AM Bible Study Group; June 13, 2012
James 3:13-18
(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version; copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
At the beginning of the previous passage, Pastor James warned about rushing too quickly to be a "teacher"; "knowing that we shall receive the stricter judgment" (James 3:1). The Lord Jesus is who we should look to for a picture of a truly “wise” teacher. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus invites people to take His yoke upon themselves and learn from Him as “teacher”. But He then affirms His qualifications: “for I am gentle and lowly in heart”; and in saying this, He shows us what the true heart attitude of godly teacher is. The apostle Paul sought to follow the pattern of Christ in his own teaching ministry. When ministering the Gospel the Corinthians, he deliberately refrained from using “excellence of speech or of wisdom”, but deliberately came to them “in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:1-3). He didn’t try to ‘dazzle’ them with the brilliance of his ‘wisdom and understanding’; but rather urged them “by the meekness and gentleness of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:1).
What a contrast these examples are to so many today who want to be called "teachers"! Many of the ‘experts’ who boast of the wisdom of this world sell themselves as “wise”; but as is so often the case, the “wisdom” they dispense to others is anything but “gentle”; and the attitude of their hearts in dispensing this wisdom is far from “humble”. Such displays of worldly “wisdom” are even seen in churches and among those who claim to be followers of Christ.
James’ words in this new section relate to the warning about “many teachers” found in 3:1. In 3:13-18, he affirms that that there is a wisdom that comes from above. And if we would be followers of Jesus’ example, then we must seek to display true “wisdom and understanding” in the way James here describes. Note how James describes this wisdom in terms of . . .
I. IT’S PROOF (vv. 13-14).
A. James begins by asking a question: “Who is wise and understanding among you?" (v. 13a). When James asks his question, many who think themselves cleaver with words may be tempted to quickly raise their hand. But his next statement shows that true wisdom isn’t found in such things as ‘cleaver put-downs’, ‘snappy answers’, ‘witty retorts’, or by ‘being so victorious in debate that we leave our opponent looking like a fool’. He goes on to say, "Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom" (v. 13b). The claim to be “wise and understanding” can only be proven through ‘good behavior’ and through ‘deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.’
B. He goes on to issue a warning that shows that the situation is, in actuality, the opposite of what people typically think. "But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth” (v. 14). Those worldly displays of “wisdom”—far from revealing true wisdom—only reveal a heart attitude that puts the lie to the claim to be wise. People who behave in such divisive ways should not be arrogant and lie against the truth of their situation—the truth being that their behavior is sinfully unwise and is without understanding. The proof of this is found in the results of this second kind of “wisdom”. Many a church has been split and destroyed by gathering around someone whose “wisdom” was characterized by bitter envy and self-seeking. Whatever one may say about such a person’s agenda, the end results of their form of wisdom—the ending of a ministry, the damage of a witness, the disillusionment and bitterness of new Christians, and the alienation of believers from one another—could hardly be called “wise and understanding”. Only a genuine fool would work to produce such things. As James says, he one who is truly “wise and understanding” will “show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.”
II. IT’S PATTERNS (vv. 15-17).
A. James here speaks of two different kinds of wisdom; and these two types are identified by their source: either “wisdom from above” (that is ‘from God’); or wisdom from a more diabolical and evil source. And you can tell which is which by the sort of patterns it follows. Perhaps this what Jesus meant when He once told the Pharisees, ". . . Wisdom is justified by her children” (Matthew 11:19). In speaking of this second, very destructive kind of "wisdom", James goes on to say “This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For wherever envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there" (vv. 15-16). Notice first that divisive behavior is the pattern of a kind of “wisdom” that does not come from God. It shows itself, by its pattern, to be fundamentally evil:
1. It’s evil in terms of its nature. It’s characterized by “bitter jealousy”—that is, an unrighteous zeal. And it’s characterized by “selfish ambition”—the behavior of someone who was seeking to become the leader only to gratify his own pride.
2. It’s also evil in terms of its sources. It’s “earthly”; that is, a product of worldly values and goals. It’s “sensual”—literally, “soulish”; a word that is used to contrast a “natural” man with a man who is “spiritual”; that is to say, a wisdom that’s a product of the flesh. Finally—and most frighteningly—it’s “demonic”; that is, a wisdom that follows after the agenda of the devil (Isaiah 14:13-14).
3. Because of its character and source, such wisdom can do no good—only harm. James 1:19-20 teaches that, no matter what it may boast, it cannot bring about the righteousness of God.
B. Contrast this with the "wisdom" that James says is "from above": "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" (v. 17). The completely different pattern that it follows is demonstrated in eight specific qualities. And what a difference it would make if everyone in the church family conducted themselves from the standpoint of this pattern of this wisdom!
1. It is first “pure”; that is, there’s nothing of ‘bitter jealousy’ or ‘selfish ambition in it. There is no secret agenda in this wisdom. This purity must be present first; and then all the other characteristics of true wisdom must follow from it.
2. It’s “peaceable”; that is ‘peace-promoting’, or as it is in the New International Version, “peace-loving”.
3. It’s “gentle”; or as in the NIV, “considerate”, or ‘forbearing’ (Phil. 4:5). It’s the idea of being able to patiently take it when treated unjustly; being willing to leave the matter in God’s hands.
4. It’s “reasonable”; or “submissive” (NIV). This is the idea of being easily persuaded and being willing to yield when shown that one is in the wrong. Imagine! True wisdom means you can be shown where you are wrong!
5. It’s “full of mercy”; that is, true wisdom doesn’t look down its nose toward those who are hurting because of their own foolishness, but is willing to help.
6. It’s “full of good fruits”; that is, it acts in compassion and meets the needs of others. It isn’t all ‘talk’; it actually brings about practical ‘good’.
7. It’s “unwavering”; or as it is in the NIV, “impartial”. True wisdom will bend when it needs to; but it also knows when it must not bend. It acts from a clear-headed knowledge of what the essentials are; and it doesn’t ‘waver’ on them.
8. It’s “without hypocrisy”; or, as it is in the NIV, “sincere.” There’s no pretense to it. It doesn’t try to be what it isn’t. It doesn’t put on a show.
III. IT’S PRACTICE (v. 18).
A. Finally, James says, "Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” Notice that, in these words, James uses a metaphor for “wisdom”. He compares it with a seed that is sown, and that results in a particular fruit being produced. This reminds us that true “wisdom” has expected consequences. It anticipates that the specific kind of ‘produce’ from true wisdom is “the fruit of righteousness”. It recognizes that this fruit only comes when the seed is “sown in peace by those who make peace.”
B. In writing of this passage, the famous commentator William Barclay said that, in the end, this sort of peace is to be understood in terms of the relationships between people. He paraphrased the thrust of this verse this way: “We are all trying to reap the harvest which a good life brings. But the seeds which bring the rich harvest can never flourish in any atmosphere other than one of right relationships between man to man. And the only people who can sow these seeds and reap the reward are those whose life work it has been to produce such right relationships.” Truly, this is real wisdom!
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Read Matthew 5:1-12—‘The Beatitudes’. To live in accordance with these—that is to say, to be “poor in spirit”; to “mourn”; to be “meek”; to “hunger and thirst for righteousness”; to be “merciful”, “pure in heart”, and a “peacemaker”—that’s a “wisdom” that’s of a radically different nature from what the world, the flesh and the devil boast of! That’s what someone who is—as James says—truly “wise and understanding” looks like. That’s how they prove wisdom; that’s how they pattern wisdom; and that’s how they practice wisdom. May God help us to live by it.