Not stubborn nor obstinate; of a yielding disposition in all indifferent things; obsequious, docile. You do not require to enfeeble a single phrase. Instead of helping on holiness, one may on the contrary, by an unguarded word, give somewhat of a loose rein to the old nature. James Commentary It is full of love and a giving heart, consistent with the holiness of God. James does not deal with such matters; he never takes up the question how a sinner is to be justified. In the bright day that is coming God will bless the creature. But we have to take care that we are guided of God in this, which is important in the present day when we know that the spirit of the age is endeavouring to blot out God in all that touches man here below. The greatest of the Jewish teachers were well aware of that. I am not aware of any part of the word of God in which a believer, save perhaps in a transitional state, is ever referred to as a sinner. "Thus purity is not just one quality among others but the key to them all." It is blowing hot and blowing cold; it is appearing to ask God, when in point of fact you have no confidence in Him. James 3 Commentary - Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole This order is for the good of the Christian. A group where there is bitterness and strife is a barren soil in which the seeds of righteousness can never grow and out of which no reward can ever come, The man who disturbs personal relationships and is responsible for strife and bitterness has cut himself off from the reward which God gives to those who live his life. It was actually said that if a man's parents and a man's teacher were captured by an enemy, the Rabbi must be ransomed first. The word of God expresses that life, and the Spirit gives it power; but this needs faith which all have not. Masquerading evil thoughts with flattering compliments is yet another form of hypocrisy that Jesus exposes (Matthew 22:16-18). And then He said it is "out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks" ( Matthew 15:11 , Matthew 15:18-19 ). And sometimes that frightens me. Without dissimulation; without pretending to be what it is not; acting always in its own character; never working under a mask. We have the lovely picture of that wisdom which is from above more fully drawn, and set in opposition to this which is from beneath: But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, c., James 3:17; James 3:18. 3 "Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Under this impression I read, "Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. It is not that there is the very smallest contradiction between the two. To James there was something unnatural about this; it was as unnatural as for a stream to gush out both fresh and salt water or a bush to bear opposite kinds of fruit. This led to the establishment of the Inquisition; this kindled the fires of Smithfield; this inspirited Laud and his friends; this has been the origin of no small part of the schisms in the church. If an individual is accidentally injured, he often sues the unfortunate party for millions. James 3:13-18 Two Kinds of Wisdom; PHIL NEWTON. (ii) It is characteristic of the natural man. While it is commendable to be open-minded concerning others, the truth is not something that can be changed according to the situation. Web2 Pierre 3:17. A good conversation. But the Christian wisdom is based on the Christian certainties which come to us from God through Jesus Christ. Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible by Matthew Henry Bible Hub Even a casual glance at the life of Jesus reveals that He lived a life of purity. In the OT peace is usually associated with (1) cessation of war and hostilities and the promotion of harmony and (2) the presence of health, prosperity and wholeness, ultimately in this sense of the reign of the Messiah and eschatological salvation (cf. Here we must make a choice between two meanings. It is characterised by the self-judgment which delights in and displays the ways of God. Demonstrate the wisdom. Now we come to the other side. The basic meaning of mercy is that of compassion for the unfortunate.