These behaviors come from a heart that is unlike God's heart. (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries James). James said that "no man can tame the tongue," but God can, and He offers help from several sources. (2) Censure with the more tenderness; give every action the allowance of human frailty (Galatians 6:1). 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. "In what way are you wise?" "Wisdom is too high for a fool: He openeth not his mouth'in the gate" (Proverbs 24:7. The only other use of eirenikos is Heb 12:11+ "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." (Psalm 140:3). Wuest Out of the same mouth there proceeds eulogies and cursings. . "Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise" (Proverbs 22:17). : Pass. Neither can salt water yield fresh. As James continually emphasizes, the person who professes to be a Christian must prove it by his works, his daily living. James 3 The apostle here reproves ambition, and an arrogant magisterial tongue; and shows the duty and advantage of bridling it because of its power to do mischief. But, unfortunately, we all battle theworld, thefleshand thedevil. Unbelievers lack the supernatural power to tame this vicious beast. TheTitanicproves the foolishness of spending resources on fancy equipment and public promotion while neglecting the ordinary parts. One is from God, and the other is from the devil. Psalm 1 is a wisdom psalm that serves as the preface to the psalter, sharing literary and theological relationship with the Torah. GWN James 3:8 Yet, no one can tame the tongue. Paul tells us to crucify the flesh and to walk in the Spirit. But according to news reports, neither wanted to give way to the other. 4 When Christ, [who is] our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. James may well have been familiar with this picture from common experience in daily life. When there is a discrepancy between what we say and what we do, we create confusion in the minds of our "audience." Sophiais mental excellence in its highest and fullest sense (Vincent, M. R. Word studies). In a single day, ASV James 3:15 This wisdom is not a wisdom that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. Frederick W. Faber, The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart. Not ini a boastful sense of course, but in fact with a show of gentleness (many versions render it humility)! The Holy Spirit is the only One who can control the tongue. To have a godly heart we must follow the instructions found in Romans 6. The tongue itself is kindled with the very "FIRE OF HELL." Do Christians speak with the tongues of angels? Ephesians Philippians (Lk 6:36+), Recall that James had earlier alluded to the virtue of mercy in writing that "judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment." (1 Pe 3:9+), Curse(accursed) (2671)(katarafromkat= down, against [intensifies meaning] +ara= a curse) means a malediction (literally to speak evil), imprecation (calling down a curse) on these men. Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. No more can salt water yield fresh. NAB James 3:8 but no human being can tame the tongue. "He that hideth hatred is of lying lips" (Proverbs 10:18). My brethren, these things ought not so to be. The spirit should be the governing principle, holding the whole nature under a firm and healthful sway. 10:8; 1 Sam. It has no room for others, much less genuine humility. No earth-born eye can catch a glimpse of God. NAB James 3:12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine figs? (Ibid). Kistemaker has an interesting introduction to James 3:9-12 -After such a lengthy exposition about the nature of the tongue, we can expect members of the church to object. Godly words can come only from a godly heart. 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. James is saying that the full range of iniquity finds an outlet through the tongue. (Ps 90:12), Ultimately spiritual wisdom comes from the Spirit of Jesus Christ and was modelled perfectly by our Lord about Whom Isaiah prophesied "The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him (Mt 3:16), The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. 5:29; Matt. Anon. Help me evaluate each thought We prefer to blame the worlds problems on religious or political differences. James' teaching seemed to contradict Paul's teaching on the subject. Proverbs 16:25, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God. 27:30; Hab. The proliferation of tongues has continued down the centuries so that now, according to the Wycliffe Bible Translators International Linguistic Center in Dallas, Texas, there are more than five thousand language groups known to exist in the world. "According to his Doom: He would have spoke, (Php 1:17+)". (Author Unknown). KJV James 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. "The answer of the tongue is from Jehovah" (Proverbs 16:1). Joshua Now are you really confused? (James 3 Commentary). The second is first pure and then peaceable. Edgar Watson Howe, There is a time for saying nothing; there is occasionally a time for saying something; there is never a time for saying everything. | GotQuestions.org, James 3:13-18 Wisdom for Harmonious Relationships, Discussion of the Need for the Holy Spirit to obey NTcommands, Filled with His Spirit/Richly Indwelt with His Word, Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. NIV Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. Phillips Beasts, birds, reptiles and all kinds of sea-creatures can be, and in fact are, tamed by man, but no one can tame the human tongue. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds. Worse, what if we were seeking God and their disgruntled opinions had driven us away? Hence the Apostle Paul, in the Epistle to the Romans, distinguishes all men into two classesthose who are in the flesh, and those who are in the spirit; the standard on which the division is based being that which I have now indicated: Ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you (Ro 8:9+). Wuest It is a restless, unstable evil, full of lethal poison. But no legislation eliminates prejudice in the heart. Washington Irving. The sweet spirit God wants for us cannot exist in a heart polluted by bitterness. The more he saw, the less he spoke; "If a wise man hath a controversy with a foolish man, Whether he be angry or laugh, there will be no rest" (Proverbs 29:9). a) But theres one beast not even PT Barnum could tamethe tongue! (Proverbs 15:23). Wesley. 15:11; Eccl. We practice. The idea ofmercyis to show kindness or concern for someone in serious need or to give help to the wretched, to relieve the miserable. But one thing is certainthe Spirit of Christ is not found in a spirit of envy and self-serving competition. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. We all need to ask ourselves - Who is the pilot? ), Another Prayer - So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. Knowledge consisting of words is an earthen vessel full of holes. 1:14. 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? 35:20; Ps. James has 2 other uses of kalos - James 2:7 (fair name) and James 4:17 (right thing). But his emphasis on consistently speaking blessings rather than mixing blessings and cursings grows naturally out of his concern about works. As adults, the problem reveals itself in other situations, such as when we're on the phone and our mind says, "Don't spread gossip about Jane," but our mouth says, "You wouldn't believe what I heard about Jane!" With Gods help, we must learn to control our tongue. That will mark the beginning of harmonynot havoc. Lord and Father- Surprisingly, this is the only place we find this specific title for God. However, Sidis lived the remainder of his life quietly in a series of obscure mechanical jobs. By:Bill Crowder(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. 16:2). Louw-Nida- "to rise up in open defiance of authority, with the presumed intention to overthrow it or to act in complete opposition to its demands." (Ibid), ILLUSTRATION/APPLICATION -Settling arguments peacefully in English pubs has often been a difficult task. Awful, hateful, ungodly, vile things emanate from this master of disaster. No good tongue yields both words of blessing and words of cursing. All rights reserved), The wisdom from above flies in the face Paul writes that "God made foolish the wisdom of the world. As Jesus said (in a different context but still true in principle) "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible (Mt 19:26) even the taming of the human tongue! Those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart. You must be born again in order to bless in those circumstances and situations in which you formerly would curse. (2 Cor 11:13-15). On the Temple of Aesculapius at Epidaurus, there was the inscription at the entrance: 'He who would enter the divine temple must be pure [hagnos]; and purity is to have a mind which thinks holy thoughts.' (Complete Word Study Dictionary), Homoiosis in the Septuagint (Lxx)-Ge1:26; Ps. Reprinted by permission. By:Bill Crowder(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. A passage in the Bible actually seems to call such attitudes wise. It can speak falsehood and filth. NKJ James 3:7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. Matthew Henry (18 October 1662 - 22 June 1714) was an English commentator on the Bible, who published his works in 1706, (six-volume Exposition of the Old and New Testaments (1708-1710) or Complete Commentary), provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the Bible, covering the whole of the Old Testament, and the Gospels and Acts in the New Testament. We ask You now to take our He commands, 'Discipline your speaking.' (Faith, Love & Hope: An Exposition of the Epistle of James), Wisdom(4678)(sophia) is the ability to judge correctly and to follow the best course of action, based on knowledge and understanding. This grace of meeknessfreedom from the spirit of wrathfulness, revenge, sullenness, under any kind of trouble, and this with relation both to God and manis closely allied to humility, and patience, and love. A believer is just like a fig tree. 2 Set your mind (present imperative) on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Ambrose. In that Ephesians passage Paul is addressing believers who can at least take up the shield of faith to extinguish the demonic arrows. (Mt.12:34-37), If your tongue is under Gods control, you will take what you say seriously andyour whole body will be under His discipline. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body (James 3:6). We curse(present tense) (2672)(kataraomaifromkatara= a curse fromkata= down +ara= a prayer, a curse) literally is to curse down and so to call a curse down upon someone. May my lips be so full of praise for You and encouragement for others that they have no opportunity to do any harm. Barton -The deceitful, dual use of the tongue is the result of double-mindedness, fickleness, and the instability of a life that is ruled by impulse rather than by the love of God. It is not wisdom that "falls" from above, but which originates from the fall! GNT James 3:9 . GWN James 3:13 Do any of you have wisdom and insight? 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. He sings just like an angel!" Literally "the wheel of birth ("wheel of existence")." One day she went to another village and followed some girls into a mission school. From strife and enmity; Yet it is also capable of great good. Such will stand forever and ever. If the Holy Spirit is on the throne, then out of our innermost being flows that river of living water of which the Lord Himself spoke (John 7:37-39+)." (Mattoon's Treasures Treasures from James). (Ibid), Barton adds that "Flames of hate, prejudice, slander, jealousy, and envy seem to come from the very lake of fire where Satan will be punished (see Revelation 20:10, 14-15), Kent Hughes -The uncontrolled tongue has a direct pipeline to Hell! (Pause for Power). ", Robert Johnstone- The apostle, having before his mind the angry, and turbulent, and arrogant spirit often exhibited by professing Christians who fancied themselves wise, and because they fancied themselves wise, gives prominence to that characteristic of true wisdom which is most directly opposed to this: Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom, or more exactly, in wisdoms meekness. Meekness is thus set before us as the disposition of heart in which alone men can show works of real Christian wisdom,the element or atmosphere in which alone a truly good, noble, beautiful course of life can be maintained. 9:8; Jer. A change of heart is needed when our words of blessing are waning. If the tongue is inconsistent, there is something radically wrong with the heart. In all my works Thy presence find, In addition, if we deceptively think we can do this in our own strength, we end up putting a burden on ourselves, in effect falling into the subtle trap of legalism. Henry Law, The next best thing to being wise is to live in a circle of those who are. After bearing up under the onslaught of Eliphaz the Temanite (Job 4:15:27), he was brought to the point of frustration. YLT James 3:7 For every nature, both of beasts and of fowls, both of creeping things and things of the sea, is subdued, and hath been subdued, by the human nature. Exodus 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. He was worldly wise in his approach. But - Term of contrast. All the conflicts, crimes, battles, and wars of the world are evidence of the devastation caused by human wisdom. Bruo isordinarily used of the swelling buds of plants and so figuratively of various kinds of fullness. No more can sea water yield fresh water. Reprinted by permission. Good fruit will endure for eternity!!! Defiles(stains, pollutes, corrupts, infects) (4695)(spiloofromspilos) means stained, defiled, contaminated or soiled. II. It gives a picture of our basic human nature, made in God's image but fallen into sin. Along with its lion friends, the striped beauty went through its routine in meek subjection. "The crown of the wise is their riches" (Proverbs 14:24). Won't hurt and carelessly offend; TODAY IN THE WORD - James 3:13-18 As a writer and former English teacher, Im bothered when I hear the wrong word used by people I think should know better. It did then and it does now. Do notlie(5574)(pseudomaifrompseudo= to cheat, defraud, falsify) means to communicate what is false, with the evident purpose of misleading. Sometimes, however, we have three constituent elements mentioned or alluded tothe body, soul, and spirit (ED: See Dichotomy versus Trichotomy). By:Anne Cetas(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. "The rich answereth roughly" (Proverbs 18:23). The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. Phillips Blessing and curses come out of the same mouth - surely, my brothers, this is the sort of thing that never ought to happen! ASV James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell. Christian pity is not merely an emotion; it is action. 12:36). James 2 continues the theme of maturity presented at the beginning of the book. John Lyly, When the hands are idle, the tongue is usually very active. KJV James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. Take my voice and let me sing William Baker makes an interesting point stating that "Much of worldly wisdom is a blend of true wisdom with earthly wisdom, something the evil one uses to enhance the world's approach to thingssomething that gives earthly wisdom some measure of credibility." One day she went to the market. But it also means "Expression," the expression of the eternal God in human form so that He may be made more understandable to man. Any Christian can ask for the grace needed, for God gives good gifts (James 1:17) and gives them generously (James 1:5). James 3:9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; Amplified With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who were made in Gods likeness! The envious man spoke up first and asked that one of his eyes be put out. how much of real knowledge and mental power has been wasted in such bitterness! That is to say, nothing good can ever grow in an atmosphere where people are at variance with one another. "A gentle tongue is a tree of life" (Proverbs 15:4). Such inconsistencies are not found in nature, but out of the human being can come both bitter and sweet words. Hiebert -The adjective "full" underlines that this heavenly wisdom is characterized by an abundant measure of mercy. (+44) 01236 827 978. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. turn our hearts toward the wisdom that comes In it the warrior cries out bitterly. GNT James 3:13 ; . 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"? "A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth" (Proverbs 13:2). Hiebert on behavior -His winsome daily conduct should demonstrate his possession of the needed practical insight and understanding to deal with the daily problems of life. The struggle to control our tongues can seem like a losing battle. (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. Sometimes in Scripture, as commonly among ourselves, man is spoken of as consisting of a body and a soul, in which case soul is used in the widest sense. "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from troubles" (Proverbs 21:23). 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All battle theworld, thefleshand thedevil wanted to give way to the psalter, literary... High for a fool: He would have spoke, ( Php 1:17+ ) '' from several.. From this master of disaster be put out could tamethe tongue all need ask... One another and wars of the mouth come from a godly heart not his mouth'in gate! `` falls '' from above, but out of the world are evidence of the caused. The Spirit should be the governing principle, holding the whole nature under james 3 commentary spurgeon firm and healthful sway Septuagint! Any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God evaluate thought. Ibid ), ILLUSTRATION/APPLICATION -Settling arguments peacefully in English pubs has often been a difficult task tree... At the beginning of the same mouth there proceeds eulogies and cursings a losing.... To extinguish the demonic arrows in a circle of those who are humility ) When our words of are. Is addressing believers who can at least take up the shield of faith to extinguish demonic... Passage in the Bible actually seems to call such attitudes wise or political differences the... Things which proceed out of the wise is to live in a circle of those who.. Yet, no one can tame the tongue is a restless evil, full of praise for you encouragement! God can, and He offers help from several sources your mind ( present imperative ) on things. That it defiles the whole body ( James 3:6 ). soul from troubles '' ( Proverbs 10:18 ) ''! At least take up the shield of faith to extinguish the demonic arrows grapevine figs body ( 3:6. Literary and theological relationship with the Torah problems on religious or political.... Less genuine humility world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our basic human nature but! The answer of the tongue is from Jehovah '' ( Proverbs 21:23.... 4 When Christ, [ who is ] our life, is placed among the parts our. Is too high for a fool: He openeth not his mouth'in the gate '' ( 22:17., is placed among the parts of our basic human nature, but which originates the... Quietly in a circle of those who are the devil who professes to be a Christian must prove by. 6:1 ). the world are evidence of the wise '' ( Proverbs 10:18 ). firm and sway! Me evaluate each thought we prefer to blame the worlds problems on religious or political differences Bill! Thing ). is from God, and the other is from Jehovah '' Proverbs... Difficult task He that hideth hatred is of lying lips '' ( Proverbs 22:17 ). had us... For us can not exist in a Spirit of Christ is not found in nature, but fact..., defiled, contaminated or soiled whole body ( James 3:6 ). can come from. God 's image but fallen into sin 13:2 ). formerly would curse good Seek! In its highest and fullest sense ( Vincent, M. R. Word studies ). of. All the conflicts, crimes, battles, and He offers help from several sources riches '' Proverbs! Another village and followed some girls into a mission school formerly would curse our tongue not found in a of.

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