Evil(5337)(phaulos)means worthless, corrupt, goodfornothing, depraved, mediocre, unimportant, of no account, vile, evil, wicked, foul, depraved. ), Another Prayer - So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. 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. (Jn 3:31). We may think were godly people because we go to church regularly or pray, but then we gossip or talk about people behind their backs. James uses the present tenseand the perfect tense. They can either offer help and comfort or do damage that feels just as irreversible as Caesars march on Rome. 23:28; Jn. Micah 7:14; Jer. The new believer was surprised. Like all wisdom among men on moral questions, which is only earthly, only natural, it is devilishdevil-like. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). It is not wisdom that "falls" from above, but which originates from the fall! 3:2; Jas. He could read by the age of 2 and was composing original works in French by age 4. "He that uttereth truth showeth forth righteousness" (Proverbs 12:17). James must have had in mind all harsh, cutting, slanderous, hurtful, unedifying, or wicked words. If Kiera Wilmot had performed her experiment during her high school science class, it might have earned her an A. (The Interpretation of The Epistle to the Hebrews and The Epistle of James), Augustine -He does not say no one can tame the tongue, but no one of men: so that when it is tamed we confess that this is brought about by the pity, the help, and the grace of God. (James Scudder - Living Water). It was hopelessly overweight, and I suspect it no longer had any teeth. 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. Do we feel burdened when others fail, or are we glad? When someone gets bitter, they pierce themselves and build up or fasten together hate for someone else. Deuteronomy It is too late to mend the days that are past. But instead she was charged with causing an explosion. As the Holy Spirit purifies our heart, he gives us self-control so that we will speak words that please God. Master's Bible Church - Bitter jealousy is the mindset that this world is all there is, so I covet as much of it as I can get. A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver (Proverbs 25:11). Still today, the phrase crossing the Rubicon is a metaphor for passing the point of no return.. Today, make these words of David your prayer:"Set a guard, 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. Just as a horse needs a rider holding its reigns, & a ship needs a pilot at the rudder, so your tongue needs a master; & God is the only one who can do the job. Can he so live as to bear the fruits of iniquity instead of the fruits of righteousness? Proverbs 21:23, The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. WuestWho is wise and well informed among you? And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, 'Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.' 4:2+; Col. 3:12+; 2 Tim. But as they worked on their paintings and a woodcarving of the Last Supper, one of the POWs later recalled, A spontaneous stream of good feelings began almost at once to flow among us. No one spoke of the war or the past because we were here for a work of peace and love.. Burdick thinks that "In reality, he is not referring to the tongue of flesh but to the intelligent, communicating mind that uses the tongue as its instrument. If not, check out what kind of seed youre sowing. 2:10; Phil. Think about that. The answer will reveal not only your inner character but the spiritual condition of your soul." MacArthur -Hell is Satan's place, prepared for him and his demons (Matt. 26:74-75) (Ibid). Douglas Moo says that epieikes indicates a willingness to yield to others and a corresponding unwillingness to exact strict claims. It is a quality that Jesus possessed (2 Cor. Today, researchers continue to try to replicate that ancient formula, but without success. Baptist pastor Charles Haddon Spurgeon is remembered today as the Prince of Preachers. A country merchant once visited New York. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matt. 5:22; Matt. - Eph 6:17+). Wisdom is the beauty of holiness. So as the tree--the cross of Christ--becomes real in our lives, as we trust in the Lord Jesus and walk in faith with Him, the bitter waters of Marah will become sweet, and our tongues instead of producing evil will be a blessing to all about us. 15:58), we will be used by the Lord to keep His ship afloat in times of crisis. 5:30; Matt. And the lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, But there are two kinds of wisdom. Again, the tongue isnt the real problem; it is the heart. Youll never be able to train your tongue to bring life instead of death. (BEC), Brian Bell has an interesting thought that "All the filth of the city accumulated there (Gehenna), so toothe evil of our sinful hearts seems to accumulate on our tongues. As a pastor, I have seen poisonous tongues do great damage to individuals, families, classes, and entire churches. (Romans 15:5-6), Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3 ). In short, the tongue is capable of disrupting everything! Guzik on lie against the truth -Anyone who shows bitter envy and self-seeking should not deceive anyone especially themselves about how wise they are. (Pr 10:19) When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise. Lets be on the defensive against any offensive or unloving terms in our own dictionary of usage. Words are our thoughts going public! Full(3324)(mestos) signifies full up, full to the utmost, "stuffed". The more he saw, the less he spoke; "A gentle tongue is a tree of life" (Proverbs 15:4). But the spiritual aspect that oversees the physical brain is usually referred to as the "heart" (not the physical heart of course). Edmund P. Clowney, Humility is the hallmark of wisdom. Interestingly, my friend didnt think this was impractical or foolish. Those who are weak and helpless (Jobs reference to the "fatherless" refers to these kinds of people) can be blown away by what we say. "Violence covereth the mouth of the wicked" (Proverbs 10:11). James 3:10from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. Only when we allow God to control the content that proceeds out of our mouths can the violent tongue be truly tamed. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison (James 3:8). It is easy to want to win the argument, but you can destroy the person you are arguing with. ; 2 Sa. ESV James 3:10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. Because the trial of your faith brings honour to the Lord, therefore the Lord Himself is sure to try it that out of its trial praise may come to his grace by which faith is sustained. (Bible Exposition Commentary). (James 1:17+) And in the present context one "good thing" and "perfect gift" is wisdom from above, from God our Father! ASV And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace. One writer has "claiming to be wise when in truth one is foolish" and another"your profession therefore is a lie." One of the little girls asked the visitor, "Do you know who it was?" God forbid that it should be so! "There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword" (Proverbs 12:18). The first produces jealousy, faction, confusion. Ere one's eyes he could close We think of the depraved advice that Ahitholphel gave to Absalom (2 Sam. YLT James 3:16 for where zeal and rivalry are, there is insurrection and every evil matter; NAB James 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Perceptive people balance their words and actions. Perhaps, on the whole, natural, in its well understood opposition to spiritual, is the best word. ESV James 3:8 but no human being can tame the tongue. (Ibid), Hiebert -The importance of a spring of water would be assumed by all the readers familiar with conditions in dry Palestine. NLT James 3:12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? It is interesting that when our Lord came to that dumb man, the Gospel writer is very careful to say, "He touched his mouth!" That man may not yet have had much biblical training, but he knew one truth for sure: The term Christian troublemaker is an oxymoron. But even better is to daily rest in Gods Spirit, hearing Pauls challenge, Let your conversation be always full of grace (Colossians 4:6), so that our words will not only honor our Lord, but lift up and encourage those around us. It is interesting that powerthesaurus.org lists the following words as the antonymsof gentleness - acrimony(rough and bitter manner), harshness, bitterness, sharpness, narcissism, unkindness, animosity, anger. It belongs to this world. or a vine figs? Some animals are poisonous, and some tongues spread poison. NET James 3:12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? When words become weapons, our relationships soon become casualties. (ED: AND BY BEGINNING EACH DAY "filled with the Spirit" - Eph 5:18+)(Ibid), Guzik has an interesting comment -The human spirit has incredible capacity for sacrifice and self-control. If God lights the fire and controls it, then the tongue can be a mighty tool for the winning of the lost and the building up of the church. (BKC) (ED: wisdom and the "Restrainer," the Holy Spirit! Can a grapevine produce figs? See how great a forest a little fire kindles! As James has just noted, this wisdom is motivated by pride, selfish ambition, arrogance, self-centeredness, self-interest, and self-aggrandizement. "Deceive not with thy lips" (Proverbs 24:28). In short, the one with wisdom that is reasonable knows when to yield rights or opinions, including when he is proven wrong (THAT'S WHEN WE REALLY NEED TO RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT'S SUPERNATURAL ENABLEMENT!). Some people have a bumper-car mentality in their relationships with others. Faithful: Whose son is he? "A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin" (Proverbs 26:28). We might refer to the speaker behind the scenes as the one who didn't "practice what he preached. But the guy was going on at length about how someone at the seminary took some Hebrew word from Chronicles in a way that this guy insisted was not correct! Patrick Delaney, The worst of speaking without thinking is that you say what you think. To do it, he goes straight for the heart (Mk 7:14-15; Ps51:10) and the mind (Ro12:1-2). Of course the way to accomplish this unnatural response is by continual reliance on the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit (See Tongue Control). These things ought not to be so., If a siren blares from our mouth when we open it, we need to examine our heart and ask the Lord to forgive us and to help us be a blessing to others. She had never cooked beef tongue before! (He was referring to World War I.) "Set a watch, 0 LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips" (Ps. (2 Cor 11:13-15). Oswald Chambers -If a cup is filled only with good water, it cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, no matter how badly it is jarred. John Calvin -This slender portion of flesh contains the whole world of iniquity. NKJ James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. We can never say that we have truly pitied anyone until we have given our help. The boneless tongue, small and weak, can crush and kill. Geologists had given the project a favorable report, but there was still some risk. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 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. But Jesus can. We have here, you observe, the truth brought before us, that genuine Christian wisdom, whether it lead a man to become a teacher in the church or not, will, at all events, in all cases find expression through giving spiritual loveliness to the whole daily life. Compare James 2:21 with Romans 3:28. 10:9+; Rev. It comes from a rebirth of our hearts and spirit to a life truly taken captive by God. This makes me think of the passage in Genesis 4 when Cain was downcast because God did not accept his offering Then the LORD said to Cain, Why are you angry? Phillips And the wise are peace-makers who go on quietly sowing for a harvest of righteousness - in other people and in themselves. Would you turn hungry lions or angry snakes loose in your Sunday morning service? So, however little the cup of cold water be that you are able to give in Christs name, it will refresh many hearts in a lifetime if it be kept ever full, ever ready. Thomas Brooks, We know metals by their tinkling and men by their talking. 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). While we should never compromise doctrinal purity on essential truth, neither should we fight over minor matters where godly, Bible-believing people differ.Years ago, I received in the mail a number of papers from a man who had graduated from the same seminary that I graduated from. The animal has a very menacing presence, stretching 500 lbs. This Talkative (if it be possible) will go beyond them, defraud, beguile, and overreach them. There she heard a lady talking to them, in Chinese, about someone to whom little children came. It defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell (3:5-6). (BKC). 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. Several writers favor the meaning of the truth to be the Gospel which as Christians they professed to accept and promote. Its venom swiftly paralyzes your nervous system, which stops your heart. James 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. (Sermon), But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a man.Matthew 15:18, The Bible stresses that what you say is an accurate indicator of what is in your heart. [1] My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 Set your mind (present imperative) on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Phillips Blessing and curses come out of the same mouth - surely, my brothers, this is the sort of thing that never ought to happen! Igniting anger into flame; In short,the entire unrighteous world system can find expression through the tongue. This is hypocrisy. It thus denotes a party spirit, or factiousness.Thus it denotes a willingness "to use unworthy and divisive means" to promote one's own views or interest. (Ibid). Selah. 3:6; Jas. NJB James 3:12 Can a fig tree yield olives, my brothers, or a vine yield figs? sounding religious, but we don't put our words into action. Barnes' Notes 2. others come from being allowed to have it. To Jesus Christ, wisdom was that practical understanding of the mind of God, that entire sympathy with His will and purpose, which enabled men to walk in His ways and do His will "on earth as it is in heaven."" Sper, John Phillips -Try as we might, we cannot prevent the tongue from lashing out at times. 2 Corinthians Using blunt words, they deliberately bump into others feelings, which is anything but harmless. All rights reserved), You're writing a "gospel," a chapter each day, As a moth gnaws a garment, so jealousy consumes a man. Amen. Paul echoes this theme often. YLT James 3:12 is a fig-tree able, my brethren, olives to make? GNT James 3:9 . My friend is a Texas Aggie and has a little Dachshund dog ("weinerdog") and when you ask him "Do you want to be a Texas Longhorn," he rolls over and plays dead! Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. (Mt 10:42)And let not any poor, and ignorant, and uninfluential Christian think that from the narrowness of his sphere he cannot be full of mercy and good fruits. The Lords mode of reckoning is not like mans. We are to go after peace as we would pursue an animal in the hunt. In addition kosmos is a system or arrangement (in context a system of evil). Jude NET James 3:9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God's image. For more on how to "imitate" Jesus see related discussion of Walking Like Jesus Walked. Zodhiates amplifies and interpretatively paraphrases James' question "Who among you has the Spirit of Christ in all His perfection? Faithful: Well, my brother, I am bound to believe you; not only because you say you know him, but also because, like a Christian, you make your reports of men. Thinking It Over Morris Gilber, A sanctified heart is better than a silver tongue. We have telephones, fax machines, computer bulletin boards, voice mail, radios, TV sets, and of course, printed materials of every kind. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. (Thayer). The existence of many of its villages depended on the availability of such a source for its water. KJV James 3:7 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: ESV James 3:7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind. The necessity expressed by this word signifies a need resulting from time or circumstances or from the fitness of things. This pipeline is reciprocal. May I speak only words that please You and bring health and healing to others. Or do you often regret your words? Two ships collided in the Black Sea in 1986, hurling hundreds of passengers into the icy waters and causing a tragic loss of life. Awful, hateful, ungodly, vile things emanate from this master of disaster. I do not know that at any point the opposition between the spirit of the world and the spirit of Christ is more marked, more obviously diametrical, than with regard to this feature of character. Job 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. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Lectures Exegetical and Practical on the Epistle of James, Paradoxical Principle of 100% Dependent and 100% Responsible, Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary. NAB James 3:6 The tongue is also a fire. Nothing less wide of range than this is involved in the word pure here. Heavenly wisdom distinguishes itself by a discretion and sensitivity that comes from God. Anon. (v.10). Reprinted by permission. Publilius Syrus, Evil tongues are the devils bellows. She saw him go to the homes where there were sickness, death, and sorrow, and she watched him as he moved about the village, though she never heard him speak in public. It is as if the "fresh water" of praise is polluted by the poison water of cursing. NET James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? (James 1:19) By the person who boasts, 'I always speak my mind, no matter who gets hurt,' James is not impressed. This statement hearkens back to the description in Genesis where we read "Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.God blessed them; and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.(Ge 1:26, 28). John Calvin, This is our wisdom, to be learners to the end. Most of us would be amazed, if we just knew how much we rattle on. The tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body-Phillips paraphrases it "It can poison the whole body." Louw-Nida - "to produce something new, with the implication of using materials already in existence.". In other words, heavenly wisdom's fruit is righteousness. 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. Douglas Moo -"As the fig tree cannot produce olives or the grapevine figs, so the pure heart cannot produce false, bitter, harmful speech.". Anothencan speak of place or time (from the beginning). From above(509)(anothenfromano= above, upward, up +suffix"-then" = from) literally means from above with a secondary meaning of again. 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. He will conclude his discussion of true wisdom in James 3:17-18. Wuest translates psuchikosas "unspiritual" with this amplification - "having to do with the natural, physical existence as over against the spiritual world of the supernatural." In all my works Thy presence find, Christian: His name is Talkative; he dwells in our town. "Incline thine ear unto wisdom" (Proverbs 2:2). I'm always saying the wrong thing! Yet Scripture clearly states that an abusive tongue is not under the control of the Spirit (James 3:3l0). Most people have great difficulty admitting that they are bitter. . They bless with their mouth, But inwardly they curse. Your motives must be pure, or you are not acting with godly wisdom. Branon. (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Steven Cole aptly observes that "God is merciful to us in spite of the fact that our problems usually stem from our own sin and rebellion. It pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell. We have this promise: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to [you] (1:5). Richard Fuller, No man is really wise unless he lives in the will and for the glory of God. But unbelievers have no defense against his demonic input! Jesus upsets our pride too. It is a temper tragically injurious to Christian fellowship." Lamentations Even greater havoc and loss can be created in human relationships for much the same reason"envy and self-seeking." NIV James 3:11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, this should not happen! (Faith, Love & Hope: An Exposition of the Epistle of James), THOUGHT - This reminds me of Jesus' command to let our light shine in Matthew 5 -You are the light of the world. , . Now prove it to me by how you live!" Bitter (4089)(see above forpikros)means sharp, prickly, pointed, piercing, pungent as that which sharply "pierces" or penetrates one's senses, used literally in James 3:11 of bitter water. Faithful: Now did Faithful begin to wonder; and stepping to Christian, (for he walked all this while by himself), he said to him, (but softly), What a brave companion have we got! So too, though the tongue is a small organ, it can do great harm. James 3:15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. "The lips of knowledge are a precious jewel" (Proverbs 20:15). Admitting that they are bitter ; Ps51:10 ) and the `` Restrainer, '' Holy! Teach us to number our days, that we will speak words that you... 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