“Heavenly Wisdom”

James 3:13-18

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Verse 13

· The way we show our wisdom and understanding of the Scriptures is demonstrated by the way we live.

· Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

o The Hebrew word translated “fool” in this passage is not referring to someone without intelligent but someone is perverse or morally bankrupt.

· With that understanding, that’s why James is saying our lives will reflect Christ if we are wise.

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Verses 14-16

· True wisdom does not come from being envious or selfish. To boast in these things is to deny—literally “lie against” the truth.

· If you have these negative things in your life, you prove, by the way you live, that you are not wise.

· Moreover, this “wisdom” comes from the devil himself!

· Notice verse 16: where this self-centeredness is, you find every kind of evil practice. Does this remind you of our culture today?

Verses 17-18

· “pure”: ‎[‎ ‎hagnos (hag-nos’)] literally: holy

· “peace-loving”: ‎eirenikos (i-ray-nee-kos’); “to join” or “put together” in such a way that is grows and prospers.

· “considerate”: ‎epieikes (ep-ee-i-kace’) “gentle” or “patient” in the sense of being gentle with others and patient with others.

· “submissive”: eupeithes (yoo-pi-thace’); compliant, easy-going

· “full of mercy”: ‎ mestos eleos (mes-tos’ el’-eh-os); “filled to the top” with “active compassion”‎ ‎

· “good fruit”: agathos karpos (ag-ath-os’ kar-pos’): literally, fruit of the best quality. (See Galatians 5:22-23)

· “impartial”: ‎adiakritos (ad-ee-ak’-ree-tos); without distinguishing—showing special favor—between two or more things.

· “sincere”: ‎anupokritos (an-oo-pok’-ree-tos): without hypocrisy or decision by a false image.

What happens when we plant peacefulness? We harvest righteousness.