SPEAK AND DO - In ancient Greek dramas, a person behind a curtain spoke the lines while the performer on stage acted out the role. NIV James 3:8 but no man can tame the tongue. TODAY IN THE WORD - James 3:13-18 Faithful: But I am ready to think you do but jest, because you smiled. Their ruler summoned them to grant them one wish. how much of real knowledge and mental power has been wasted in such bitterness! WuestBut the wisdom which is from above is essentially pure, then peaceable, sweetly reasonable, satisfied with less than its due, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, free from insincerity. James 3 James 3 He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. Yet these same people, with the blessings still on their lips, would sometimes, after leaving worship, actually curse someone who had angered them! Counselors tell us to listen to each other. It came from the teller who had attempted to balance and he hadn't balanced. -- Richard W. De Haan(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. What feeds your psyche? Amplified Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine figs? Some writers think first pure implies a progression of qualities of godly wisdom. Steven Cole on peaceable -Seeking peace in relationships is not a minor theme in the Bible! Jonah He wrote, The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. 3 or 9 vols, London, 1822-1826 . 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. Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. The biggest loser of your hatred and jealousy is you. And, being earthly, it is sensual. (NATURAL) The word so translated occurs in the New Testament several times, but is rendered sensual only here and in a verse in Jude, where mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts, (Jude 1:18+) are described as worldly-minded (psuchikos), devoid of the Spirit (Jude 1:19+). 2:5; Jas. Meekness of wisdom is accepting Wisdom's dealings with us without a murmur and without a sigh. But it also means "Expression," the expression of the eternal God in human form so that He may be made more understandable to man. James 3:18. 1:183:23. (Ro 3:13-14+TLB). She showed her shopping list to the girl helping her and said, Its in two tongues(lenguas). But she meant to say that she had written it in two languages(idiomas). "Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise" (Proverbs 13:20). Here it refers first in rank and which specifically to purity because without purity the wisdom is not from above! 12:38; Est. Help me to control my tongue and to express myself clearly so that I wont cause dissension. 15:58), we will be used by the Lord to keep His ship afloat in times of crisis. It is both the knowledge and practice of it. Instead of failing in business, as he had at one time feared, he became the richest merchant of his country. Those who disturb personal relationships and are responsible for strife and bitterness have cut themselves off from the reward which God gives to those who live a godly life." (Ibid), Mattoon on eritheia -The Greeks used this word to describe a politician that was out canvassing for votes at any cost. There is iniquity of all shapes and sizes in these various venues (just another reason I have "fasted from news" for over 2 years, and have subscribed to Vidangel to filter the gratuitous sex, blasphemy of Jesus' great Name and a sewer of curse words). The character of this wisdom (James 3:15) "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever" (Ps. Even under the strictest self-discipline and constant monitoring, the tongues unruly nature lurks dangerously below the surface. Won't hurt and carelessly offend; Ronald Blue has a picturesque interpretation ofthe course of our life-It is as though the tongue is at the center or hub of the wheel of nature and, like a fireworks display, the wheel is set on fire at the center. No man can tame the tongue, he wrote. 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! It doesnt come from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. It is the wisdom that leads to immoral decisions about how life should be lived. But unbelievers have no defense against his demonic input! Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips (Ps. MacArthur -Hell is Satan's place, prepared for him and his demons (Matt. Stulac -Earthly origin, in frequent New Testament usage, implies inferiority to heavenly origin. For more on how to "imitate" Jesus see related discussion of Walking Like Jesus Walked. Lest we think that Christians do the blessing and non-Christians do the cursing, we need to remember that James was writing to Christians. It really isn't in me." On the other hand, when I refuse to give expression to impure, unkind, ungodly thoughts, I begin to choke and strangle the evil in my soul. (James 3:13-18 Wisdom for Harmonious Relationships). CSB James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. T'would make [strange] reading no doubt. Rom. "That the wise man may.hear, and increase in learning" (Proverbs 1:5). . Reprinted by permission. We are so apt to say, of someone in trouble, 'It is his own fault' or 'She brought it on herself', and therefore to feel no responsibility ourselves. It is easier to look wise than to talk wisely. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness- There is no Greekword for seed in Greek. There is a simpler and a surer . He was an apostle, and he was the Lord's brother, yet he mentions not these greater things, but he takes the lowly title, in which, no doubt, he felt the highest honor, and calls himself "a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ." - James justifies his strong condemnation of earthly wisdom in the preceding verse explaining the fruit of wisdom which is earthly, natural and demonic! (BKC), Letshow (1166)(deiknuo) in this context means to show so as to prove something is true or to make clear by evidence or reasoning. - Persian saying. As James has just noted, this wisdom is motivated by pride, selfish ambition, arrogance, self-centeredness, self-interest, and self-aggrandizement. The tongue reveals either maturity or immaturity. Used by Permission. (James 3 Commentary), Gen. 34:21; Gen. 37:4; Gen. 42:11; Gen. 42:19; Gen. 42:31; Gen. 42:33; Gen. 42:34; Num. In other words "dichotomousdialogue" has absolutely no place in the life of a believer in Jesus Christ. "The lips of the wise shall preserve them" (Proverbs 14:3). The term occurs about 40 times in the Septuagint (Lxx)(e.g., Ruth 1:20; Habakkuk 1:6). Reprinted by permission. 2:20; Jas. "Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit" (Proverbs 26:5). Anon. 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" (3:17). All rights reserved), Take my lips, and let them be NLT James 3:15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. BBE James 3:13 Who has wisdom and good sense among you? But here the thought is that of the propagative power of life according to heavenly wisdom. ESV James 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. If youre sowing worldly wisdom, youll reap disorder and every evil thing. JDB. Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. They aimed bitter speech as their arrow, 4 To shoot from concealment at the blameless; Suddenly they shoot at him, and do not fear. --Dennis De Haan. That's why many nonbelievers do not take the gospel message seriously. It is secular, not spiritual. YLT James 3:10 out of the same mouth doth come forth blessing and cursing; it doth not need, my brethren, these things so to happen; NAB James 3:10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. What the Bible teaches a cleft rock becomes a fountainthe water flows and is either sweet or bitter depending on the nature of its source. The tongue is a little member, but it has great power.Give God your tongue and your heart each day and ask Him to use you to be a blessing to others. Nothing is so opened more by mistake than the mouth. Embarrassed, he turned to his partner and said, "I don't know why I said that. Both firms took immediate action. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. Gods righteousness results in His children living right. . The impossibility of this occurring should cause believers to realize how vital it is to learn to submit our tongue to the control of the Spirit. "Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah" :12:22). In false wisdom, man is supreme. "Bring it to light, display it, exhibit it!" It is not wisdom that "falls" from above, but which originates from the fall! The Hebrew wordchokmahcorresponds to the Greeksophos. The monument cites a gladiator as he gloats over a defeated foe. A. Motyer, Not until we have become humble and teachable, standing in awe of Gods holiness and sovereignty acknowledging our own littleness, distrusting our own thoughts, and willing to have our minds turned upside down, can divine wisdom become ours. NIV James 3:12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? turn our hearts toward the wisdom that comes If you see a church or a home where there is peace, it is because the members have worked to cultivate peace. By:Bill Crowder(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. All rights reserved), The task Thy wisdom hath assigned, (Ibid), Osborne on restless - The connotation is of something without a secure foundation; like an unstable building in the midst of an earthquake, the tongue can never be controlled. Righteousness(1343)(dikaiosunefromdikaios= being proper or right in the sense of being fully justified being or in accordance with what God requires) is the quality of being upright. GWN James 3:10 Praise and curses come from the same mouth. Vincent says eritheia can "be applied to those who serve in official positions for their own selfish interest, and who, to that end, promote party spirit and faction.". Hess. James uses sophia 4x - Jas. Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 5. Wisdom is proper use of knowledge. 2 Peter 3:1. Amplified And the harvest of righteousness (of conformity to Gods will in thought and deed) is [the fruit of the seed] sown in peace by those who work for and make peace [in themselves and in others, that peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals, with undisturbedness, in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts]. 2:22; Jas. All rights reserved). One of the marks that a man has been born again is that his tongue is now controlled. All rights reserved, Summary of Study of James from chapter 1-3. Forgive me for careless, thoughtless, and angry words. 2:24). By:Bill Crowder(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. (Luke 6:28+), For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously(1 Peter 2:21-23+), Not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. (Author Unknown). Thus ultimately to curse a fellow human being is to show contempt for God. Dikaiosuneis rightness of character before God and rightness of actions before men. (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries James). Coming as it does after epieiks, it probably bears this second meaning here. , . Lord, make me conscious today of the words I choose and the way I use them. Words come from our thoughts, and thoughts come from the mind; therefore, it is possible to control our words by controlling our minds. According to researchers who recently examined parts recovered from the wreck, impure rivets made of wrought iron rather than steel caused the ships hull to open like a zipper. "A false witness shall perish" (Proverbs 21:28). There's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip. 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." The parts of our body. Richards, Warren Wiersbe -MIXED MESSAGES Today, make these words of David your prayer:"Set a guard, Gen. 27:34 = bitter cryExod. Pseudomai means means to tell a falsehood, attempt to deceive by lying, to speak falsely or deceitfully. Guzik -A woman once came to John Wesley and said she knew what her talent was and she said, I think my talent from God is to speak my mind. Wesley replied, I dont think God would mind if you buried that talent. Speaking forth everything that comes to mind is unwise, poisonous speech. 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. Perhaps, on the whole, natural, in its well understood opposition to spiritual, is the best word. For I cannot think that you speak these things of ill-will, but because it is even so as you say. That quell hostility. . Ruth Lord, I need Your help that I might control my thoughts and words today. It describes the spirit which cannot be content with what it has and looks with a jealous eye on every blessing given to someone else and denied to itself. James 3:6. Beware! Judges Faithful: Well, he seems to be a very pretty man. NET James 3:8 But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. In short godly wisdom is sincere, so that what you see is what you get! No one can tame the tongue- Tongue is placed emphatically forward as if to emphasize the "animal," is one of kind creature and is untameable. So yespeople still reflect God's image, albeit badly marred by sin. In 3:17, James tells us that the source of this wisdom is "from above." This in line with Proverbs 2:6, which declares, "For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding." As we will see (3:15), there is a so-called worldly "wisdom," but invariably it is at odds with God's wisdom (see 1 Cor. We think of the depraved advice that Ahitholphel gave to Absalom (2 Sam. Even some of God's greatest saints have revealed the evil power of the tongue. (Zodhiates) Paul writes, I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. It took us two days to discover the rotting potatoes hidden in a bin out of view! Where zeal even regarding religion shows itself in unholy tempers like these, the fire of this zeal is fire from the bottomless pit. "He that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends" (Proverbs 17:9). Using blunt words, they deliberately bump into others feelings, which is anything but harmless. Many commentaries are also available in Parallel Format via the commentary tab. Set a guard on my lips. (ED: And Jesus responded with wisdom from above which trumped Satan's earthly wisdom! For my part, I am of opinion, that he has, by his wicked life, caused many to stumble and fall; and will be, if God prevent not, the ruin of many more. . Saying that one has godly wisdom is not the same as having it -- objective standards of judgment must be applied. Eventually the potter was ruined by the very scheme he had devised to defame the man he envied. 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. What was Greek fire? 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 . ", Is tamedhas been tamed(1150) see below ondamazo. (b) Eupeiths can mean easy to persuade, not in the sense of being pliable and weak, but in the sense of not being stubborn and of being willing to listen to reason and to appeal. In that Ephesians passage Paul is addressing believers who can at least take up the shield of faith to extinguish the demonic arrows. In the same way, a pool of salt water can't produce fresh water. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21). (Jn 3:31). "Fervent lips and a wicked heart Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross" (Proverbs 26:23). "I have taught thee in the way of wisdom" (Proverbs 4:11). If one word, innocently misspoken, can cost millions, think of how much damage malicious words can cause. It was important that the water from it continued to be fresh and usable. "The lips of knowledge are a precious jewel" (Proverbs 20:15). That tongue confutesitself (proves itself to be false) which one while pretends to adore the perfections of God, and to refer all things to him, and another while will condemn even good men if they do not just come up to the same words or expressions used by it. The Promised Land was described as a land of springs of water. Reprinted by permission. . Sounds like our Christian life. It is interesting that when our Lord came to that dumb man, the Gospel writer is very careful to say, "He touched his mouth!" Faithful: Whose son is he? Wuest For every creature, quadrupeds and birds and reptiles and marine life, is controlled and has been controlled by mankind. Selfish ambition("party spirit" - used again in James 3:16)(2052)(eritheiafrom eritheu = to spin woolthus working for personal gain) means self seeking, strife, contentiousness, extreme selfishness, rivalry, one who seeks only his/herown. John Evelyn, Wisdom and the will of God are intimately related Nothing is more vital for practical knowledge of the purpose of God than wisdom. It rolls up its sleeves and takes action." 12:34). This need not be so, my brothers. (James Commentary - Twenty-First Century). ", Barclay says adiakritos "means that it is not wavering and swaying; it knows its own mind, chooses its course and abides by it. My victims are as numerous as the sands of the sea, and often as innocent. NAB James 3:11 Does a spring gush forth from the same opening both pure and brackish water? Home; Shop. All rights reserved), You're writing a "gospel," a chapter each day, It can criticize and complain. Nor am I saying we should listen to ourselves instead of to God and others. Stulac says "The adjective pikros ("bitter") describes a harsh stance of demanding to be recognized as wise, instead of being willing to learn." What James is saying is that the tongue can kindle a destructive fire which can destroy all life. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above- This wisdom is the "counterfeit" wisdom. NRS James 3:8 but no one can tame the tongue-- a restless evil, full of deadly poison. By:Mart DeHaan(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. And, ask God to open the persons eyes and grant repentance. A doctor of philosophy and unable to solve my own troubles!" Reprinted by permission. It is not intelligence that keeps the lock on that cage; it is wisdoma wisdom that is characterized by humility, grace, and peace. "A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth" (Proverbs 13:2). I will give you a further discovery of him. "In James 3:11 the adjective was used literally of "salt" or bitter water; here the usage is figurative, to denote a bitter or harsh attitude." In contrast to the wisdom of fools, Paul exhorts believers at Rome to bewisein a godly sense, wise about spiritual truth and how to live in an evil world opposed to God (Ro 16:19+), referring to God Himself aswise. My tongue control today; Can(1410)(dunamai) means able to do something. We will be held accountable for our words at the Judgment seat of Christ. "As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to them that send him; For he refresheth the soul of his masters" (Proverbs 25:13). Such wise people will surely know how to control their tongue (as noted earlier in this chapter). "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man" (Matt. Hold oer my being absolute sway! Bite your tongue before your tongue bites others. 9:43; Mk. Do we want to put an end to the evil that so easily rises within us? James said, Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. So from the very beginning earthly, natural wisdom had its source in Satan's tempting words and he has not ceased this evil activity ever since. to the use of the tongue and the words we speak. "Violence covereth the mouth of the wicked" (Proverbs 10:11). (BEC), Poison (2447)(iosfromhemi= to send) is something sent out and one Greek meaning is thus arrow, a meaning not found in the NT. Spurgeon - We liked Burkitt better when we were younger. Ungodly wisdom has the same "hellish" source as an ungodly tongue "which is set on fire from hell.". NLT James 3:10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. NLT James 3:16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. peaceable, gentle, willing to yield . Hiebert -In James 1:8, James used the adjective (akatastatos) to describe the impact of double-mindedness upon the individual, and in James 3:8 it is descriptive of the uncontrolled tongue. It defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell (3:5-6). 4 vols, Sangster, 1867 Greenfield, W., . 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. Don't let your tongue speak evil (Psalm 34:13). Design flaws in both the clothing and the slide made this an accident waiting to happen. But the examples cited so obviously condemn man's inconsistency that no application is needed.". Ps.141:3,4 Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. He could read by the age of 2 and was composing original works in French by age 4. (James 2:13+). Those words are not meant to be heard by the senior officers." EVENING Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14). "The man that heareth shall speak so as to endure" (Proverbs 21:28). "The north wind bringeth forth rain; So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance" (Proverbs 25:23). 3:12; Rev. 2 Thessalonians (a) Eupeiths can mean always ready to obey. May I speak only words that please You and bring health and healing to others. You must be born again in order to bless in those circumstances and situations in which you formerly would curse. Bruo isordinarily used of the swelling buds of plants and so figuratively of various kinds of fullness. Demonic (only NT use; not in Septuagint)(1141)(daimoniodes from daimonion= demon) is an adjective which describes that whichpertainsto or proceeds from demons. People corrupted by worldly desires for beauty, wealth, and power can bring down great churches, but people who are pure and undefiled (1:27) hold churches together. "As clouds and wind without rain, So is he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely" (Proverbs 25:14). When a person is concerned about demoting others, understand he is also concerned with the promotion of himself. When James opens his letter, he challenges his readers to view trials as opportunities to grow rather than obstacles to lament. What an impact we would make in our society if all of us who profess to believe on Jesus would follow their example! 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. NRS James 3:14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Hiebert adds that "The basic thought of eritheiaseems to be that of one who, for personal advantage, works to promote a definite cause in an unethical manner. Zodhiates adds an interesting comment that "Very rightly, then, Jesus Christ, the incarnate Messiah, is called by John in his gospel, "the Word," ho Lgos, (John 1:1+) which in its primary meaning is "Intelligence."
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