Gospel Light Christian Church Thru-The-Bible Series (30.5)

The General Epistle of James

James Chapter 3:17-18 - Read this Bible passage once through before referring to the notes below.

The display of heavenly wisdom (vv17-18)

Summary       

God's wisdom has its fruit also; James here is defining exactly what he meant by the meekness of wisdom in verse 13. The character of this wisdom is wonderful; it is full of love and a giving heart, consistent with the holiness of God. This fruit is like a seed that will bear fruit as it is sown by those who make peace.

v17.      But the wisdom that is from above is first pure.  True wisdom is here described in contrast to the wisdom from below.  Notice first of all that true wisdom is a gift from God. It comes from above, which means you can’t learn or acquire knowledge from any earthly source.  Our Lord Jesus Christ puts it this way: If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? (Jn 3:12).

            Notice that this heavenly wisdom is first and foremost pure.  This must be so, because our God is holy, righteous, and therefore pure.  Who can be more pure than God? Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his maker? (Job 4:17). No, it can’t be. Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it (Ps 119:140). 

Long ago the question was asked: Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3). Being pure literally means being sanctified, or chaste; it means it is not diluted or mixed.  It is free from iniquity and defilements, not allowing of any known sin, but studious of holiness both in heart and life.  This heavenly wisdom is pure from all that is earthly, sensual, devilish.

Seven (the perfect number) characteristic peculiarities of true wisdom are enumerated next. Purity or sanctity is put first because it has respect both to God and to ourselves; the six that follow regard our fellow men. Our first concern is to have in ourselves sanctity; our second, to be at peace with men.

Heavenly wisdom is peaceable. Peace follows purity, and depends upon it. Those who are truly wise do what they can to preserve peace, that it may not be broken; and to make peace, that where it is lost it may be restored. In kingdoms, in families, in churches, in all societies, and in all interviews and transactions, heavenly wisdom makes men peaceable.

Heavenly wisdom is gentle. It is forbearing, making allowances for others and lenient towards neighbours. It is gentle, not being rude and overbearing in conversation, nor harsh and cruel in temper.

Heavenly wisdom is easy to be intreated. This literally means being literally, easily persuaded; not harsh as to a neighbour’s faults.  It is very persuadable, either to what is good or from what is evil. There is an easiness that is weak and faulty; but it is not a blameable easiness to yield ourselves to the persuasions of God’s word, and to all just and reasonable counsels or requests of our fellow-creatures; no, nor to give up a dispute, where there appears a good reason for it and where a good end may be answered by it.

            Heavenly wisdom is full of mercy and good fruits.  It is full of mercy as to a neighbour’s miseries, and full of good fruits as contrasted with every evil work of the wisdom from below. 

            Heavenly wisdom is without partiality.  The Greek word for partiality is adiakritos, which signifies to be without suspicion, or free from judging, making no undue surmises nor differences in our conduct towards one person more than another. This takes us back to the warning in Jas 2:1,4,9 concerning partiality with respect to persons. 

            Finally, heavenly wisdom is without hypocrisy.  Our peaceableness and mercy towards others must be without dissimulation.  It has neither disguises nor deceits. It cannot fall in with those managements that the world counts wise, which are crafty and guileful; but it is sincere and open, steady and uniform, and consistent with itself.

v18.     True wisdom will go on to sow the fruits of righteousness in peace, and thus, if it may be, to make peace in the world: And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.   And that which is sown in peace will produce a harvest of joys. Let others reap the fruits of contentions, and all the advantages they can propose to themselves by them; but let us go on peaceably to sow the seeds of righteousness, and we may depend upon it our labour will not be lost.