Some drugs are at once poisons and cures; they are benefits to a man when wisely controlled by his doctor but harmful when used unwisely. 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. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. You know we sometimes just don't want to give that person that consolation of saying, "Well that's all right, I understand." 4. He is the man who uses pleasure as a rider guides a horse or a steersman directs a ship, and so directs them wherever he wishes." For where envying and strife is there is confusion and every evil work. "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." We can use our tongues to bless people, to build them up, to encourage them, or we can use our tongues to destroy them. Sin is so often not deliberate but the result of a slip up when we are off our guard. WebJames 3:17-18. Then we come to some fresh practical exhortations. In kingdoms, in families, in churches, in all societies, and in all interviews and transactions, heavenly wisdom makes men peaceable. Christian pity is not merely an emotion; it is action. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. James 1:17. by Grant Richison | Jul 30, 2000 | James | 30 comments. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. As evil comes from us, so all that is good comes from God; and not only is God the spring of every good every good giving and every perfect gift being all from God (the manner of it as well as the thing itself that is given); but, besides, there is no change in God, the creature in its best estate is nothing but change. We are so apt to say of someone in trouble, "It is his own fault; he brought it on himself," and, therefore, to feel no responsibility for him. Temptations elsewhere mean trials, not inward solicitations of evil; they have no bearing upon, nor connection with, the evil nature, but on the contrary are the ways in which the Lord out of His love tries those in whom He has confidence, and works for the greater blessing of those whom He has already blessed. Speech is apt to be the expression of our nature of ourselves. 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. We get it in the creation story. 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? "Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and the latter rain. But when certain Jewish Christians come down from Jerusalem, he separates himself from these Gentile Christians "fearing them which were of the circumcision." A chance word dropped at one end of the country or the town can finish up by bringing grief and hurt at the other. This is applied to the subject in hand. Paul admonishes Christians, on the other hand, to be honest and sincere at all times (Romans 12:17). It does not change according to the circumstance but remains constant. Philippians 4:5; 1 Timothy 3:3). 17 (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. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950), p. 45. 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. Who is there that should not desire that its blessed influence should spread around the world? Can anything be conceived more superficial than such a remark? Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word | . In man there is something of the ape and something of the angel, something of the hero and something of the villain, something of the saint and much of the sinner. 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. In the OT peace is usually associated with (1) cessation of war and hostilities and the promotion of harmony and (2) the presence of health, prosperity and wholeness, ultimately in this sense of the reign of the Messiah and eschatological salvation (cf. 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. No profession is more liable to beget spiritual and intellectual pride. How, if it be the Spirit of God, can He be put in such a connection here? The Roman world knew of tame fish in the fish-ponds which were in the open central hall or atrium of a Roman house. It is reasonable, that is, open to reason and willing to yield to reasonable requests. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in But the true wisdom at all times brings men closer to one another and to God. It was a practical incongruity and contradiction of the mind of God. [40] E. C. S. Gibson, Pulpit Commentary, Vol. "Is any among you sick? Man's ingenuity has tamed every wild creature in the sense of controlling and making useful; that, says James, is what no man by his own unaided efforts has ever been able to do with the tongue. British television Apollo 11 coverage The word carries with it the idea of being considerate toward others. Is not all this quite right? Gibson says this means "forbearance, even under provocation. 3:13-14 Who among you is a man of wisdom and of understanding? True wisdom asserts itself in our actions toward others. In Paul's list of those who hold great gifts within the Church they come second only to the apostles and to the prophets ( 1 Corinthians 12:28; compare Ephesians 4:11). When the question is concerning Christ, there come three things in question, Whether he be, who he is, and what he is. From this use of these two things, that is, the royal law which thus goes forth towards one's neighbour, and again the law in general, he turns to take up the law of liberty which has been explained before. Even the tongues of the apostles could say very different things. Opening. And yet the very mouths and tongues which had frequently and piously blessed God, were the very same mouths and tongues which cursed fellowmen. in the wrath of a fallen creature. Without partiality . It is not merely that we are objects of this blessing. The truth it holds is held with unbalanced violence rather than with reasoned conviction. II. 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.". 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 This wisdom is without hypocrisy: Without pretending to be what it is not; acting always in its own character; never working under a mask. The Jewish Rabbis had this picture: "Life and death are in the hand of the tongue. Verset 17. What can be conceived more contrary, I will not say to reverence for what claims to be inspired, but even to all sense and discrimination, than such a thought? The man who is characterised by that wisdom will be pure, peaceable, etc. So, if it were his only son that came of Sarah, so much the more bound to his heart because so singularly given in the pure favour of God, yet he would give him up, and be prepared with his own hand to do the dreadful deed. What kind of wisdom comes forth from you? And what was Rahab's act but treason against her country and her king? Compare the notes at that passage. Alas! In Phil. It is an inherent and sure sign of weakness somewhere, when a man is ever urgent in pressing the value of his own words and way, or cavilling habitually at others. In the next place he proceeds to show too how this works practically: "Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: but the rich in that he is made low:" such are the ways of God "because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away." It means what is free from taint or pollution: the kind of taint must be learnt from the passage. He has claimed this for God already; but now we come to see the application to us. (iv) The phrase had one particular technical use. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. It is the law of liberty, and of infinite purity and power. WebSupplements to Commentaries Chapter 17: 2.1 New Testament Introductions Chapter 18: 2.2 New Testament Theologies Chapter 19: 3. 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. I am supposing, of course, that there is nothing in the terms of the oath that would involve false doctrine or countenance a superstition. (James 3:17-18) The character of heavenly wisdom. It is not true that the scripture teaches, here or elsewhere, that purity of doctrine is to be preferred to a peaceful spirit; or that it always leads to a peaceful spirit; or that it is proper for professed Christians and Christian ministers to sacrifice, as is often done, a peaceful spirit, in an attempt to preserve purity of doctrine. It was desperately easy for a Rabbi to become the kind of person whom Jesus depicted, a spiritual tyrant, an ostentatious ornament of piety, a lover of the highest place at any function, a person who gloried in the almost subservient respect showed to him in public ( Matthew 23:4-7). 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. And therefore those who are lifted up with such wisdom as this must fall into the condemnation of the devil. And so there is a paradox in our tongue it's different from anything else. Those who are truly wise do what they can to preserve peace, that it may not be broken; and to make peace, that where it is lost it may be restored. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" ( Romans 3:10; Romans 3:23). Here, on the other hand, we find the common sense of temptation. Now this ought not to be. Again, the epistle of James was written not merely to the church in Jerusalem, but to the twelve tribes that were scattered abroad. The virtues James lists are predominantly nonselfish and nonaggressive; those who practice these virtues show greater concern for others than for themselves. James 3:13-17 Meaning and Commentary - Bible Study Tools 10:6), the temper that does not press its rights, that is content to suffer wrong (comp. And that which is sown in peace will produce a harvest of joys. (iv) The true wisdom is eupeithes ( G2138) . A backbiting tongue hath cast out virtuous women and, deprived them of their labours. The word James uses is difficult to translate. (ii) The second difficult phrase is what the Revised Standard Version translates the cycle of nature (trochos ( G5164) geneseos, G1083) . James 3:17 Where good fruit is found, wisdom will be found close by. [That is a lie against the truth, the bitterness and striving and envyness within your heart.] It is interesting how that man has been able to tame all kinds of creatures. 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. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. There is, however, the need of attending to the other side of the picture: "If any man seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.". Let's turn to James chapter three. Jesus suffering unjustly at the hands of His enemies is a good example of the kind of "gentle" attitude we should possess. 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). In short, if we regard his work apart from faith, it is perhaps the darkest evil conceivable. [James said there is an inconsistency here.] Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. The wisdom that is from above The pure religion of the Lord Jesus, bought by his blood, and infused by his Spirit. Clearly he is in this place addressing his brethren in Christ. At least they do feel; and so far there is a greater effect produced than on these reasoning Jews. 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. One is the profit of not enjoying the pleasant only, but the rough and hard that God sends for our good. 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 object of the Spirit of God was to give a final summons by him who held a pre-eminent place in Jerusalem to the entire body of Israelites, wherever they might be. Without hypocrisy We are on firm ground for the meaning of this. For instance, in a Roman Catholic country there might be reference to the virgin, or angels, or saints. See James 2:1-4. (a) Eupeithes ( G2138) can mean ever ready to obey. (i) The true wisdom is pure. 13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Teaching the Word of God is an awesome responsibility, because when I stand here to teach God's Word, than I am responsible to be teaching the Word of God correctly. Then follows undissembling, not saying one thing and meaning another. The reason also is given: "For as the flower of the grass" (which is mere nature) "he shall pass away. Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. God said of man, "Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth" ( Genesis 1:28). Few are in such constant spiritual peril as teachers and preachers. Compare Phi 4:8; 1 Timothy 5:22; 1 John 3:3; where the word is rendered, as here, pure; 2 Corinthians 7:11; where it is rendered clear, (in this matter); 2 Corinthians 11:2; Tit 2:5; 1 Peter 3:2, where it is rendered chaste. You must take what the Bible gives, and thus seek to form a just judgment according to God. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. . 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. He does not conclude, however, without another appeal to conscience. Look at ships, too. With one voice the Jewish sages agreed that wisdom came to men from God. full of mercy and good fruits: "Full of mercy" (meste eleous) and "good fruits" (karpon agathon) continue the characteristics of true wisdom. Le conflit avec Amalek ( Exode 17:8 ) De Sin, ils sont alls Dophkah et Alush avant d'arriver Rephidim ( Nombres 33:12 ). Not stubborn nor obstinate; of a yielding disposition in all indifferent things; obsequious, docile. 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.
Scorpion In Santa Clarita,
Pof Revolution 308 Accuracy,
Articles J