Receive its address in simplicity of faith, and every word of God is intelligently found to tell. See the rabbinical meaning of this phrase at the end of this chapter. Such is the law of liberty. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. easy to be entreated: James here presents another characteristic of wisdom. "If we say we have no sin," says John, "we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" ( 1 John 1:8). It is evident that it cannot. Hence, if a man be wise, the question arises, how is it to be proved? James then describes this arrogant and bitter wisdom in its effects. I. Without variance Gibson tells us that scholars are not altogether sure of the meaning of the word thus rendered, "without variance, without doubtfulness or without partiality,"[42] all being possible denotations of it. There is a kind of clever and arrogant wisdom which separates man from man, and which makes a man look with superior contempt on his fellows. The New Testament often uses the word "fruit" to indicate the good works that should come with faith. Proud member Individual Commentaries Chapter 20: 3.1 Demonic: Demoniacal- inspired by demons, and maintained in the soul by their indwelling influence.. Their authority was thrown into question. What fires it can spark. James 1:17 | Bible Exposition Commentary 3:2 There are many things in which we all slip up; but if a man never slips up in his speech, he is a perfect man, able to keep the whole body also on the rein. It does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. Instead of a friend become not an enemy; for thereby thou shalt inherit an ill name, shame and reproach; even so shall a sinner that hath a double tongue" ( Sir_5:13 through Sir_6:1 ). The word of God is not to be alloyed with human speculations, philosophy and opinions, the word itself taking precedence over everything else. It is fatally easy for a teacher to distort the truth and to teach, not God's version, but his own. (ii) It is uncontrollable. The Greeks defined it as pity for the man who is suffering unjustly; but Christianity means far more than that by eleos ( G1656) . ", Then he calls them again so much the more to avoid a murmuring spirit against one and another, because the judge stood at the door. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. It is the word of God which directs a man begotten by the word of truth, urging and cheering and strengthening him in the very things that the new life delights in. 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). WebThe Life & Times of Thomas K.R. Its source is not God, but the devil. let him sing psalms." John Bunyan tells us of Talkative: "He was a saint abroad and a devil at home." Instead, he must recognize the feelings of others and, at times, sacrifice his own rights (1 Corinthians 8). This, on the contrary, stamps the sensual aspiring wisdom of man; but what comes down from above is gentle, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits, uncontentious, and unfeigned. He must, therefore, all his life struggle to avoid two things. Seeking nothing but God's glory, and using no other means to attain it than those of his own prescribing. This wisdom is full of good fruits: This wisdom can be seen by the fruit it produces. 1. He "straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was." 3. Nor do I deny that there are answers to prayer of a very striking kind. See the Romans 14:19 note; Hebrews 12:14. When a man is conscious that his wisdom is of a suspicious kind, one can understand him unwilling to have his mind or will disputed; but the truth is, that there is nothing which so much marks the superiority of grace and truth and wisdom that God gives as patience, and the absence of anxiety to push what one knows is right and true. Without partiality . One thing man hasn't been able to tame is his own tongue. Thus it embraces such of them as were Christians; and it gives a very true and just place to those who had the faith of the Lord Jesus. He may have ever so clear a view of himself; he sees clearly what he is like for a moment; but he as soon forgets all. These last two words [without partiality and without hypocrisy] rule out the habit of using speech to half reveal and half conceal the mind of the speaker, who has something (as we say) at the back of his mind all the time. (Moffatt). When Christians live deceptive lives, they become a stumbling block to others who would obey the Lord (Matthew 23:13). Enduring Word Bible Commentary James Chapter 3 By the tongue men can make the worse appear the better reason; by the tongue men can excuse and Justify their wicked ways; by the tongue men can persuade others into sin. So far from there being any contradiction of others in the epistle of James, although there is not a little which in form is new (for the twelve tribes) both in its breadth and in its speciality, the mind of God is one. "The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. But he goes farther, and asserts and asserting, too, in the most admirable manner the truth of the sovereign action of grace. For this end there is not a more precious thought nor a mightier word in all the New Testament. With it, he says, we bless God. . This wisdom is not acquired through human means. We can use our tongues to bless people, to build them up, to encourage them, or we can use our tongues to destroy them.
