James Expounds on Faith Volume 38

 Heavenly Godly Wisdom vs  Earthly Devilish Wisdom Part 3

James 3:17-18 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

Finally, the Apostle James concludes this contrast of earthly wisdom with heavenly wisdom by declaring to us what the true wisdom from above that rains down from the Father of Lights 🚥, remember these words from Chapter 1, "Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." (James 1:16-17 (NKJV). As we reflect on and remember these words, we see how the Holy Spirit is bringing this concept around full circle 😶 so as to give us distinguishing marks or methods or manners that reveal whether or not the wisdom that is being displayed or declared or demonstrated comes from our Father of Lights 🚥 or from the enemy of Him and of we His adopted children 🧒, so James declares this to us, "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." (James 3:17-18) (KJV). Let us breakdown brick by brick what the Apostle James has just spoken to us; first the wisdom from above is 'pure' and this English word is translated by the Greek word hagnos which means properly clean, that is, (figuratively) innocent, modest, perfect: - chaste, clean, pure. In other words, our Father in Heaven will never give us any knowledge of Himself and the wisdom to 🚶 walk in or after His guidance that will lead us into unclean actions or immodest behavior that would disrespect others or cause them harm or hurt, for example He would never tell us to have sex with another one of His adopted son's wife, fiancé, or girlfriend because concerning our relationship to our brothers and sisters in Christ here is what He declares to us as His will for us to 🚶 walk in, "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'You shall not covet,' and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." (Romans 13:8-10) (NKJV).

The wisdom from above is 'peaceable' which is translated by the Greek word eirēnikos meaning pacific, that is, promoting peace ✌; by implication salutary, that is, tending to promote physical well-being; beneficial to health, desires to do know physical hurt or harm to another if at all possible (only if moved by self-defense): - peaceable. The wisdom from above is 'gentle' which is translated by the Greek word epieikēs meaning appropriate, that is, (by implication) mild: - gentle, moderation, patient. The wisdom from above is 'easy to be intreated' which is translated by the Greek word eupeithēs meaning good for persuasion, that is, (intransitively) compliant: - easy to be intreated. The wisdom from above is full of 'mercy' and this English word is translated by the Greek word eleos meaning compassion (human or divine, especially active): - (+ tender) mercy. The wisdom from above is full of good fruits and without partiality and without hypocrisy and this English word 'hypocrisy' is translated by the Greek word anupokritos meaning undissembled, that is, sincere: - without dissimulation (hypocrisy), unfeigned. So, we see then that God's wisdom promotes peace ✌ amongst brothers and sister's 'in Christ' and also the rest of humanity and is mild and gentle not the instigator of fights or conflicts or wars and His wisdom persuades humanity at large into peace ✌ and it should be the desire of every adopted son and daughter of His to be compliant to His will of peace ✌ amongst the body of believers, for Jesus said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15) (NKJV) and He said this is my commandment, "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12) (NKJV); this love for one another must be done without pretense and with sincerity and must seek only the good for one another and to do no harm or hurt to another brother or sister 'in Christ' physically or spiritually, for to do that would be to hurt our Lord Jesus Christ personally, remember when our Lord Jesus said this to Saul who is now Paul, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" (Acts 9:4) (NKJV). Therefore, we must desire, demonstrate, and determine to do as the Apostle Paul said with these words, "So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way." (Romans 14:12-13) (NKJV). Peace is a by product of truth, mercy, and righteousness, as it is 📝 ✍ written with these words from the Psalmist one of my favorite verses of Scripture, "Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed." (Psalms 85:10)(NKJV).

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of James 3:17-18, "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, etc., James 3:17-18. Observe here, True wisdom is God's gift. It is not gained by conversing with men, nor by the knowledge of the world (as some think and speak), but it comes from above. It consists of these several things: - 1. It is pure, without mixture of maxims or aims that would debase it: and it is free from iniquity and defilements, not allowing of any known sin, but studious of holiness both in heart and life. 2. The wisdom that is from above 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. 3. It is gentle, not standing upon extreme right in matters of property; not saying nor doing any thing rigorous in points of censure; not being furious about opinions, urging our own beyond their weight nor theirs who oppose us beyond their intention; not being rude and overbearing in conversation, nor harsh and cruel in temper. Gentleness may thus be opposed to all these. 4. Heavenly wisdom is easy to be entreated, eupeithēs; 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 blamable 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. 5. Heavenly wisdom is full of mercy and good fruits, inwardly disposed to every thing that is kind and good, both to relieve those who want and to forgive those who offend, and actually to do this whenever proper occasions offer. 6. Heavenly wisdom is without partiality. The original word, adiakritos, signifies to be without suspicion, or free from judging, making no undue surmises nor differences in our conduct towards one person more than another. The margin reads it, without wrangling, not acting the part of sectaries, and disputing merely for the sake of a party; nor censuring others purely on account of their differing from us. The wisest men are least apt to be censurers. 7. That wisdom which is from above is without hypocrisy. It has no disguises nor deceits. It cannot fall in with those managements which the world counts wise, which are crafty and guileful; but it is sincere and open, steady and uniform, and consistent with itself. O that you and I may always be guided by such wisdom as this! that with Paul we may be able to say, Not with fleshly wisdom, but in simplicity and godly sincerity, by the grace of God, we have our conversation. And then, lastly, 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, James 3:18. 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. For light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart; and the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…