She had never cooked beef tongue before! Good grammar matters to me. 5:21). Bitter (4089)(see above forpikros)means sharp, prickly, pointed, piercing, pungent as that which sharply "pierces" or penetrates one's senses, used literally in James 3:11 of bitter water. how much of real knowledge and mental power has been wasted in such bitterness! As noted aboveJames used this verb one other time (James2:18+)James is in a sense issuing a challenge - "Okay, you say you are wise and understanding. News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed that the accident was caused by human stubbornness. Few people recognize the sinister capabilities of the tongue. The prescription James offers is to seek the wisdom from above. His deeds in the gentleness of wisdom- NET renders it "the gentleness that wisdom brings." But how can believers carry out this command to show good behavior? (Proverbs 20:6). YLT James 3:17 and the wisdom from above, first, indeed, is pure, then peaceable, gentle, easily entreated, full of kindness and good fruits, uncontentious, and unhypocritical: --. James used the same phrase from above earlier declaring that "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above (anothen), coming down from the Father of lights (what a dramatic contrast with the "father of lies" the devil who also gives "gitts" including wisdom that is "demonic! It rolls up its sleeves and takes action." There she heard a lady talking to them, in Chinese, about someone to whom little children came. (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Douglas Moo -"As the fig tree cannot produce olives or the grapevine figs, so the pure heart cannot produce false, bitter, harmful speech.". Whole Bible Commentaries 1. Amplified For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices. Pauls definition of true and false wisdom is seen in 1 Cor. To do right at the cost of ease, is to make peace. Yes, the smallest but largest troublemaker in all the world is the tongue. It will then be too late to mend its appearance. More of His love to others I would show; If we look earnestly and in faith, we can find God's way for doing ministry in Scripture, often the last place we go. The Lord Jesus warned, "For every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment" (Mt. 12:34). It is considerate, submissive, full of mercy, and good fruit, impartial and sincere (v. 17). Heavenly wisdom is better than worldly wealth, and to be preferred before it. "The lips of knowledge are a precious jewel" (Proverbs 20:15). Notice how the list of traits like gentle, reasonable, etc, serve to practically undergird and ensure that this wisdom is peaceable. McGee -When a man can sing like an angel on Sunday and then talk like a demon during the week -- you label him as you want to -- the Bible calls that man a hypocrite. Here it denotes the incongruity of blessing and cursing coming out of the same mouth. Scripture speaks of believers blessing with theirtongue and not cursing. How many times has some malicious person injected a bit of poison into the conversation, hoping it would spread and finally get to the person he or she wanted to hurt? Actually James 3:6, in depicting the tongue's influence, is already describing its perversity." It is that ultimate self-elevation rampant in the world today which is the antithesis of what the humble, selfless, giving, loving, and obedient child of God is called to be. Wuest for where jealousy and contentiousness are, there, in that place, are restlessness and instability and every base deed. (Php 2:3+)Paul used eritheia again in Philippians writing "The former (Php 1:15+ "Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife") proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition (eritheia) rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. Hosea Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see As a writer and former English teacher, Im bothered when I hear the wrong word used by people I think should know better. . 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? Katakauchaomai emphasizes ones superiority over others with whom one is being compared (Bauer). The metaphorof speech (tongue) as fire is found in Proverbs Proverbs 16:27 A worthless man digs up evil, While his words are like scorching fire. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen! It is no small matter when we open our mouths. It caused the archangel Lucifer to fall from the heavens (Isa. Zechariah 20:10), and, for so doing, God kept him out of the Promised Land. Matthew Henry (18 October 1662 - 22 June 1714) was an English commentator on the Bible, who published his works in 1706, (six-volume Exposition of the Old and New Testaments (1708-1710) or Complete Commentary), provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the Bible, covering the whole of the Old Testament, and the Gospels and Acts in the New Testament. I remember that when he was a counselor at our youth camp he sometimes made off-color remarks. Righteousness(1343)(dikaiosunefromdikaios= being proper or right in the sense of being fully justified being or in accordance with what God requires) is the quality of being upright. By his good behavior - Wuest has "a good and beautiful manner of life." More like the Master I long to ever be. And according to James, this is the wisdom that enables us to avoid the pitfall of jealousy. By:Keila Ochoa(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Choose Book of Bible to Study This wisdom does not require a high IQ or a great SAT score. (Expositor's Bible Commentary, 1976), Swindoll on very world of iniquity -What harsh words! Bitterness sours our speech. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds. They learned later that she was not the first child to die this way. "Heaviness in the heart of a man maketh it stoop; But a good word maketh it glad" (Proverbs 12:25). Doerksen says that it refers to a specialist, one possessing professional knowledge of a field (James, p.86). 111:10). Zodhiates amplifies and interpretatively paraphrases James' question "Who among you has the Spirit of Christ in all His perfection? 2 Chronicles (Pr 26:20) So if there is no"wood" (no gossip, put downs, derogatory statements, etc, made by others in your hearing), the tongue is not set on fire! He has just portrayed how destructive a fire can be, spreading rapidly, destroying everything in its path. Have you noticed their tongues is "restless?" Will Durant, Kind words are the music of the world. Reprinted by permission. NIV James 3:15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. And so I agree with John MacArthur's analysis of James 3:13-18- "Some interpreters believe the phrase who among you refers only to the teachers, or would-be teachers, addressed in James 3:1. This evil chafes at confinement, always seeking a way to escape and to spread its deadly poison. We are to extend the mercy that we have received to other undeserving sinners." (Pr 18:21) Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. 5:20. 2:21; Jas. Don't let your tongue speak evil (Psalm 34:13). NLT James 3:13 If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. let him make his works clear by a life of gentle wisdom. The tiger employs one weapon of destruction: its razor-sharp teeth set in a vice-like jaw. 1 Corinthians Through it we can accomplish great good. (a) In Christian thought, eleos means mercy for those who are in trouble, even if the trouble is their own fault. Water that is sweet (James 3:11-12) is potable. Most people have great difficulty admitting that they are bitter. ", Adrian Rogerssaid "Wisdom is the ability to see life from God's point of view. It would be a great pity to stir up impure minds. SOME NOTABLE SERMONS. (The Interpretation of The Epistle to the Hebrews and The Epistle of James), Augustine -He does not say no one can tame the tongue, but no one of men: so that when it is tamed we confess that this is brought about by the pity, the help, and the grace of God. defiles the whole body (James 3:6). So, however little the cup of cold water be that you are able to give in Christs name, it will refresh many hearts in a lifetime if it be kept ever full, ever ready. In that Ephesians passage Paul is addressing believers who can at least take up the shield of faith to extinguish the demonic arrows. Knowledge is not wisdom. "The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way" (Proverbs 14:8). To honor You today. Regrettably, out of the same mouth that blesses can come words of cursing. All rights reserved). But the seeds which bring the rich harvest can never flourish in any atmosphere other than one of right relationships between individuals. The prophet Isaiah said, Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes (Isa. Thank Him for His help in all times of need. This recalls James 2:14-26 where one's "works" show orauthenticateone's "faith" to be genuine. 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. Rightly understood, then, brethren, you cannot but feel how searching and scathing this word of the apostle is; and it is interesting to notice, that the very same tempers which are here denounced as unspiritual, merely of the soul, are those which the Apostle Paul specifies as peculiarly grieving to that Divine Spirit through whose indwelling alone mans spirit has rule over his lower nature. When we want to surprise others with the difference Christ makes, we may need to look no further than restraining our tongue. Ask for His forgiveness and begin to enjoy a renewed sweetness. According to researchers who recently examined parts recovered from the wreck, impure rivets made of wrought iron rather than steel caused the ships hull to open like a zipper. 2:24; Jas. Thats the way James described the damage done by our reckless and careless words. let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. -David Roper(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. (Pr 10:31) The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom, But the perverted tongue will be cut out. 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. I win without killing. 6:17; 2 Sam. We are to be people who speak and do the truth! But the tongue no one in the human race is able to control. 1:29; Rom. (Jon Courson's Application Commentary New Testament), MacArthur explains that "Those whose lives are based on and motivated by human, ungodly wisdom are inevitably self-centered, living in a world in which their own personal ideas, desires, and standards are the measure of everything. NJB James 3:7 Wild animals and birds, reptiles and fish of every kind can all be tamed, and have been tamed, by humans; GWN James 3:7 People have tamed all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures. Our lives are filled with unlikely settings for introducing Gods peace. But if zeal gets out of control, it can reduce everything to ashes (so to speak). R. C. Sproul, Conviction of ignorance is the doorstep to the temple of wisdom. The word pure here denotes purity of heart and intent. They say and do the right things at the right time for the right reasons. Specifically, that what one does (or says) proves what they really believe. 1:14. Selah. Reprinted by permission. From the completeness with which the distinction between soul and spirit has been lost to our modern thought, it seems impossible to give the idea of the word before us exactly in any translation. Burdick says selfish ambition speaks "of a self-seeking attitude bent on gaining advantage and prestige for oneself or one's group." (1Co 3:3). You see, then, that when James here calls the wisdom that bore bitter wranglings as its fruit a wisdom of the soul, with an implied and well understood contrast to that wisdom of the spirit which ought to regulate all the thoughts and feelings, words and actions, of Christians, he means that it belongs entirely to the lower elements of our nature, and that its characteristics are simply those of the wisdom belonging to the men of the world, whose aim is personal honour and aggrandisement. Wisdom of the same mouth v. 17 ) James 3:6, in Chinese, about someone to little., serve to practically undergird and ensure that this wisdom does not come from! 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