(Ro 3:13-14+TLB). James 3:1-12 EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: James seems to be moving in a very different direction after his discourse on works, which concluded, "faith apart from works is dead" (2:14-26). (Ibid). While I acknowledge that it is not always wrong to sue, I was moved by the choice of those parents to follow the pure, peaceable, and gentle way (Jas. He will give us increasing power to monitor and control what we say. Piety is disgraced in all the shows of it, if there be not charity. For those who honestly aspire to being wise, the question is an invitation; James's answer will divulge the way to attain their aspirations. (James 3- IVP Commentary) (ED: See related discussion on"Tongue Control. His attitude is "It's my life and I want my way." (Gal 5:24+, Gal 5:16+)The tongue does not have a life of its own, even though James uses the figure of speech of personification to describe its activities. It exists among our members as a world of malice, defiling the whole body and setting the entire course of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by Gehenna. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.". (I was a teller for several years, and I know that this is one of the most discouraging things that can happen.) 4 When Christ, [who is] our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Unless we douse it with confession and repentance, it will eventually consume us. As such, it is used here as a synonym for Satan and the demons. Of course the prototype for this hellish wisdom is Satan's confrontation of a sinless man and woman in the garden of Eden when he tempted Eve telling her if she did what God had forbidden, she would not die (an overt lie) and would actually be like God (another lie). It is interesting that when our Lord came to that dumb man, the Gospel writer is very careful to say, "He touched his mouth!" God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason, the saying goes. Fresh (1099)(glukus) literally means sweet (opposite of pikros), literally in James 3:11, 12. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. I never forget and seldom forgive. As a pastor, I have seen poisonous tongues do great damage to individuals, families, classes, and entire churches. It burns in the following ways. Speciesrace(5449)(phusisfromphuo= to bring forth) means natural condition, nature, natural order, being, essence, kind, species. MacArthur makes the pithy pronouncement that in light of the fact that animals have been tamed, "they are less primitive and more civilized and controllable than the unregenerate, unsanctified tongues of their masters. And our first parents, Adam and Eve, lost their innocence for the same reason. In it the warrior cries out bitterly. But Christian wisdom is based on Christian certainties which come to us from God through Jesus Christ." There is nothing more painful than having unhealthy communication with the one you love. Reprinted by permission. Are you living wisely before a foolish world? Children are colorblind until they hear adults making unfounded statements or see them shunning people of a different race. 6:18; 2 Sam. And the only people who can sow these seeds and reap the reward are those whose life work it has been to produce such right relationships.' 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. On the other hand, if you sow worldly wisdom (with its "seeds" of selfishness and strife) you will reap disorder and every evil thing (conflict, disharmony, etc). The Old Testament word for jealousy means "to burn or to inflame"an apt description of what goes on inside the person who allows jealousy to smolder. Fig trees do not yield olives or vines figs. Seneca, Speech is only good when it is better than silence. And immediately a rooster crowed. Amplified Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. "A man that flattereth his neighbor Spreadeth a net for his steps" (Proverbs 29:5). The Israelites could have used this advice when Moses was leading them out of Egypt. It belongs to this world. ", Hell(only use outside synoptic Gospelsall others spoken by the Lord Jesus)(Gehenna) (1067)(geennafrom Hebrewgay= valley +Hinnom) is literally thevalley of Hinnom, the ravine or valley southwest of Jerusalem where the refuse and filth, human excrement, bodies of dead animals, and bodies of criminals were cast and burned. James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. Show this by living the right way with the humility that comes from wisdom. The generosity and goodwill that Paul expressed toward self-serving church leaders is a mark of the authentic Christian spirit (Phil. 2:25; Jas. Im suggesting that we need to listen to ourselves in order to learn how others might be receiving our words. Here the essential thought is that mercy gives attention to those in misery. This kind of wisdom is all around us. NLT James 3:15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. ESV James 3:11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Remind me that for everyone Such a person knows how to make allowances, when not to stand upon individual rights, and how to soften justice with mercy, and always remembers that there are greater things in the world than rules and regulations. May I speak only words that please You and bring health and healing to others. Have Thine own way, Lord! Having mentioned the tongue being filled with deadly poison congeners up the image of a deadly viper and here we see the image of a forked tonguewhich such a viper would possess! We who know Jesus Christ as Saviour can have our minds controlled by "bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. Matthew Poole -The poison of the tongue is no less deadly, it murders mens reputations by the slanders it utters, their souls by the lusts and passions it stirs up in them, and many times their bodies too by the contentions and quarrels it raiseth against men. So, willingly yield your lips to the Lord A passage in the Bible actually seems to call such attitudes wise. - James 3:18)." A single match or even a small spark can start a fire that can destroy an entire forest (v.5). 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. John Phillips adds that "the negative accentuates the positive. GWN James 3:13 Do any of you have wisdom and insight? But unruly tongues accomplish the same results. (Ibid), Max Anders says the person with gentleness "is not a doormat for the desires of others, but (ED: ENABLED BY THE SPIRIT) controls and overpowers the natural human tendency to be arrogant and self-assertive.Even when you are involved in a disagreement, you must demonstrate a gentleness and kindness of attitude. "Get wisdom Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get. 2:21; Jas. The spirit of man is in action here as well as the soul; but, alas, the grandeur of the capabilities of this constituent of our being only deepens the debasement; and the spirit made but a little lower than the angels of light, links itself with the lost angels of darkness. Then show it by your good conduct. The Bible teaches that all people are created in the image of God, that they are all accountable for what they do with whatever He has given them, and that someday they will all die. (James 3:13-18 Wisdom for Harmonious Relationships), There is disorder and every evil thing- Amplified has "here will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices", The church at Corinth was experience "disorder" which prompted Paul to write. (Ibid), George M Stulac concludes this section on the tongue writing that "To the person who speaks praise to God in the worship service and then abuses people verbally at home or at work, James commands, 'Purify your speech through the week.' ", This person behind the curtain reminds me of a problem we as Christians experience today. James is showing that the reason cursing men is evil is because they are made in the likeness of God, the One we bless. After bearing up under the onslaught of Eliphaz the Temanite (Job 4:15:27), he was brought to the point of frustration. (Php 1:17+)". "A false witness, deceit" (Proverbs 12:17). The washerman replied that according to the rules of his vocation he would need a vessel large enough to hold the elephant, where-upon the king commanded the jealous potter to provide one. The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace (James 3:17-18). It is like a wild animal restlessly wanting to make an attack. It is a desire for personal glory. It corrupts the whole body. Kakos then speaks of lack of goodness, of a bad nature. All rights reserved). Such a person shows compassion, or pity, for the less fortunate. 8:64; 2 Ki. NIV James 3:8 but no man can tame the tongue. The answer is 'surprisingly few'. 10:16. "In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression" (Proverbs 10:19). Lets be on the defensive against any offensive or unloving terms in our own dictionary of usage. NAB James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. It is notoriously unreliable, constantly prone to break out in vicious words. In the same way, a pool of salt water can't produce fresh water. I will give you a further discovery of him. (Ps 58:3-4), Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, O worker of deceit. Hardly. YLT James 3:18 and the fruit of the righteousness in peace is sown to those making peace. Louw-Nida - "pertaining to human, earthly activity(primarily in contrast with divine activity)." In regions of Southeast Asiathere is a snake called the "two-step." Since everyone has an opinion on how something should be done, friction results. Full of deadly is the combination wordthanatephoros (from thnatos =death+ phr =to bring) is literally death bearing or death bringing and is used only here in the NT. Gold is anothers, wisdom is our own; gold is for the body and time, wisdom for the soul and eternity. These things ought not to be this way - Vine says literally "it is not befitting, these things so to be." Spiritual leaders tell us to listen to God. Beware! 19:29; Jn. 24:9; Jer. When James spoke of the wisdom that is from above, he described it as pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy (James 3:17). Verse James 3:1. defiles the whole body (James 3:6). The force ofkatakauchaomaiis to brag about oneself in comparison with others. BBE James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace for those who make peace. Fresh and bitter water cannot come from a fountain at the same time. (MacArthur New Testament Commentary James). Used literally in James 3:11 as the opposite of what which is sweet, and in the Septuagint (Lxx)of Ex 15:23 describing the waters of Marah which "were bitter" and could not be drunk by Israel. The necessity expressed by this word signifies a need resulting from time or circumstances or from the fitness of things. . Mattoon -When God's wisdom is at work, there is a sense of humility and submission. Be not many masters Do not affect the teacher's office, for many wish to be teachers who have more need to learn. The only other NT use is Jude 1:23+ "save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garmentpolluted (spiloo in perfect tense) by the flesh." "The many acts of practical mercy mature in a rich harvest of variegated fruit." And as James taught in James 3:14, both of these sinful attitudes are hidden in and originate from the heart. 1 En. All rights reserved), A wise old owl sat on an oak; On his return home he immediately cleaned up his unused show window and made it so attractive that he was soon doing nearly all the business in his town. (Lectures Exegetical and Practical on the Epistle of James)(Bold added). "), with Whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." He asks (3:13a), Who among you is wise and understanding? Perhaps some of the self-appointed teachers were thinking, Im glad that you recognize my talents! Then in his no-nonsense style, James springs the trap (3:13b): Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. (James 3:13-18 Wisdom for Harmonious Relationships). 2:5; Jas. If a man claims he is wise and acts in this manner described by James, he is surely not living up to his profession of faith, nor is he wise. It will not compromise with sin to maintain peace. All rights reserved), SOME TALK ABOUT TALK That's not a bad description of our tongue which is capable of such evil that it cannot be "calculated numerically!" There is more hope of a fool than of him" (Proverbs 29:20). ESV James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. It takes time, so be gracious in granting that to the other person. To tame our tongues, we need Gods help. "A word in due season, how good is it! (Mt 5:14-16+) How is that little light of yours? 5:30; Matt. III. 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