James 3:13-18 (NKJV) Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 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. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
V13 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” His following statements are for those who want to be wise and understanding. The Greek word for “wise” is (G4680) σοφός sophos, which means wise. Wisdom is having the knowledge (facts) and understanding (the how’s and why’s) along with experience. If we want to be wise, we must study the Bible and interpret it in its plain, normal sense. Our conduct proves what we believe. The “meekness of wisdom” refers to being humble, gentle, and bold to speak and live God’s truth. This is especially important regarding our speech which James had just written about. Wise speech knows the right time and the right thing to say in any situation. God must teach us these things.
Regarding wisdom: “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7, NKJV)
Believer’s Bible Commentary on Proverbs 4:7 states:
“The first step in getting wisdom is to have motivation or determination. We get in life what we go after. We should get wisdom at all cost, and in the process get good understanding and discernment. This means, among other things, that we will learn to choose between the evil and the good, the good and the best, the soulish and the spiritual, the temporal and the eternal.”
V14 “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.” In contrast to the meekness of wisdom, one may have envy and self-seeking attitudes. God does not approve of those. Note this is in the heart (Matthew 15:18-20) and perhaps not readily seen by those we speak to. The Greek words for “bitter envy” is (bitter = (G4089) πικρός pikros, which means sharp, thus strong, bitter taste, and envy = (Gg2205. ζῆλος zēlos, which carries the idea of heat, thus emotions and jealousy depending on the context. A quote: (Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary) “a feeling of resentment and jealousy toward others because of their possessions or good qualities. James linked envy with self-seeking (James 3:14, 16; selfish ambition, NIV, NRSV). Christians are warned to guard against the sin of envy (Rom. 13:13; 1 Pet. 2:1).”
Boosting is a symptom of envy; it is promoting oneself and often includes exaggerations (lies). Truth is important to God. See Zechariah 8:16-17, Proverbs 12:17, Psalm 15:2, and John 3:20-21.
V15 “This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.”
There are 2 types of wisdom: 1) earthly (the source is the heart), sensual (motived by desires), demonic (from impressions or occultic methods) or 2) heavenly (V17). The wisdom from below will lead a person further and further from God, truth, and peace. A person is a fool for doing so (Proverbs 1:7).
V16 “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” The affects of evil sources for wisdom are envy and self-seeking, which lead to confusion and every and any evil. Instead of love and loyalty to God (our creator), to our spouse, to our family, to our neighbor, evil wisdom leads to glorifying self. If someone lives glorifying their self, then we know they have been seeking wisdom from one of those 3 sources (earthly, sensual, or demonic). Compare Proverbs 16:16, Proverbs 2:6, and Proverbs 3:7).
V17 “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.” Compare Psalm 19:7-11. Pure is without defilement, error, or foolishness. Peaceable is truth brings freedom (John 8:32). Gentle refers to God’s initial efforts (if rejected, gentleness turns to suffering the consequences) to instruct gently. Willing to yield instead of pushing for my ways, ideas, and decisions (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a). A person willing to yield will listen with little or no interruption, will consider the other’s opinion, and willing to change if it is Scriptural. Full of mercy is considering the motives and examining the complete explanation. Good fruits are the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). True wisdom will not give one type of advice to one person but different advice is the person is not desirable. Without hypocrisy refers to living what we say.
V18 “Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” The heavenly wisdom yields the fruits of righteousness. This is the wisdom that God will give to those who ask Him. We might not know when He gives wisdom, but He will. This is not earthly peace but godly peace. Godly peace is a peace that calms the spirit and soul regardless of outward circumstances.
We learn:
- What we do reveals more about us than our words
- The difference between earthly and heavenly wisdom