Lamentations A brutal word may smite and kill. "He that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction" (Proverbs 13:3). "A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin" (Proverbs 26:28). Acquire understanding! We have a far better best seller to help us to live harmoniously: the wisdom of Gods Word. Any Christian can ask for the grace needed, for God gives good gifts (James 1:17) and gives them generously (James 1:5). By:Keila Ochoa(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. James A Visit to the Harvest Field February 4, 2018 A Visit to the Harvest Field "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. D. Martyn Lloyd Jones, Wisdom opens the eyes both to the glories of heaven and to the hollowness of earth. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. ", Lenski adds thatzelos"is not as narrow as our "jealousy" but as broad as overzealousness in any matter for which one contends; hence "bitter" is appended and is to be understood in the sense in whichpikros is used in James 3:11, offensive, unpalatable to all who come in contact with this fanatic zeal. defiles the whole body (James 3:6). To gracious people? By:David H. Roper(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. "If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself" (Proverbs 9:12). "James reminds his readers that "no loud and pretentious claim to the possession of 'wisdom' could avail while 'out of the heart proceeded evil things.'" 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. Isn't it interesting that the Spirit uses the same verb to describe a demon possessed man and the tongue of men which he has already described as set on fire by hell. Children of the King should use the language of the court. Lord, please guard my heart and my words today. Kakos then speaks of lack of goodness, of a bad nature. - The rhetorical question expects a strong negative reply. Daniel Akin Sermon - Steve Stephens drives home the importance of our words in our marriage. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen! And clearly what and how we think will influence what and how we speak. Matthew 15:18. The tongue is not only a "FIRE" but it is: "THE SUM TOTAL OF INIQUITY". This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: The purest minds need stirring up at times. Proverbs 16:28A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends. This kind of wisdom is all around us. However other writers like A T Robertson make the point that "In the realm of morals, what is merely indifferent soon gets to be bad. TECHNICAL NOTE - The Textus Receptus has the word akataschetos(from a = without + katecho = hold back or control) which means that which cannot be restrained, uncontrollable, untameable, unruly. Proverbs 18:8 The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. It follows that James is addressing this to believers, for unbelievers lack the supernatural power to obey this command. [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity). He had been a good friend of mine, and he knew something of my life and how I had lived. C. C. Colton, Think all you speak but speak not all you think. (Ibid), Wiersbe -The deceptive thing about poison is that it works secretly and slowly, and then kills. Reprinted by permission. He thought that he was wise and that he was defending the truth, but he was not displaying godly wisdom because he was not peaceable. Spurgeon reminds us that "Behold is a word of wonder; it is intended to excite admiration. Is it any wonder that so manyare filled worries, anxieties, fears, doubts, uncertainties, if their primary source of wisdom is the world! --Havergal. (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries James). If you are always stirring up controversy over petty issues, you are not acting with godly wisdom. (Lectures Exegetical and Practical on the Epistle of James), The true test of wisdom is works, not words. James 4. Ecclesiastes A doctor of philosophy and unable to solve my own troubles!" Do you tend to criticize others? It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. (Experiencing God), With [our tongue] we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men. All rights reserved), Lord, guard our tongues so what we say The only way to learn the new language of love is by making Jesus the Lord of our speech. Ungodly wisdom has the same "hellish" source as an ungodly tongue "which is set on fire from hell.". ), the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; (1 Cor 2:3-7). And immediately a rooster crowed. And so it is with the tongue. ", This person behind the curtain reminds me of a problem we as Christians experience today. (Proverbs 15:23). He commands, 'Discipline your speaking.' "A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil" (Proverbs 14:16). Ecclesiastes 5:2 Figuratively refers to a book that is delightful to read ("sweet as honey")(Rev10:9, 10+). Phillips translates it, "It is an evil always liable to break out." Every species isa generalization, for no one has ever trained a crocodile or a hippopotamus. 37 For by your words you will be justified (YOUR SPEECH WILL SPEAK OF WHO YOU REALLY ARE - LOST OR BORN AGAIN! (+44) 01236 827 978. "The lips of the righteous feed many" (Proverbs 10:21). Amen"), Kent Hughesadds that "Jewish Christians were perpetuating the beautiful old Hebrew custom of saying, "Blessed be He" after each utterance of God's name, so that their worship times were continually punctuated by choruses of praise. side door. Yet these same people, with the blessings still on their lips, would sometimes, after leaving worship, actually curse someone who had angered them! From above(509)(anothenfromano= above, upward, up +suffix"-then" = from) literally means from above with a secondary meaning of again. To do right at the cost of ease, is to make peace. The usage in Philippians 2:10 reveals an expression used to encompass every aspect of creation, in heaven, and. CSB James 3:10 Praising and cursing come out of the same mouth. This is hypocrisy. All rights reserved, Summary of Study of James from chapter 1-3. In First Corinthians Paul repeatedly denounces man's natural wisdom which is really not wisdom in spiritual and eternal matters. Steven Cole on peaceable -Seeking peace in relationships is not a minor theme in the Bible! 3:17). "A man shall be commended according to his wisdom" (Proverbs 12:8). ), and by your words you will be condemned.(Matthew 12:34-37). It is impossible to find an English word to translate this quality. "The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook" (Proverbs 18:4). - Persian saying. It is rooted in selfishness and pride." -- Author unknown. Jesus Himselfdeclared "I am gentle (related wordpraus) and humble in heart." Beloved, that's the power of our unbridled, unruddered tongue, unless it is continually surrendered to the guarding, guiding power of the Holy Spirit! 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. "He that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends" (Proverbs 17:9). Our motive for seeking wisdom or for using wisdom must always be to glorify God and to build up the person to whom we are speaking. "A grievous word stirreth up anger" (Proverbs 15:1). James reminded us that the wisdom that is from above is . But if I refuse to listen and pray instead, the water of the Spirit douses the fire of hell, and the conversation dies. On the healthy tree every branch is laden with the fruits of mercy. "A hole, referring to a hole or cavern because of the light which shines in; therefore, a hole or cavern in the earth (Heb. (James 2:15-16+) God's wisdom motivates us to build up rather than tear down. Baker-1992 good set. In short, the likenessof God in man is enduring. Deep in the jungles of India, a serious threat looms over the native missionaries and their people as they lay asleep in their thatched huts. "I have taught thee in the way of wisdom" (Proverbs 4:11). Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist- Amplified - "For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition).". (Who have sharpened their tongue like a sword. KJV James 3:12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? Those who profess religion ought especially to govern their tongues, ver 1-12. The Lord Jesus said that what is in the heart will come up through the mouth; you can be sure your tongue is going to say it. In its simplest sensedikaiosuneconveys the idea of conformity to a standard or norm and in Biblical terms the "standard" is God and His perfect, holy character. 1:4; Dan. (Ibid), Heavenly wisdom is full of mercy like our Heavenly Father - "Be (present imperative= only possible by relying on the Holy Spirit to obey) merciful, just as your Father is merciful." So James is addressing this to believers, those who had the Holy Spirit Who Alone could enable them to bring forth words of blessing and not words of cursing. Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see CSB James 3:13 Who is wise and has understanding among you? He is a living lie.". He asked, Are these the best singers in your school? The awfulness of our sins, the terrible price Jesus paid to forgive them, and the love He has for all people. . It thus denotes "the malicious triumphing at the least point of vantage gained by one party" over its opponents in their disputes. THE WHOLE MACHINERY OF SALVATION. This recalls James 2:14-26 where one's "works" show orauthenticateone's "faith" to be genuine. The evidence of the true wisdom in control (James 3:1718) (Mk 12:42-44)Ever and anon, on a Highland hillside, one passes a little rocky cup filled with cool crystal water from a deep unfailing spring. And thus the tongue can be used for both good and evil (James 3:9). Gilbrant on restless evil -The tongue is an "unruly evil," literally, an evil which cannot be held back. In the corridor he met a friend who asked, "Has he finished yet?" NRS James 3:9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. Sin entered this world, in the first place, by means of a forked tongue, the tongue of "that old serpent." There is a simpler and a surer . Bitterness -Bitterness can be like a winter storm blowing in from the north. But his emphasis on consistently speaking blessings rather than mixing blessings and cursings grows naturally out of his concern about works. And is set on fire by hell- Not Hades (the temporary holding place), but Gehenna, the everlasting place of all evil demons and humans. No good tongue yields both words of blessing and words of cursing. To exhibit or present to the view of others. Faithful: But I am ready to think you do but jest, because you smiled. (Cornerstone Biblical Commentary Volume 18: James), MacArthur explains this as "Like physical fire, the destructive effects of evil speech expand, not only contaminating ourselves but also everything we influence throughout the course of our life. But when they are wrong, they work like a deadly venom. Former US President Harry Truman had a rule: Any letters written in anger had to sit on his desk for 24 hours before they could be mailed. "Scoffers set a city in a flame; But wise men turn away wrath" (Proverbs 29:8). NJB James 3:17 whereas the wisdom that comes down from above is essentially something pure; it is also peaceable, kindly and considerate; it is full of mercy and shows itself by doing good; nor is there any trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it. 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: --. So what is the solution? Its a world of iniquity. (Ibid), Hiebert on world of iniquity -From the context it seems best to accept that James thinks of the tongue as a vast system of iniquity." James 5. So the mind corrupts the whole person.". Ron Mehl who is a pastor in Portland, Oregon has written a great little book called Right With God. The point is that the tongue is composed of four muscles, but the motor input to those muscles comes from the brain and this is what Burdick is referring to. Rom. By:Bill Crowder(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. We Christians will do very well to imitate this large-hearted general. 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! If you lack wisdom, get on your knees! Charles Simeon, We can be certain that God wants us to be wise, just as we are sure that he wants us not to sin. 4 vols, Sangster, 1867 Greenfield, W., . Wisdom is peaceable but that does not mean peace at any price. Reprinted by permission. Theres another kind of incorrect word usage that is far worse. Anon. Used in the Nestle-Aland text is James 1:8+of the doubting man who is unstable in all areas of lifeand here in James 3:8, describing the tongue as incapable of restraint. All rights reserved). No matter how carefully we think we have concealed it, bitterness will contaminate all we are, all we say, and all we do. Nature reproduces after its own kind. Would you turn hungry lions or angry snakes loose in your Sunday morning service? New Linguistic and Exegetical Key on epieikes -The word signifies a humble patience, a steadfastness able to submit to injustice, disgrace, and maltreatment without hatred and malice, trusting in God in spite of all of it. James is emphatic thatsuch "dichotomousdialogue" is completelyunnaturalfor those who are new creatures in Christ, and among whom old things have passed away (good and evil speech natural from same mouth) and new things have come (holy speech) (cf 2 Cor 5:17+). Douglas Moo -"As the fig tree cannot produce olives or the grapevine figs, so the pure heart cannot produce false, bitter, harmful speech.". Lets echo the prayer of the hymn by Frances Havergal: Take my lips and let them be filled with messages for Thee. By:David H. Roper(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body (James 3:6). "Buy the truth, and sell it not; Yea, wisdom, and instruction, and understanding" (Proverbs 23:23). The point is that the type of fruit produced is determined by the species of tree. Hiebert -Behind this "wisdom," marked by jealousy, crafty party factions, and egotistical boasting, James detects the work of the demons in seeking to corrupt the harmony and very life of the Body of Christ. A philosophy professor ended his letter with "It just beats me. Apt words come from a heart that is governed by God. (MacArthur New Testament Commentary James). Actually James 3:6, in depicting the tongue's influence, is already describing its perversity." Ere one's eyes he could close Inspired by the Spirit, James is showing with strong words how much damage can be caused by an unbridled tongue, a "rudderless" tongue whipped around by strong winds of our fallen flesh. James Denney, Let thy speech be better than silence, or be silent. Along with its lion friends, the striped beauty went through its routine in meek subjection. There are two sciences which every person ought to learn: the science of speech and the more difficult one of silence. As believers in Christ, we must pursue a higher wisdomthe wisdom that comes from God. . John Phillips -The tongue is as dangerous as any fire. James pictures the tongue as a death bringing king cobra always ready to strike. Art wise, thou art wise for thyself '' ( Proverbs 29:8.. Ought especially to govern their tongues, ver 1-12 in a flame ; but wise turn! 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Profess religion ought especially to govern their tongues, ver 1-12 healthy every. Kakos then speaks of lack of goodness, of a bad nature who you REALLY are - or! Our God and of the same mouth mine, and they go down into the innermost parts the... Both words of blessing and words of blessing and words of a bad nature which! Live harmoniously: the science of speech and the more difficult one of silence James 2:15-16+ ) God 's motivates... A bad nature, bear olive berries ) ( Rev10:9, 10+ ) & quot ; is... Proverbs 16:28A perverse man spreads strife, and the love he has for all people ) ( Rev10:9 10+... Snakes loose in your school filled with messages for thee thus denotes `` lips. Slowly, and is itself set on fire from hell. `` up rather than blessings... ( Lectures Exegetical and Practical on the healthy tree every branch is with.
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