A group where there is bitterness and strife is a barren soil in which the seeds of righteousness can never grow and out of which no reward can ever come, The man who disturbs personal relationships and is responsible for strife and bitterness has cut himself off from the reward which God gives to those who live his life. He is writing as he says himself, to the Israelitish stock, and not merely to those of Israel that believe. The wisdom that is from above is peaceable. The false teacher eventually goes public with his teaching and can be pointed out. There is no disguise or mask assumed. 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. An uncontrolled tongue is like a world hostile to God. In short, if we regard his work apart from faith, it is perhaps the darkest evil conceivable. Those 5. _MURMEURS_ Les gens ont murmur. He does so unsought, and surely undeserved. . And as wisdom will evidence itself in meekness, so meekness will be a great friend to wisdom for nothing hinders the regular apprehension, the solid judgment, and impartiality of thought, necessary to our acting wisely, so much as passion. Worldly wisdom might well wish to escape Gods sight" (95). (iii) It is devilish. The idea of the taming of the animal creation in the service of mankind is one which often occurs in Jewish literature. 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). They were zealous of the law; they went up to the temple at the hour of prayer, not only Israelites, but even priests, a great company, we hear at one time were obedient to the faith. Scripture knows no such being as a "saved sinner." Without partiality - Margin, or wrangling. The word here used ( adiakritos) occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. We know only too well from experience that there is a cleavage in human nature. We must spend a little longer on this passage, because in it there are two specially difficult phrases. Clearly he has God in view, and has His word before him, and that which would make His word understood. 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. The conversation here does not refer only to words, but to the whole of men's practice; therefore it is said, Let him show out of a good conversation his works. Why Does God Compare Our Relationship with Him to That of a Bride and Groom? They used the faith of Christ rather for conscientious, godly, thorough carrying out of their Jewish thoughts. * Why? WebJames 3:17-18. The second possible meaning is that of being "without uncertainty" (RSV) or "unwavering" (NASB). 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 It hence follows, that they lie who glory in their cruel austerity. 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. easy to be entreated: James here presents another characteristic of wisdom. Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. Behold, how great a matter just a little fire can kindle! The Greek is hagnos ( G53) and its root meaning is pure enough to approach the gods. "Blessed is the man who has not slipped with his mouth" ( Sir_14:1 ). Here, on the other hand, we find the common sense of temptation. But this is not all. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. Hypocrisy, then, is a serious matter and should not be ignored. Christians should be liberal with mercy. "Life," said Lord Fisher, the great sailor, "is strewn with orange peel." And yet the very mouths and tongues which had frequently and piously blessed God, were the very same mouths and tongues which cursed fellowmen. And if any man offends not in word, the same is a perfect man, and is able also to bridle the whole body. 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. WebVerse James 3:5. - MSB, Without partiality (); here only in the New Testament. Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. It is the law of liberty, and of infinite purity and power. vi. The mouth is the voice piece of the heart of man. It is full of mercy and good deeds. "[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. Psalms 24:3-4; Psalms 51:7; Matthew 5:8; Romans 7:22-23; Hebrews 12:14). James 3 Let a man, before he speaks, remember that once a word is spoken it is gone from his control; and let him think before he speaks because, although he cannot get it back, he will most certainly answer for it. 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. He "straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was." that with Paul we may be able to say, Not with fleshly wisdom, but in simplicity and godly sincerity, by the grace of God, we have our conversation. WebSupplements to Commentaries Chapter 17: 2.1 New Testament Introductions Chapter 18: 2.2 New Testament Theologies Chapter 19: 3. Think of people glorying in their shame! This is everywhere the nature of true religion. James 2. It may be either (1) without variance, or (2) without doubtfulness, or (3) without partiality; probably (1) as R.V. 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. But here the apostle is exposing the absence of an internal work where intelligence is severed from conscience, and this he illustrates, as we have seen, by the man that gets a glance in a glass, and then all is gone directly his back is turned. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. And what was Rahab's act but treason against her country and her king? James 3 Out of same mouth there proceeds blessings and cursings. And it is thus that men have stumbled and fallen over this it is little to say precious and profitable, and above all, practically profitable portion of the word of 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? The original word, adiakritos, signifies to be without suspicion, or free from judging, making no undue surmises nor differences in our conduct towards one person more than another. We have translated this peaceable but it has a very special meaning. (i) We put a bit into the mouth of a horse, knowing that if we can control its mouth, we can control its whole body. The damage the tongue can cause is like that caused by a forest fire. It serves as the light to guide one to Heaven (Psalms 119:105). in the wrath of a fallen creature. It is characterised by the self-judgment which delights in and displays the ways of God. 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. It is said to be "from above," indicating it comes from God. Then we come to some fresh practical exhortations. (i) It is wide-ranging. 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. 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. Of all Greek words in the New Testament this is the most untranslatable. This we know was an old custom. The great point of all seems this: that there were works, but the works that James insists on are works where faith constitutes their special excellence, and indeed alone could be their justification. 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. Full of mercy - Merciful; disposed to show compassion to others. Had he in this epistle launched out into the vast expanse of the truth, he would only have given an impulse to the heaping up of more dogmas. With our tongue we bless God even the Father. Here is brought in another essential point of the epistle. He must, therefore, all his life struggle to avoid two things. If such is the nature of the wisdom which is from above, who is there that should be ashamed of it? I hope it will not be contended that these were persons born of God. In the New Testament itself we get glimpses of teachers who failed in their responsibility and became false teachers. James 3 Seeking nothing but God's glory, and using no other means to attain it than those of his own prescribing. As a people who had an exceptionally religious standing, they were yet more exposed to this than the Gentiles. 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. It is gentle, not standing upon extreme right in matters of property; not saying nor doing any thing rigorous in points of censure; not being furious about opinions, urging our own beyond their weight nor theirs who oppose us beyond their intention; not being rude and overbearing in conversation, nor harsh and cruel in temper. In the early church the teachers were of first rate importance Wherever they are mentioned, they are mentioned with honour. That is, there is a trial of faith, and there is a temptation of flesh. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you." It has no disguises nor deceits. It is the true love that interests itself, not only in that which is good, but even in what is, alas! 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. Boasteth great things. Need it be told you that this verse has been a matter of much difficulty to many minds? Not stubborn nor obstinate; of a yielding disposition in all indifferent things; obsequious, docile. James 3:17 The courts are swamped with lawsuits of complainers who are demanding their rights. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. 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. That wisdom which is from above is without hypocrisy. 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.". Speech is apt to be the expression of our nature of ourselves. Every teacher runs the risk of becoming "Sir Oracle." "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." I don't think that we should meddle or tamper with the Word of God. But this would be judging their actions apart from God, because of whose will they were done, and apart from faith, which alone gave these works their life and character. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. The picture of the tongue as a fire is also a common Jewish picture. 17 He proves that the least things are often those which govern other bodies incomparably larger. "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?" He has a lengthy passage which is so nobly and passionately put that it is worth quoting in full: Curst the whisperer and the double-tongued; for such have, destroyed many that were at peace. In itself it is three things. [39] J. R. Dummelow, Commentary on the Holy Bible (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1937), p. 1036. They also, obviously, have meaning for all Christians as God expects us to grow in wisdom. 1. full of mercy and good fruits: "Full of mercy" (meste eleous) and "good fruits" (karpon agathon) continue the characteristics of true wisdom. Are they the persons called to weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon them? The tongue can bless or curse; it can wound or soothe; it can speak the fairest or the foulest things. 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. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Zechariah speaks of "a blazing pot in the midst of wood, like a flaming torch among sheaves" ( Zechariah 12:6). And so there is a paradox in our tongue it's different from anything else. James 2:1-26 "My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. Jesus emphasizes that purity must include the entire man. "Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. WebJames 3:17 New International Version 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 the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." Can faith save?" 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. It is pure, meaning free of the defilements mentioned. Man should also strive to have peace within himself (Philippians 4:7). It is perfectly plain that according to man Abraham would have been in danger of losing his liberty, if not his head, for intent to kill Isaac; and unquestionably, judged by her country's law, the conduct of Rahab must have exposed her to the worst punishment of the worst political crime. This cannot be without giving the lie to Christianity, and pretending that this wisdom is what it is not. It is an exhortation that shows on the one hand the danger and wrong of being over ready to seize an open door through anxiety to display one's self; on the other hand, it supposes the perfect liberty that reigned among believers. It is sensual indulging the flesh, and making provision to fulfil the lusts and desires of it. Heavenly wisdom is without partiality.