This was specially relevant to a Jew. In the New Testament itself we get glimpses of teachers who failed in their responsibility and became false teachers. The wisdom of the world, the flesh, and the devil may be able to accomplish things, but always with the ultimate fruit of confusion and every evil thing. Solomon also states in Proverbs 30:5-6, "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Had this behavior been allowed to continue, the wall between Jew and Gentile might never have been torn down. He should not imagine he is superior to others, nor should he hurt others with his words. It hence follows, that they lie who glory in their cruel austerity. The phrase, therefore, could mean that the tongue is the adornment of evil. Boasteth great things. Stainless in His holiness, and invariable in His light, God is active in His love; and as the fruit of this energetic sovereign love He does not bless merely, sweet as it is from Him. ", Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. 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. In virtue of his office he will either be teaching those who are young in years or those who are children in the faith. James writes then after this double manner. We may find in this passage four characteristics of the wrong kind of teaching. Out of same mouth there proceeds blessings and cursings. commentary "Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. (ii) A rudder is very small in comparison with the size of a ship; and yet, by exerting pressure on that little rudder, the steersman can alter the course of the ship and direct it to safety. James 1:17 | Bible Exposition Commentary Accordingly, I have not the slightest doubt that what our Lord and His servants reprobated was the introduction of an oath in common conversation; and this, it is plain, does not apply to an oath administered by a magistrate. It is ever the right thing, as it was exactly what was most called for then and there. WebThe Bible in Basic English for James 3:17 17 But the wisdom which is from heaven is first holy, then gentle, readily giving way in argument, full of peace and mercy and good works, not doubting, not seeming other than it is. The maxim that a pure heart ought not to sacrifice truth on any consideration whatever, never gave rise to persecution: it has made many martyrs, but never one persecutor; it has pined in the dungeon, but never immured any there; it has burned amid the flames, but never lighted the faggot; it has ascended scaffolds, but never erected them; it has preserved and bequeathed civil and religious liberty, but never assaulted them; it is a divine principle - the principle by which Christianity became strong, and will ultimately command the homage of the world. (cf. THE CORRUPTION WITHIN ( James 3:5 b-6 continued). WebJames 3, Clarke's Commentary, Adam Clarke's commentary is a valuable resource for Christians seeking a deeper understanding of the Scriptures. The one was the most admirable submission to God with unqualified confidence in Himself, even when one could not see how His sure promise could stand, but sure it would. A backbiting tongue hath cast out virtuous women and, deprived them of their labours. v. This wisdom is full of mercy: It does not judge others strictly on the basis of the law, but will extend a generous hand full of mercy. Commentary Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. There is thus the need of dependence on God, the spirit of habitual waiting on Him of bowing to Him, and, in short, of obedience. But ye have despised them." Alas! The rest of the chapter takes up another subject the case of God's discipline. 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. This is a critical time as far as the unity of the church is concerned. He moves supremely above evil: this is the ground of the blessing of every child of God, which he will show presently, when he has finished the subject of evil that comes through man's nature. It is blowing hot and blowing cold; it is appearing to ask God, when in point of fact you have no confidence in Him. This is applied to the subject in hand. Ronny Marriott, incumbent second vice president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and pastor of First Baptist Church in Burleson, will be nominated for Texas Baptists first vice president. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." The Psalmist thought on the same lines: "Thou hast given him dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet; all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field; the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the sea" ( Psalms 8:6-8). (i) There is no man in this world who does not sin in something. WebJames 3 New International Version Taming the Tongue 3 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. To bring about peace, we must rid ourselves of hate, suspicion, and fear and replace them with love, patience, and understanding. In almost every part of the New Testament kosmos ( G2889) means the world with more than a suggestion of the evil world. It is the habit of many, if they find the same expression, to give it always the same meaning. Some will demand their rights regardless of the feelings of others. Peter could say, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you" ( Matthew 26:35), and that very same tongue of his denied Jesus with oaths and curses ( Matthew 26:69-75). Our business is to gather what He has to teach us. If in your hearts you have a zeal that is bitter, and selfish ambition, do not be arrogantly boastful about your attainments, for you are false to the truth. There was no miracle in their part of the business, as far as they were concerned. James 3 Bible Commentary It implies that it is free from ethical defilement (cf. 5. Finally we have, "Brethren. Was she not willing, so to speak, to hand over the possession of the city in which she had been born and bred to those who were going to raze it to the foundations? Now we come to the other side. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. In the last place, he says that it is full of mercy, etc., while hypocrisy is inhuman and inexorable. CONTRASTES ENTRE LA LOI ET LA GRCE CHAPITRE 3 _1. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the Jews. "Behold we put bits into horses' mouths." It is that glimpse of conviction by the truth that comes before souls when they are forced to discern what the spring of their thoughts is, what their feelings are when the light of God flashes over and through a man; but how soon it passes away, instead of entering in and abiding within the soul! (b) In Christian thought eleos ( G1656) means mercy which issues in good fruits, that is, which issues in practical help. 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. 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. The courts are swamped with lawsuits of complainers who are demanding their rights. No doubt it is peculiar, but not more so in the New Testament than Jonah is in the Old. at all cost, and this entirely apart from us. The sense of all around and within leads him out in self-judgment before God. - MSB, easy to be entreated -- literally, easily persuaded, tractable; not harsh as to a neighbors FAULTS. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition True wisdom may be known by the meekness of the spirit and temper: Let him show with meekness, c. It is a great instance of wisdom prudently to bridle our own anger, and patiently to bear the anger of others. "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. There were teachers who tried to turn Christianity into another kind of Judaism and tried to introduce circumcision and the keeping of the law ( Acts 15:24). By this comparison, we see what were some of the things included in every evil work; they were the reverse of mercy or benevolence, and its fruits, even censoriousness or partiality, and dissimilation. Similarly, Christians who sow peace by building good relations with others can expect to see a harvest of righteousness in their lives (18). Philippians 4:5; 1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 3:2; 1 Peter 2:18). And here it seems seasonable to say that, so far from James being legal in the evil sense of the word, he is the inspired man who, at least as much as any other, slays legality by this very expression. There is an easiness that is weak and faulty; but it is not a blamable easiness to yield ourselves to the persuasions of God's word, and to all just and reasonable counsels or requests of our fellow-creatures; no, nor to give up a dispute, where there appears a good reason for it and where a good end may be answered by it. James 3:17 - Bible Verse Meaning and Commentary - Bible Study Yet the remarkable feature we have also to weigh here is that when works are thus introduced, attention is directed to what would be perfectly valueless if they were not the result of faith, nay, worse than valueless, positively evil, and entailing the severest punishment. And is such wisdom as produces these effects to be gloried in? This is one of the results of the wisdom that is from above, for it makes us like God, the Father of mercies. See the notes at Matthew 5:7. Now this ought not to be. Commentary on James 3 The apostles even lived with the potential of living hypocritical lives. The tongue also is small, yet it can direct the whole course of a man's life. "As pitch and tow, so a hasty contention kindleth fire" ( Sir_28:11 ). There is a kind of depraved wisdom which seduces men away from their loyalty to God. On the Temple of Aesculapius at Epidaurus there was the inscription at the entrance: "He who would enter the divine temple must be pure (hagnos, G53) ; and purity is to have a mind which thinks holy thoughts." And he likens the tongue though it is such a small part of the body and yet able to do such great damage move so many things like the bridle in a horse's mouth, small but yet you can move that big horse around with just a little bridle in its mouth. James 3 Resources This is everywhere the nature of true religion. Sin is so often not deliberate but the result of a slip up when we are off our guard. Impossible that such an exhortation could apply where there exists the rgime of an exclusive ministry. James 4:8). It is an action, so James adds that this wisdom is full of "good fruits." How truly it bears the very stamp of inspiration, and the more so because we know the apostle Paul refers to Abraham at least for a totally different purpose! On the other hand, to "a servant of God" he adds, "and of the Lord Jesus Christ." Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. 3:13-14 Who among you is a man of wisdom and of understanding? WebCommentary on James 3:13-18 (Read James 3:13-18) These verses show the difference between men's pretending to be wise, and their being really so. For surely that which a man says publicly will be used to measure himself; and it is well to be prepared for it. 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.". Without hypocrisy We are on firm ground for the meaning of this. We are so told expressly. James II. "There is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins," said the preacher ( Ecclesiastes 7:20). 3:7-8 Every kind of beast and bird, and reptile and fish, is and has been tamed for the service of mankind; but no man can tame the tongue. Since ancients primarily learned through hearing, writers utilized sound to enhance the sense of the text and aid in memorization. He that speaketh evil of his brother" is really speaking evil of God's own law and judging it.
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