(June Hunt). 2:21; Jas. He will give us increasing power to monitor and control what we say. Here the essential thought is that mercy gives attention to those in misery. . (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. Paul tells us to crucify the flesh and to walk in the Spirit. Speciesrace(5449)(phusisfromphuo= to bring forth) means natural condition, nature, natural order, being, essence, kind, species. 141:3). They say and do the right things at the right time for the right reasons. Acquire understanding! Hiebert explains "The present tense pictures human nature's domination of animal nature as a fact repeatedly being observed. It follows that only believers can truly tame their tongue. 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). ", J Vernon McGee -As someone has said, "The most untamable thing in the world has its den just behind the teeth." By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. Pikros is used here to describe jealousy as bitter. Our own words may not have caused wars or wrecked cities, but they can break hearts and ruin reputations. The boneless tongue, small and weak, can crush and kill. NRS James 3:8 but no one can tame the tongue-- a restless evil, full of deadly poison. James used other vivid analogies to illustrate the enormous power of this little member of the body. "The rod and reproof give wisdom" (Proverbs 29:15). Is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy- First - first in rank and time. Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness. ByDavid C. Egner(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Biblical Illustrator 4. Reprinted by permission. Society pays the price for this twisted thinking at all levels, for it always leads to confusion and every evil thing (v.16). Thomas Brooks, A word spoken is physically transient but morally permanent. NIV James 3:11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived. What is the subject of most of your discussions? A better approach to the use of words is reflected in Proverbs 17:27, where Solomon said, He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Most often, we would do better not to say all we think or know (orthinkwe know), but instead seek to use words that promote calm and peace. Perhaps, on the whole, natural, in its well understood opposition to spiritual, is the best word. John Calvin, This is our wisdom, to be learners to the end. (The Early Christian Letters for Everyone), In your heart (kardia- used in Jas. It is comprehensive in scope, reliable in scholarship, and easy to use. -- Richard W. De Haan(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. NET James 3:16 For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice. "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man" (Matt. His love can make the most difficult nature into a miracle of astonishing beauty. The answer is the same way a believer is able to control their tongue -- it is by continually beingfilled with (controlled by) the Spirit (Eph 5:18+), continually walking by the Spirit (Gal 5:16+). "A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and sharp arrow" (Proverbs 25:18). "Violence covereth the mouth of the wicked" (Proverbs 10:11). They have venom like the venom of a serpent; Like a deaf cobra that stops up its ear." 141:3). In Romans 6:13, Paul said that we need to make a choiceto present the parts of our body as instruments of righteousness to God, not as instruments of unrighteousness to sin., Today and every day, choose to present your bodyincluding your unruly tongueas a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:2) to be used by Him as an instrument of blessing. (Php 2:3+)Paul used eritheia again in Philippians writing "The former (Php 1:15+ "Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife") proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition (eritheia) rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. A hole or opening from which a spring of water issues (James 3:11)" (Zodhiates), Ope in the Septuagint (Lxx)- Ex33:22; Jdg. James 3:16. Faith is demonstrated by works, and wisdom is demonstrated by good behaviorand gentleness. All rights reserved). The answer is 'surprisingly few'. Without making any excuses for your words, ask the Holy Spirit to forgive you for any words that have brought harm. (EBC). In First Corinthians Paul repeatedly denounces man's natural wisdom which is really not wisdom in spiritual and eternal matters. Beloved, that's the power of our unbridled, unruddered tongue, unless it is continually surrendered to the guarding, guiding power of the Holy Spirit! By:Dave Branon(Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. (Ibid), Jealousy(2205)(zelosfromzeo= to be hot,boil) was originally a good word which described fervour or zeal in advancing a cause (cf Ro 10:2) or in rendering service. It is no small matter when we open our mouths. Have Thine own way! We are to go after peace as we would pursue an animal in the hunt. 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). But if I refuse to listen and pray instead, the water of the Spirit douses the fire of hell, and the conversation dies. "It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy, And after vows to make inquiry" (Proverbs 20:25). 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. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body (James 3:6). 3:15+. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matt. Terrestrial. We use words like love and patriotism to share our ideas and emotions. (BNTC Exposition of James), MacArthur introduces this passage explaining that "the tongue is characterized by what might be called its perfidy to compromise. 6 Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you. 12:9; 2 Co. 6:6; 1 Tim. There is only one way to "tame" it and that is by relying on the supernatural power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. "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). Utley on selfish ambition -It refers to an egotistical, jealous ambitionmy way or no wayamong leaders. This is an incredible inconsistency for a believer. Mt. "He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright" (Proverbs 2:7). No farmer sits around doing nothing all year, then goes out into the field and says, Whoa, look at that bountiful harvest! If there is a harvest, its in part because he has worked hard to cultivate that harvest. If the flesh is reigning, then out comes bitter water. 3:11). 5:20; Phil. This heavenly wisdom is "ready for peace," desiring and fostering peace by restraining discord and pacifying the turbulent elements around it. NAB James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace. Henry Law, The next best thing to being wise is to live in a circle of those who are. 16:13; 1 Chr. If we bless God as our Father, it should teach us to speak well of, and kindly to, all who bear his image. "A word in due season, how good is it! No part of us is in a more slippery place than the tongue. 3. of wine and the like, to overcome, overpower, Hom. No earth-born eye can catch a glimpse of God. In short not just feelings but actions! (Col 3:1-4+). 1 Timothy BBE James 3:15 This wisdom is not from heaven, but is of the earth and the flesh and the Evil One. That will mark the beginning of harmonynot havoc. NIV James 3:15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. John Phillips adds that "We were born with a nature that can do nothing right (Ro7:18+), and we have been born again, heirs to a nature that can do nothing wrong (1 Jn 3:9+). GWN James 3:13 Do any of you have wisdom and insight? James may well have been familiar with this picture from common experience in daily life. (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. Out of [BY - Greek = "ek"]here represents the same original particle which is rendered by, in I will show thee my faith by [Greek = "ek"] my works (James 2:18). But according to the apostle James, you cannot tame the human tongue. under the earth, which will confess Jesus is Lord. Tongue Spiritual Maturity is reflected by a controlled tongue. How shall we then wish to see each day marked with usefulness! Instead of being helpful, they are destructive. Let us, then, each morning, resolve to send the day into eternity in such a garb as we shall wish it to wear forever. There she heard a lady talking to them, in Chinese, about someone to whom little children came. Hagnosdescribes wisdom that is morally undefiled and not corrupted by any form of evil in this fallen world. Worldly wisdom might well wish to escape God's sight; the true wisdom is able to bear his very scrutiny. Similarly, when gossip reaches the ear of someone who will not repeat it, it dies. He asked, Are these the best singers in your school? And so James issues a command inaorist imperativewhich means "Do this now!" Please guard my mouth today. Only one person showed a deeper understanding of the question. In addition kosmos is a system or arrangement (in context a system of evil). But the parents refused to sue. (Ge 4:6-8). Defiles(stains, pollutes, corrupts, infects) (4695)(spiloofromspilos) means stained, defiled, contaminated or soiled. It short, wisdom not from God is of the world, of the flesh and of the devil! "The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook" (Proverbs 18:4). Proverbs 17:27. he is saying, in effect, "and in what way are you understanding? "You can't hold a fellow down in the ditch unless you stay there with him." Author: Vernon C. Grounds (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. All rights reserved). Then let him by his noble living show forth his [good] works with the [unobtrusive] humility [which is the proper attribute] of true wisdom. James 3:5. D. Martyn Lloyd Jones, Wisdom opens the eyes both to the glories of heaven and to the hollowness of earth. When actions and words agree, the message is loud and clear. "The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vapor driven to and fro by them that seek death" (Proverbs 21:6). The Guinness Book of World Records was created. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: The fire of the tongue has been used to burn many. TODAY IN THE WORD - James 3:13-18 It is notoriously unreliable, constantly prone to break out in vicious words. Beloved, this is mind blowing! What do you allow into your mind? Wisdom is knowing when to speak your mind and when to mind your speech. The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable. More self-denial, like His in Galilee, Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. When my wife and I were visiting a church for a special musical program, we arrived early to get a good seat. Barnhouse from his book Let Me Illustrate - At the trainer's signal a 16-foot whale, weighing 34,000 lbs., leaped straight out of the water until his tale was a foot above the surface; he opened his mouth to receive the handful of fish and fell back into the pool with a splash. We prefer to blame the world's problems on religious or political differences, but James says that the root problem is pride and self-centeredness. Rom. And the lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, "The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10). They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position; They delight in falsehood; Selah. Who among you has made this attribute of God, wisdom, your attribute?" He offended the Pharisees when He said, Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man (vv.11-12). 11:29+)Prausis also used in the beatitude Mt 5:5+"Blessed are the gentle (praus), for they shall inherit the earth." 5:8)- James is reminding his readers the problem is not external but internal. John Calvin -This slender portion of flesh contains the whole world of iniquity. Dikaiosune characterizes a life or lifestyle in conformity to justice, law and/or morality as ordained by God. One of the tellers there was also a soloist in a church in downtown Nashville. Our first parents yielded to the temptation to sin, because they considered that the tree was to be desired to make one wise; (Ge 3:5,6+) and this was the wisdoma wisdom kindred to that of Satan, whose lie seduced themfull of envy and falsehood, moving ever in the atmosphere of selfishness and malignity. But unbelievers have no defense against his demonic input! It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison (James 3:8). But one thing is certainthe Spirit of Christ is not found in a spirit of envy and self-serving competition. Thomas Manton, If you think twice before you talk once, you will speak twice the better for it. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. And for men to reproach those who have not only the image of God in their natural faculties, but are renewed after the image of God by the grace of the gospel: this is a most shameful contradiction to all their pretensions of honouring the great Original. But according to news reports, neither wanted to give way to the other. As explained above, good behavioris ultimately behavior enabled by the Spirit of God (notice God is one letter short of good). People enjoy teaching monkeys to act in commercials or training deer to eat out of their hands. ESV Study Bible -Evil speech destroys because it comes from Satan himself. "The lips of the righteous feed many" (Proverbs 10:21). 2 Corinthians By the end of his life, Trumans unmailed letters filled a large desk drawer. Among you has made this attribute of God ( notice God is of the.. Galilee, Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water and salt flow! Small and weak, can crush and kill 10:21 ) delight in falsehood Selah... 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