It is reasonable, that is, open to reason and willing to yield to reasonable requests. "Thus purity is not just one quality among others but the key to them all." Many of the letters also end with the wish for peace. And as he was the person who gave the sentence, it is not without interest to see the link between what was written on that day, and what James writes here. 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? He must not be childish and always demand his own way. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. There were some who tried to teach before they themselves knew anything ( 1 Timothy 1:6-7); and others who pandered to the false desires of the crowd ( 2 Timothy 4:3). It is characterised by the self-judgment which delights in and displays the ways of God. The Lord Himself respected the adjuration of the high-priest; and in no passage whatever do we see a depreciatory allusion to a judicial oath in the sermon on the mount, or, in what James says here, or in any other part of the Bible, but the contrary, The Lord was addressing Jewish disciples, James writes to the twelve tribes of Israel who are in the dispersion; but what they both set their faces against was the habit of bringing in religious asseverations for the purpose of confirming their word every day, besides the profaning of the Lord's name in matters of this life. "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. _MURMEURS_ Les gens ont murmur. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace, of them that makes peace ( James 3:18 ). let him pray. 3:17 Commentaries 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. (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. These words serve to remind the teacher of the great responsibility he has voluntarily chosen. He also calls it gentle or tractable; by which he means that it widely differs from pride and malignity. At this precisely is the epistle levelled, namely, the severing faith from practice. Finding fault in others, while ignoring ones own shortcomings, causes the Christian to be hypocritical (Matthew 7:5). The apostle James it is who lets us know that such was his object in writing. So this is just good practical advice for getting along with people. And without hypocrisy - What it professes to be; sincere. 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. It is honest; it never pretends to be what it is not; and it never acts a part to gain its own ends. The highest title which can be given to a man is, that he is a Christian gentleman. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. - Utley, Good deeds the fruit of righteousness (Philippians 1:11) - RWP, without partiality "free from prejudice"; "without a trace of partiality", without partiality -- The Gk. The Jewish sages were always agreed that the true wisdom came from above. (c)Without strife, from diakrino, to contend. It measures success in worldly terms; and its aims are worldly aims. The NIV accepts that definition and translates the word "impartial." This wisdom is first pure: The reference is not to sexual purity but to the absence of any sinful attitude or motive. (Burdick), ii. and even gloried in it! There prevails among too many evangelical persons a mischievous habit of talking about "saved sinners." Commentary on James 3 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. - Utley, This refers to spiritual integrity and moral sincerity. "For what is your life? One is the profit of not enjoying the pleasant only, but the rough and hard that God sends for our good. (iii) It is devilish. Thus it is not only that God is inaccessible to evil Himself, but He also never tempts to evil at any one time whatsoever. While some of these complaints may be justified, many are not and are only examples of the selfishness of man. The tongue is something that has a capacity for great blessings or for great evil. ", On the other hand, one may and should be "blessed." 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. As we have found, he particularly warns against the tongue as the expression of the heart's excitement if not of malice. Paul begins his letters by wishing peace upon the readers. In all that we have had the question naturally arises, Wherein lies the special propriety of such exhortations or why are they addressed to the twelve tribes? Speak not evil one of another, brethren. It is not something that man acquires on his own. In Psalms 12:6, David says, "The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." In the dry season the scanty grass and low-growing thorn bushes and scrub were as dry as tinder. The apostles and the prophets were for ever on the move. Now we come to the other side. 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). Here it is a question of God's judgment. So on Rahab's story I need not dwell, except just to show how remarkably guided of divine wisdom was James's allusion. James then describes this arrogant and bitter wisdom in its effects. Easy to be entreated has the meaning of being easily "persuaded to forgiveness. 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. - RWP. But the Christian wisdom is based on the Christian certainties which come to us from God through Jesus Christ. But ye have despised them." 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. without hypocrisy; either with respect to God or man; not making show of that which they have not, or do not intend. What kind of wisdom comes forth from you? (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. Let us look to the grace of the Lord to understand the scripture. "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." The word epiekes means sweet reasonableness or forbearance. It does not push its own rights or opinions without listening to others and respecting others (cf. They will be free of any trace of deceit or dishonesty (17). You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" ( Romans 3:10; Romans 3:23). "We are appointed thereunto," says the apostle Paul. He says first that it is pure; by which term he excludes hypocrisy and ambition. The mischief evidently is in themselves and not in the divine word. (128), (127) Pure, , is to be understood according to what the context contains. The writer of Ecclesiasticus repeats the same idea: "God put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion over beasts and fowls" ( Sir_17:4 ). 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. If the danger of hypocrisy was real for Peter, it remains just as much a threat for Christians today. While it was possible to feel compassion for those suffering unjustly, the consensus of the world was that mercy was not to be shown to those who were suffering because it was their own fault. It remains constant and predictable. It is James' conviction that nowhere is this contradiction more evident than in the tongue. Doubtless old habits and associations lead to this; but there is no ground for it in the Bible. "Do not err, beloved brethren. but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, and fully of deadly poison ( James 3:8 ). "As pitch and tow, so a hasty contention kindleth fire" ( Sir_28:11 ). It is the power of the Spirit of God alone that can grave these things on the heart. but the rich, in that he is made low." You do not require to enfeeble a single phrase. This is not just feelings but actions. 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). Of all Greek words in the New Testament this is the most untranslatable. have the practical exhortation: "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear." Whether we want to admit it or not, we are products of our environment. It is important to understand that peace is not the mere absence of strife and hostility. 1. Surely we may ask this; for those who value the word of God are not precluded from enquiring what the object is. It is sensual indulging the flesh, and making provision to fulfil the lusts and desires of it. We may find in this passage four characteristics of the wrong kind of teaching. He knows, too, that he is not to be carried about by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). WebMatthew Henry :: Commentary on James 3 Chapter 3 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. In the dark day that man calls "now," God more than blesses far more than blesses those who believe. Gentle . WebJames 3:3 Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Gentle - Mild, inoffensive, clement. 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. It cannot fall in with those managements which the world counts wise, which are crafty and guileful; but it is sincere and open, steady and uniform, and consistent with itself. For, if he has a fanatical bitterness and is obviously controlled by selfish and personal ambition, then, whatever claims he makes in his arrogance, all he does is to be false to the truth which he professes to teach.". One thing man hasn't been able to tame is his own tongue. It is full of mercy and good deeds. For surely that which a man says publicly will be used to measure himself; and it is well to be prepared for it. They are opposite of the vices described in vv. And yet the very mouths and tongues which had frequently and piously blessed God, were the very same mouths and tongues which cursed fellowmen. "There is no man," says the Jewish sage, "among them that be born, but he hath dealt wickedly; and among the faithful there is none who hath not done amiss" ( 2Esther 8:35). That is why I seek to be so careful in teaching the Word of God to keep, as much as possible, my own opinion out of it and speculation out of it completely.A lot of times people want you to speculate on a subject and to me that is extremely dangerous. James 3 Commentary; JIM NEWHEISER - each sermon has nice 2 page outline with lots of Scripture cross-references. in Proverbs 25:1; and by Ignatius (Eph. A chance word dropped at one end of the country or the town can finish up by bringing grief and hurt at the other. Zechariah speaks of "a blazing pot in the midst of wood, like a flaming torch among sheaves" ( Zechariah 12:6). 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. It is the part of us which disobeys him. Life in Christ is positive; the law was essentially negative. This order is for the good of the Christian. True wisdom does not lie in good notions or speculations so much as in good and useful actions. Jesus manifests himself to the disciples but not to the world ( John 14:22). Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.". There he engages in full fellowship with the Gentiles by eating with them. 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. 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). 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, whithersoever the governor desires. Had this behavior been allowed to continue, the wall between Jew and Gentile might never have been torn down. 3 (Mark 6:1-56) And so here the elders were to act in the same remarkable style. James 3:17 in all English translations. In kingdoms, in families, in churches, in all societies, and in all interviews and transactions, heavenly wisdom makes men peaceable. (iv) The true wisdom is eupeithes ( G2138) . Let not such a one, therefore, expect anything of the Lord. The basic meaning of mercy is that of compassion for the unfortunate. In the Greek text, it is clear that James arranged this list of virtues using assonance, first with e, then with a: eirenikos, epieikes, eupeithes, eleos, karpos, agathos, adiakritos, anypokritos. It would be to me a virtual denial of God's authority in civil government here below. James 3:13 Commentaries: Who among you is wise and In this sense the phrase very nearly means the wheel of fortune, always changing and always variable. 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. That is to say, instead of bringing people together, it drives them apart. In short it is evident that, among inspired epistles, James's address has a special and an exceptional place. He needed it in many ways; and so do we. 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. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. Of all Jewish writers, Jesus ben Sirach, the writer of Ecclesiasticus, was most impressed with the terrifying potentialities of the tongue. One of the Itala has it irreprehensible. This is worldly wisdom. Temptations, trials (for clearly he refers to outward trials), are in no way the dreadful ogres that unbelief makes them to be. There is confusion in every evil way, "but the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable." My brethren, [he said,] be not many masters [or teachers] ( James 3:1 ). Behold, we put bits in the horse's mouth, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body with that bit. WebBible > Commentaries > James 3:9 His worship and praise are, as explained under James 3:6, the right use of the tongue; but, most inconsistently, therewith curse we men which have been made in the image, after the similitude, of God.
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james 3:17 commentary