Life Application Study Bible -James compares the damage the tongue can do to a raging fire.Idle and hateful words are damaging because they spread destruction quickly, and no one can stop the results once they are spoken. 5:8)- James is reminding his readers the problem is not external but internal. Of the person who says, 'I know I gossip too much, but I just can't help it,' James still requires, 'Control your tongue.' 6:13; Zech. He was worldly wise in his approach. Instead of boasting, trust God (James 4:13-16). Is sown in peace by those who make peace- If you sow peace, you will reap peace, which is what wisdom from above sows. Here the is used ofthe gushing forth of water. (Ibid), Hiebert -The importance of a spring of water would be assumed by all the readers familiar with conditions in dry Palestine. Jeremy Collier, There is no solid wisdom but in true piety. We need to look all the way down to the heart! Reprinted by permission. This was a theatrical term used of one who never played a part for personal gain. Let him demonstrate from the source of a good and beautiful manner of life his works in meekness, which [meekness] is characterized by wisdom. Wuest Out of the same mouth there proceeds eulogies and cursings. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 21:21; Deut. 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. Have Thine own way! Full(3324)(mestos) signifies full up, full to the utmost, "stuffed". "The many acts of practical mercy mature in a rich harvest of variegated fruit." 2:14. ASV James 3:7 For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind. Such will stand forever and ever. "Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding" (Proverbs 14:33). It is not intelligence that keeps the lock on that cage; it is wisdoma wisdom that is characterized by humility, grace, and peace. In false wisdom, man is supreme. The moment that Adam was confronted with his sin, he used his tongue to blame God and accuse Eve. To keep from looking down on others, look up to the cross. Adoniram Judsonwrote that " A life once spent is irrevocable. No one can take from us the gifts that God gives us. Friberg says sophos generally describes "acquired intelligence characterized by the ability to use knowledge for correct behavior (1Cor 6:5)." Be not many masters Do not affect the teacher's office, for many wish to be teachers who have more need to learn. It begs the question of each of us as followers of Christ -- am I conducting my life being primarily guided by godly wisdom which will yield "good fruits" (2 Cor 5:10+) or am I ordering my steps along a path laced with a liberal admixture of ungodly wisdom which will yield virtually no "good fruits"? (Pr 4:23+), Robert Johnstone -James probes here to the quick for the patients good. Nor am I saying we should listen to ourselves instead of to God and others. NRS James 3:15 Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. It is humble, transparent, simple, gentle, and gracious to the core (James 3:17). Instead of failing in business, as he had at one time feared, he became the richest merchant of his country. 3:13; Jas. (James 3:13-18 Wisdom for Harmonious Relationships). 4:2+; Col. 3:12+; 2 Tim. It also means "being like," "correspondence"He who curses man turns against God Himself, who created man after His own similitude." MacArthur on thing (pragma) -The idea is that absolutely nothing of any ultimate good results from human wisdom. A hole or opening from which a spring of water issues (James 3:11)" (Zodhiates), Ope in the Septuagint (Lxx)- Ex33:22; Jdg. The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits. He also knew well the terrible joy that comes only through suffering as he lived quite afflicted (both by illness and slander). From birth to the grave this fire in our mouths burns and destroys. (1 Cor 14:33). ", Zodhiates -Although theologians continue to debate about the precise nature of the imago Dei in man, variously defining it as ontological, sociological, functional or moral, one thing is certain from this passage, namely, that even fallen man retains some semblance (however badly marred by sin) of the divine impress given him at the original creation. 15:14; Jas. "Where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth" (Proverbs 26:20). Seneca, Speech is only good when it is better than silence. Stulac -Earthly origin, in frequent New Testament usage, implies inferiority to heavenly origin. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in Gods likeness. Following all that, his little daughter tapped him on the shoulder and said, Daddy, did God hear you when you said the blessing?, Switching to theological authority, Dad answered, Yes, darling, He did., Well, asked his daughter, did God hear you when you fussed right after you prayed?, Well . By:David C. McCasland, O Prince of Peace, keep us, we pray, It is an uncontrollable evil filled with deadly poison. No, and you can't draw fresh water from a salty spring. Seeking nothing but Gods glory, and using no other means to attain it than those of his own prescribing.. He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. Andin Ephesians 5:15-16+ we see that thewisewalk is a behavior thatredeems the time, "buying up" every (spiritual) opportunity presented by God (Eph 5:16+). Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom. The show window is important, but the storehouse is even more so. AN uncontrolled tongue can get us into a ton of trouble. But it does not pursue peace at the expense of purity. The tongue is the sum total of iniquity/sin, where "sum total" is defined as the whole amount of something taken into consideration, especially that which cannot be calculated numerically. NET James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Someone has said, "What is in the well of the heart will come out through the bucket of the mouth." It was the natural fruit of their bitter zeal and party spirit. That will mark the beginning of harmonynot havoc.M R De Haan II (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. (Treasures from James), Hiebert -Since the reference seems to be to a religiously motivated feeling, "bitter zeal" or "harsh zeal" seems the best rendering. All rights reserved). The opposite of unrest. (James 3 Commentary), Robert Johnstone on pure -The Christianly wise man shrinks from moral defilement of every kind. You see, the two are mutually incompatible: A wise old owl lived in an oak James used prautesearlier to describe "teachability", "Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility (prautes)receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls." It is a temper tragically injurious to Christian fellowship." Newspapers reported that the boy genius did not want to think. Some say Sidiss retreat from public attention was intentionalhe wanted to live a normal life. Barnes' Notes 2. Similarly, if a person's speech mixes foul with sweet, it will not build up the community. Reprinted by permission. Therefore it behooves all believers to be steeped in the Scriptures, that they might be enabled to take of the "Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." James i. ByHaddon W. Robinson(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. In spiritual terms, the only heart that can produce "pure" speech is one that is regenerated (born again) and "regulated" so to speak (filled with the Spirit). J. I. Packer, The kind of wisdom that God waits to give to those who ask him is a wisdom that will bind us to himself. If you have genuine faith and genuine heavenly wisdom, both will show forth in how you live! Why? Robert Johnstone says "Let him show, then, what? ", Where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. It is "to know how to do, to be able to do, to be capable of doing. (Ibid). Not only did he give glowing testimonies, but he also collared people in the church and challenged them to a deeper spirituality and commitment. As the Holy Spirit purifies our heart, he gives us self-control so that we will speak words that please God. In the spiritual body, some are fitted for and called to one sort of work; others for another sort of work. 3:17. 5:30; Matt. It is considerate, submissive, full of mercy, and good fruit, impartial and sincere (v. 17). The likeness was natural, consisting of intelligence, emotions, and will; and moral, a tendency toward God, though accompanied with the power to make wrong choices. 2:24). Proverbs 10:19. he is saying, in effect, "and in what way are you understanding? "The rich answereth roughly" (Proverbs 18:23). That is of course a rhetorical question. It pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell. Amen. He is, however, a homely and spiritual writer, and his work is good reading for the many. It's there that we can receive a wisdom "full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy" (Jas. Epigeios - 6x -Jn. But according to the apostle James, you cannot tame the human tongue. InRo 1:14+, Paul refers to the Greeks as the "wise" (although not in spiritual matters). Ask Him to keep watch over your mouth (Psalm 141:3), and hand the bridle of your tongue to Him. The mother is now leading a crusade to promote child safety. James 3:7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. KJV James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. Baptist pastor Charles Haddon Spurgeon is remembered today as the Prince of Preachers. C.H. But - Term of contrast. "A word in due season, how good is it! Figuratively,karposis used of the consequence of physical, mental, or spiritual action. Fig trees do not yield olives or vines figs. 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. Romans She had no reason to be, however, because the huge old cat had been tamed and was caged. Christians are in the best position to keep the right perspective. 1:183:23. We dare not be careless with what we say, thinking we can apologize later, because even if we do, the scars remain. The true wisdom produces right relationships. We are to be people who speak and do the truth! Adoniram Judson), Thing(affair, matter, case) (4229)(pragma) is "that which is done or happens, deed, thing, event, occurrence, matter." Biblical Illustrator 4. It's when you feel like you have to say something that you end up saying the dumbest things. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 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. My brothers, this must be wrong-. (Ibid). Then your lives will be an example of the humility that is born of true wisdom. All rights reserved). May my lips be so full of praise for You and encouragement for others that they have no opportunity to do any harm. 5:5; Jas. That is true, and it had already been said in the declaration that heavenly wisdom is first pure, then peaceable. It can speak falsehood and filth. Is there any doubt which wisdom is better? Someone once quipped that "Wisdom is the quality that keeps you from getting into situations where you need it. But there are two kinds of wisdom. Thank Him for His help in all times of need. YLT James 3:6 and the tongue is a fire, the world of the unrighteousness, so the tongue is set in our members, which is spotting our whole body, and is setting on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by the gehenna. With words that soothe and heal and mend. CSB James 3:11 Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? Without a command from the mind and permission from the will, the tongue cannot speak either good or evil." Reprinted by permission. 6:10), and steadfast (1 Cor. Tasker quips that "man has lost dominion over himself." ESV Study Bible -Evil speech destroys because it comes from Satan himself. They can either offer help and comfort or do damage that feels just as irreversible as Caesars march on Rome. (Holman New Testament Commentary), Osborne on set on fire by hell - "..would mean the tongue becomes a tool of Satan to destroy the individual and the church. Malcolm Watts, If the Lord Jesus Christ is a stranger to you, the best you can hope for is to become a philosopher, like Socrates of old. Leniency and compassion toward offenders by a person. Hiebert saysfull of mercy and good fruits is "the only double characteristic in the list, stands in direct contrast to "every vile deed" in James 3:16." 1:22. 2 Samuel Sper, THE TONGUE, SPEECH All rights reserved). This is what unregenerate people do, not those who have been born again and are called to live a like of truth and righteousness. without partiality and without hypocrisy. "The legs of the lame hang loose; So is a parable in the mouth of fools" (Proverbs 26:7). BBE James 3:12 Is a fig-tree able to give us olives, my brothers, or do we get figs from a vine, or sweet water from the salt sea? Jude 12:19). --Dennis De Haan. Wuest This wisdom is not the wisdom which comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual [having to do with the natural, physical existence as over against the spiritual world of the supernatural], demonic; f. NET James 3:15 Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic. let him make his works clear by a life of gentle wisdom. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,(Ephesians 1:3). (Exploring the Epistle of James: An Expository Commentary). Sad contrast between wild animals that can be tamedand mankind's wild tongue which cannot be tamed. All too often, when we speak we remind everyone of our brokenness as human beings. Branon. In regions of Southeast Asiathere is a snake called the "two-step." Meekness of wisdom is accepting Wisdom's dealings with us without a murmur and without a sigh. Demonstrate your living faith by living with godly wisdom. We need to guard our lips, making David's prayer in Psalm 19:14 our daily prayer: "Let the words of my mouth and the medication of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer." All rights reserved), One careless word can be a spark Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. Barclay says that "The true wisdom is anupokritos, without hypocrisy. Help me to control my tongue and to express myself clearly so that I wont cause dissension. By his good behavior - Wuest has "a good and beautiful manner of life." Seek His guidance before you express yourself. 8:16. The heart controls the mouth and tongue (Luke 6:45). But the true wisdom at all times brings people closer to one another and to God. Lenski comments, "Nothing stronger was ever said about the tongue.". We eliminate the errors. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Behold, the husbandman waited for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. It is glorying that one has been able to get up to the top in a manner that is not exactly honest, boasting that one is there because he deserves to be there and that he is enjoying the favor of God, but also that his opponent was defeated because he is not as good as oneself. James 3:17 - The wisdom that is from above is without hypocrisy. 35 The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. 2. to strike dead, kill, Od. Amos If it bites you, you take two steps and die (BUT SEE NOTE). Some writers think first pure implies a progression of qualities of godly wisdom. Society does the inventing and reinventing of words. No wonder James called the tongue "an unruly evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3:8). Anon. "A man shall be commended according to his wisdom" (Proverbs 12:8). Godly wisdom that is reasonable does not push its own rights or opinions without listening to and respecting the rights and opinions ofothers. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44,47,48). "A gentle tongue is a tree of life" (Proverbs 15:4). . "As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear" (Proverbs 25:12). There is only one way to "tame" it and that is by relying on the supernatural power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. If the flesh is reigning, then out comes bitter water. We are to go after peace as we would pursue an animal in the hunt. By:Richard DeHaan (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. But there is a difference between worldly and spiritual wisdom (1Cor. Nor can salt water produce fresh - James gives another impossibility. Pure(53)(hagnos) means freedom from defilements, contaminants or impurities (e.g., Jesus ishagnos - 1 Jn 3:3+). You never know who may be listening. A ships rudder can steer a huge vessel in a raging storm (v.4). Such a life also will be full of "good fruit" (karpn agathn). We all would be wise to pray daily, Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips (Ps. Fueled by Hell, it burns our lives with its filthy fires. For the glory of God, and with respect for His standards, lets watch our words. Itcomes from the devil. The term occurs about 40 times in the Septuagint (Lxx)(e.g., Ruth 1:20; Habakkuk 1:6). Gossip, like other sins, is like ''dainty morsels" (Pr26:22). (1) The principle established. Ought (5534)(chre from chreia = need, necessity) is an impersonal verb meaning it is necessary, it needs to be, that which must be, that which should happen (with the implication of propriety). ", Adam Clarke on without hypocrisy -Without pretending to be what it is not; acting always in its own character; never working under a mask. Our old sinful nature opposes our new life in Christ. Baker-1992 good set. Exodus (James 3- IVP Commentary), Hiebert on gentleness (meekness) -The meek man does not feel a need to contend for the recognition of his rights or acceptance of his personal views. Natural fruit of their bitter zeal and party Spirit quality that keeps you from getting situations! Fresh - James gives another impossibility you from getting into situations Where need. 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