23:15; Matt. Does this describe your Christian life? 1:21+; Jas. This Christlike attitude lines up with the absence of spiritual competition James called for in his epistle (James 3:14-17). But - Term of contrast. The first of the eighteenth-century churchman William Law's rules for life was: 'To fix it deep in my mind that I have but one business upon my hands, to seek for eternal happiness by doing the will of God.' GWN James 3:10 Praise and curses come from the same mouth. (Jn 3:31). ASV James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell. A bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ: Knowing that this James was the half-brother of Jesus makes his self-introduction all the more significant. Thomas Scott, Wisdom in ruling is justice; wisdom in speech is discretion; wisdom in conduct is prudence; wisdom in evaluation is discernment. Envy and bitterness hurts you as well as others.Do you rejoice when others succeed or do you have a secret envy, bitterness, and criticalness in your heart? Hugh of St Victor, A sharp tongue is the only edged tool that grows keener with constant use. (BKC). The Bible recognizes that communication, a central component of our lives, needs to be monitored with great care. C. H. Spurgeon, Tongues are more terrible instruments than can be made with hammers and anvils, and the evil which they inflict cuts deeper and spreads wider. And so it is with the tongue. As the Holy Spirit purifies our heart, he gives us self-control so that we will speak words that please God. Of all the persons with the name of James, two were leaders in the church. 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. But there is something we cannot tame. Here in Jameskataradescribes human utterance which desires evil on someone (imprecation) (. They have all come to God as sinners and have found forgiveness in the cross of Christ. Esther Anon. 3:11). And here in James defiles is in the present tense signifying an ongoing evil, polluting effect on one's body! When we experience bless/curse inconsistency (but you never have this problem do you beloved?) They criticized the pastoral staff, leadership, music, ministry priorities, and several other things that made them unhappy. And of course legalism will short circuit the flow of grace in our lives. Where the spirit does not rule, the soulthat is, as we have seen, the mental and emotional nature in so far as it is occupied with the world open to the sensestends to become ever more and more subject to the lowest element of our constitution, the appetites of the body. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in Gods likeness. "A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; His mouth shall not transgress in judgment" (Proverbs 16:10). Such inconsistencies are not found in nature, but out of the human being can come both bitter and sweet words. It cannot be controlled by both at the same time. My victims are as numerous as the sands of the sea, and often as innocent. Matthew 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. ", MacArthur has an excellent explanation of earthly wisdom as that which is "limited to the present, material world of time and space. 8 Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her. 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. let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. The show window of the Christian is most important. CORRECTING THE MISINTERPRETATION: The subject James is writing about is the power and persuasiveness of the human tongue, with its far-reaching effects. They had speakers who didnt do, and doers who didnt speak. (Faith, Love & Hope: An Exposition of the Epistle of James), Steven Cole -True wisdom is based on knowledge, but it is more than knowledge. Notice the source of the sins - it is the heart. Im suggesting that we need to listen to ourselves in order to learn how others might be receiving our words. Reprinted by permission. Robertson -It is a moral incongruity for blessing and cursing to come out of the same mouth. And watch each word I say. "A hole, referring to a hole or cavern because of the light which shines in; therefore, a hole or cavern in the earth (Heb. Words can't break bones, but they can break hearts. Mistakes are inevitable when we are learning a second language, including learning the new language of Gods love. That makes up the total personality of the Christian.Let us not for one minute think that the wisdom of God and the knowledge of man, which of course has its origin in the mind which God created, cannot live harmoniously and that they are contradictory." Those who are weak and helpless (Jobs reference to the "fatherless" refers to these kinds of people) can be blown away by what we say. Our society encourages us to speak out in a thoughtless way, totally disregarding the deadly impact our words may have. YLT James 3:14 and if bitter zeal ye have, and rivalry in your heart, glory not, nor lie against the truth; NAB James 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. "He that refraineth his lips doeth wisely" (Proverbs 10:19). Gentle(1933)(epieikesfromep= upon - intensifies meaning+eiks= fair, equitable) is a Greek word that is difficult to translate. Reprinted by permission. 15:18). He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom's gentleness. Confess and remove unedifying words from your vocabulary regularly. 16:20-23). 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (Morgan, G. C. Life Applications from Every Chapter of the Bible). Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom. We will be held accountable for our words at the Judgment seat of Christ. To give rise to or cause to happen. Remind me that for everyone According to James, even greater havoc and loss can be created in human relationships for similar reasons (3:14-16). That's why many nonbelievers do not take the gospel message seriously. A dark piece of velvet best reveals the glory of the diamond. Men that have any dealings with him say it is better to deal with a Turk than with him; for fairer dealing they shall have at their hands. === Sample: James 1:1-4 === 1. Small spark, big fire. Proverbs 10:19. Revelation, Search Wikipedia using spiritual discretion, Faith, Love & Hope: An Exposition of the Epistle of James, Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. (Ibid), Hiebert -The importance of a spring of water would be assumed by all the readers familiar with conditions in dry Palestine. 1. Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. What kind are you sowing? Hiebert on behavior -His winsome daily conduct should demonstrate his possession of the needed practical insight and understanding to deal with the daily problems of life. Phillips Blessing and curses come out of the same mouth - surely, my brothers, this is the sort of thing that never ought to happen! Ask Him to keep watch over your mouth (Psalm 141:3), and hand the bridle of your tongue to Him. All the saints make up one body in Christ, who is the Head of the body, and the common Centre of their unity. He offended the Pharisees when He said, Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man (vv.11-12). 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. (Sermon), But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a man.Matthew 15:18, The Bible stresses that what you say is an accurate indicator of what is in your heart. Utley -True wisdom is known by its deeds. My name is Gossip. James is saying, For harmonious relationships, behave with godly wisdom, not with worldly wisdom.In typical fashion, James sets his trap and then springs it! Be arrogant(2620)(Katakauchaomaifromkata= against +kauchaomai= to boast) means to boast against. JAMES 3:8 5:20. In Scripture the term "wisdom" ordinarily signifies the knowledge and fear of God, especially that enlightening of the mind which flows from the word and spirit of Christ; and the superior excellence of this wisdom may be well expressed in the words of Solomon ( Proverbs 3:13, 14 ). (2 Cor 11:13-15). "The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright" (Proverbs 15:2). Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. Fresh (1099)(glukus) literally means sweet (opposite of pikros), literally in James 3:11, 12. It is a divine endowment and not a human acquisition.Therefore we Christians, who have accepted Christ as our Savior and who have the Holy Spirit indwelling us, are the only ones who can say that we are wisenot of ourselves, but because of the presence of God within us. Reprinted by permission. D. Martyn Lloyd Jones, Wisdom opens the eyes both to the glories of heaven and to the hollowness of earth. NET James 3:8 But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. Very little warning precedes the sudden attack of the dangerous Bengal tiger. 1:25; Jas. T. C. Baird, It is a sad fact that the tongues of professing Christians are often all too busy doing the devils work. Morgan thought that investing was respectable but that gambling was a sin. (Mattoon's Treasures Treasures from James). Our spiritual maturity is reflected by a controlled tongue. Their wisdom is more characteristic of the world, the flesh, and the devil than of God. Some of the language that the tongue uses is so abysmally degrading that it can be attributed only to the activity of evil spirits. By:David H. Roper(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. But even better is to daily rest in Gods Spirit, hearing Pauls challenge, Let your conversation be always full of grace (Colossians 4:6), so that our words will not only honor our Lord, but lift up and encourage those around us. "Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth " (Proverbs 3:19,20). 141:3). of maidens, to make subject to a husband, Il. 3:15 No uses in the Septuagint. "The lips of the wise shall preserve them" (Proverbs 14:3). James Bible Commentaries Spurgeon's Verse Expositions of the Bible James 3 Genesis Intro James Genesis Intro Genesis Intro James Genesis Intro Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Psalm 34:13 Keep thy tongue from evil and thy lips from speaking guile. It spawns a society whose watchwords are "Do your own thing," "Have it your way," and "Look out for number one." The Promised Land was described as a land of springs of water. The impact of Caesars decision was irreversible, generating years of civil war before Romes great general became absolute ruler. They can either offer help and comfort or do damage that feels just as irreversible as Caesars march on Rome. All too often, when we speak we remind everyone of our brokenness as human beings. Of course the tongue of Jesus was tame, but not one tongue of all those born in Adam and with his propensity to commit sin (Ro 5:12+). MacArthur -James has already made clear that disorder does not characterize Gods people but rather the double-minded man, unstable [akatastatos] (James 1:8) and the unredeemed tongue, which is a restless [akatastatos] evil and full of deadly poison (James 3:8). By such moral convictions, and feelings, and conduct, a man is proved to be wise with that heavenly wisdom which consists in a true, vital, energetic apprehension of his relations to God, of the chief end of man, of duty and happiness." This attainment, infinitely above all others, constitutes true wisdom. Peace was used as a greeting or farewell corresponding to the Hebrew word shalom - "peace to you". It is hypocritical and duplicitous, eagerly willing to deceive in order to achieve its own advantage." (Ibid). NIV James 3:11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? Phillips We use the tongue to bless our Father, God, and we use the same tongue to curse our fellow-men, who are all created in God's likeness. Have you ever looked closely at a snake's face (I hate snakes and won't even watch on television!)? Along with its lion friends, the striped beauty went through its routine in meek subjection. Thus, we find the church being run, evangelism being done, counsel being offered by wisdom from the world. 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. My granddaughter Bree loved the circus, but she was afraid of the tiger. This word includes the ideas ofgentle(free from harshness, sternness, or violence),forbearing(holding oneself back from especially with an effort; controlling oneself when provoked), yielding,equity(freedom from bias or favoritism),lenient(mild and tolerant disposition, exerting a soothing or easing influence), unassertive, fair, fitting, appropriate, suitable, proper. 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