodies, making all the body unclean, putting the wheel of life on fire, and getting its fire from hell. The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. Phillips Have you ever known a spring to give sweet and bitter water simultaneously? By definition, it is restricted to things that man can theorize, discover, and accomplish by himself. These pictures make me want to cry out to the Holy Spirit to make Psalm 141:3 my continual protection! "Wise men lay up knowledge" (Proverbs 10:14). Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. "Not one's orthodoxy (right preaching) but one's orthopraxis (right living) is the mark of true wisdom." Sophiais used frequently in the New Testament to describe the ability to discern and conform to Gods will. ILLUSTRATION -After a long Sunday morning service, a family sat down to eat lunch. Most of them lived solid, consistent lives. He says, his works,that is, his works as a wise man, or, substantially, the works or fruits of his wisdom. We have here again what may be described as the central thought of this Epistle, that where religion has real saving hold of a mind and heart, it cannot from its nature but powerfully influence the outward life; and that the more a Christian has of true wisdom and spiritual knowledge, the more manifestly will his life at all points be governed by his religion. All of these behaviors indicate a heart that is like the heart of the Father. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. People enjoy teaching monkeys to act in commercials or training deer to eat out of their hands. All rights reserved), Lord, cleanse our hearts so what we speak NIV Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. The rich rejoice that they have discovered the emptiness of material wealth, and the poor rejoice that they have discovered eternal riches. In its simplest sensedikaiosuneconveys the idea of conformity to a standard or norm and in Biblical terms the "standard" is God and His perfect, holy character. Wherever we are today, lets ask the Lord to use us as His peacemakers. One of the tellers there was also a soloist in a church in downtown Nashville. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. One writer has "claiming to be wise when in truth one is foolish" and another"your profession therefore is a lie." It is human nature to speak of FAULTS rather than VIRTUES. Hiebert -The adjective "full" underlines that this heavenly wisdom is characterized by an abundant measure of mercy. Actions dont always speak louder than wordsyour tongue can undo everything you do. But, unfortunately, we all battle theworld, thefleshand thedevil. (James 1:27+) This would imply he also keeps himself unstained by his words which are a world of iniquity. The best peacemakers are those who know the peace of God. Notice how the list of traits like gentle, reasonable, etc, serve to practically undergird and ensure that this wisdom is peaceable. To compromise with wrong, to seek for quietness by the sacrifice of righteousness, is not to secure peace, but to make it impossible. Are there people even now who are hurt or angry because of something you have said? . Pure(53)(hagnos) means freedom from defilements, contaminants or impurities (e.g., Jesus ishagnos - 1 Jn 3:3+). All rights reserved). 58:4; Ezek. 5:8)- James is reminding his readers the problem is not external but internal. Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness. "The tongue of the wise promotes health" (Proverbs 12:18). (Ibid), Peaceable (1516)(eirenikosfrom eirene= peace) characterized or promoting a state of wholeness and well-being, thatis,lovingand promoting peace. This wisdom does not require a high IQ or a great SAT score. ESV James 3:9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. Revelation, Search Wikipedia using spiritual discretion, Faith, Love & Hope: An Exposition of the Epistle of James, Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. The King James Version Bible Commentary is a complete verse-by-verse commentary. 32:17). "A gentle tongue is a tree of life" (Proverbs 15:4). My brethren, these things ought not to be so. "Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise" (Proverbs 22:17). By the constituents of the water a judgment can be made as to its source. (GENTLENESS)Humility is the character trait underlying the Christian behavior described in the entire letter; this is the trait to cultivate if one would take James's teaching deeply into one's life (cf James 1:21+). "A lying tongue is but for a moment" (Proverbs 12:19). G Campbell Morgan -The marginal reading of the Revised Version suggests the substitution of the word "by" for "for," and that would seem to be the real thought of the writer. The man of the world desires to be counted anything but meek or poor in spirit, and would deem such a description of him equivalent to a charge of unmanliness. Neither can salt water yield sweet. George Barlow, Wisdom has never made a bigot, but learning has. ; Jas. Hence the Apostle Paul, in the Epistle to the Romans, distinguishes all men into two classesthose who are in the flesh, and those who are in the spirit; the standard on which the division is based being that which I have now indicated: Ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you (Ro 8:9+). NLT James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. Wisdom, the wisdom of God, is not something that is acquired by man, but something that is bestowed by God upon His elect. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God: Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. The truly wise man is he who has conformity of spirit to the only wise God, who believes what God teaches, loves what God loves, lives as Jesus livedHe who was the express image of the invisible God. Here before our eyes was a striking illustration of James 3:7: "For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind." If that connection becomes contaminated, it is only a matter of time before the whole relationship is poisoned. Amos On Listening NJB James 3:15 this is not the wisdom that comes from above, but earthly, human and devilish. By:Joanie Yoder(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. And at night let us reflect that one more day is irrevocably gone, indelibly marked. "To the wise the way of life goeth upward, That he may depart from Sheol beneath" (Proverbs 15:24). GNT James 3:15 , , . ASV James 3:14 But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth. Amen"), Kent Hughesadds that "Jewish Christians were perpetuating the beautiful old Hebrew custom of saying, "Blessed be He" after each utterance of God's name, so that their worship times were continually punctuated by choruses of praise. And James cautioned, "No man can tame the tongue. Many Churches have been infiltrated with the doctrines of Hell. The Bible teaches that all people are created in the image of God, that they are all accountable for what they do with whatever He has given them, and that someday they will all die. John Calvin -This slender portion of flesh contains the whole world of iniquity. bIf anyone does not stumble in 1what he says, he is a cperfect man, able to dbridle the whole body as well. J. Sidlow Baxter, Gentle words fall lightly, but they have great weight. The course of nature refers to ongoing of life in general, not the recycling of individual souls. Paul R VanGorder (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. One incendiary remark can kindle an inferno of emotional harm. Beloved, this is mind blowing! Can(1410)(dunamai) means able to do something. ", MacArthur has an excellent explanation of earthly wisdom as that which is "limited to the present, material world of time and space. 4:23). Wherever you see it hung out in Scripture, it is like an ancient sign-board, signifying that there are rich wares within, or like the . James minced no words in warning about the power of the tongue. . James 3:13 Who among you is wise and understanding? (1 Pe 3:9+), Curse(accursed) (2671)(katarafromkat= down, against [intensifies meaning] +ara= a curse) means a malediction (literally to speak evil), imprecation (calling down a curse) on these men. The true wisdom is not rigid but is willing to listen and skilled in knowing when wisely to yield. Few people recognize the sinister capabilities of the tongue. And, being earthly, it is sensual. (NATURAL) The word so translated occurs in the New Testament several times, but is rendered sensual only here and in a verse in Jude, where mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts, (Jude 1:18+) are described as worldly-minded (psuchikos), devoid of the Spirit (Jude 1:19+). As an Eastern proverb has it, "A gold vessel does not sound; a brass one does." Utley -Notice it is not the fruit of wisdom; wisdom without righteousness is not wisdom. So even as James instructed us in how to discern whether one has genuine faith (by his works), in this section he tells us how to discern whether a person is truly wise and understanding by listing (and thereby contrasting)the traits one would expect to see associated with heavenly wisdom versus with earthly wisdom. 6:13; Zech. It can criticize and complain. This world is more influenced by the demonic, and this kind of "wisdom" can easily seep into everything we do, even ministry. Whatever he might claim, he cannot be saved. Psuchikosmeans soulish, with affinity to natural sinful propensities, the person in whom thesarx, the flesh, is more the ruling principle even aspsuchiksandpsucheis for the animalistic instincts. James 3:10. Don't let your tongue speak evil (Psalm 34:13). Our tongues are unruly, and frankly, we cannot tame them ourselves (James 3:8). There is a simpler and a surer . Some animals are poisonous, and some tongues spread poison. We must get our "spiritual roots" deep into His Word. The Greek term and the English equivalent to lie involve more than simply telling what is not true, for this could occur without an intent to deceive or mislead. A United States President asked a certain general a question about another officer. Amplified Does a fountain send forth [simultaneously] from the same opening fresh water and bitter? FURTHER INSTANCES OF BLESSING. In the Epistle of James this adjective means bitter in the metaphoric passage describing the unruly tongue (James 3:11) and in the subsequent passage about true wisdom (James 3:14). 1 Thessalonians If you lack wisdom, get on your knees! He has the wits of a withering world. of maidens, to make subject to a husband, Il. Double-speak is defined aslanguage that deliberatelyobscures, disguises, distorts, or reverses themeaningof words. Words are our thoughts going public! My victims are as numerous as the sands of the sea, and often as innocent. James is saying, "I am about to tell you the nature of true wisdom; treasure this." 2:10; Phil. 2:26; 2 Ki. BBE James 3:12 Is a fig-tree able to give us olives, my brothers, or do we get figs from a vine, or sweet water from the salt sea? (Exploring the Epistle of James: An Expository Commentary). James 3:17 - The wisdom that is from above is without hypocrisy. (Steven Cole), The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. After all is done, "yet ye have not.". . A second whale took one end of a rope from another trainer and carried it 100 feet down the pool to the first trainer. Stulac says "The adjective pikros ("bitter") describes a harsh stance of demanding to be recognized as wise, instead of being willing to learn." A bitter spirit will keep you from being a better person. Evil(bad, harm) (2556)(kakos)related word =kakia) is a word which basically denotes a lack of something so that it is "bad" or "not as it ought to be. James is saying that the full range of iniquity finds an outlet through the tongue. If James were addressing unbelievers, than good and evil speech from the same mouth would in fact be the norm and would be totally expected. Practically speaking, believers need to imitate Jesus' example of gentleness (cf 1 Cor 11:1) and the only way we can manifest gentleness like He being enabled by the Holy Spirit. Instead of fighting, we need to be helpful, positive, and encouraging toward others. The verb "flow from" (bruei), used only here in the New Testament, denotes something that is full to bursting; it indicates that the spring copiously gushes forth its water. Jonah Do you really want to be wise? Nor can salt water produce fresh - James gives another impossibility. Such a contrast is not necessarily disparaging of earthly matters. All rights reserved). "James reminds his readers that "no loud and pretentious claim to the possession of 'wisdom' could avail while 'out of the heart proceeded evil things.'" "Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah" :12:22). By Gods grace, no. The answer is the same way a believer is able to control their tongue -- it is by continually beingfilled with (controlled by) the Spirit (Eph 5:18+), continually walking by the Spirit (Gal 5:16+). So in this sentence James uses a first class conditional statement which assumes that some of his readers were harboring bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in their heart. But apart from Christ there is no wisdom. Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. The tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body-Phillips paraphrases it "It can poison the whole body." Hold oer my being absolute sway! "The mouth of the righteous bringeth forth wisdom" (Proverbs 10:31). 22 The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. 3:17). Those two words shouldnt go together. A passage in the Bible actually seems to call such attitudes wise. Washington Irving, A fool is hardly discerned when silent; his picture is best taken when he is speaking. When James spoke of the wisdom that is from above, he described it as pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy (James 3:17). 3:13; So James gives us a practical description of a person who is wise and understanding -- he demonstrates it by his good behavior and gentleness. I want to be a blessing to others, to lift them up that they might see Your goodness. It leads the envious person to do and say things that are mean-spirited and contrary to the Spirit of the Lord Jesus. YLT James 3:18 and the fruit of the righteousness in peace is sown to those making peace. It was hopelessly overweight, and I suspect it no longer had any teeth. Anon. Figuratively,karposis used of the consequence of physical, mental, or spiritual action. Nelson's NKJV Study Biblehas an interesting note (but be a Berean Acts 17:11+) - Although human beings have lost much of Godlikeness, there is still enough in our make-up to hint at what we once were like and what we can become again through the work of Christ. 10:16. While recording interviews for a radio program, I asked people on the street in New York City if they believed all men are created equal. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. He who restrains his lips is wise. Ropes defines it as a fierce desire to promote ones own opinion to the exclusion of those of others. Christian pity is the reflection of God's pity, and that went out to men and women not only when they were suffering unjustly but also when they were suffering through their own fault. Yes, better than he knows himself. The more it burns, the faster it revolves until the whole wheel spins in a blaze, spitting fire in all directions. Such a person knows how to forgive when strict justice dictates that there is a perfect right to condemn. That the meek should inherit the earth (Mt 5:5+)they that bear wrongs, and exemplify the love which seeketh not her own, (1 Cor 13:5+)to a world that believes in high-handedness and self-assertion, and pushing the weakest to the wall, a statement like this of the Lord from heaven cannot but appear an utter paradox. (+44) 01236 827 978. May God enable all of His children to bephilsophos, "philosophers, lovers of wisdom," not lovers of the world's wisdom but of God's heavenly wisdom, in Jesus' Name. "He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him: When he speaketh fair, believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart: Though his hatred cover itself with guile, His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly" (Proverbs 26:24-26). It burns in the following ways. Morse pointed out that dictionary publishers dont invent words or decide the meanings that words will have. James 3:9-10 says, With [our tongue] we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men . The preacher encountering this text might be forgiven for the sudden urge to suggest, in lieu of the sermon, that the congregation engage in a time of silent prayer. But it also means "Expression," the expression of the eternal God in human form so that He may be made more understandable to man. The envious man spoke up first and asked that one of his eyes be put out. 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