Immanuel Lutheran Church, Mankato
Study of James -- Lesson #12
March 19, 2000
James 3:13-18

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. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing will be there. 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. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

Verse 13: "Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him prove it by his good behavior—his works (done) in connection with the meekness of wisdom."

Having dealt with the tongue, James now turns to the source of either its good or bad use—the heart. He challenges the believer to examine his heart to see whether or not it is inspired by the "wisdom" from God above or by a "wisdom" from the world below. "Who among you is wise and understanding?" he asks. Everyone desires to be "wise and understanding," while many believe they are truly "wise and understanding." James says that the test of such wisdom and understanding is found in our attitudes and the way in which we deal with each other. Our God would have us exhibit a "meekness" or "humility," which becomes evident in our "good conduct."

Those claiming to possess wisdom can all too often be overbearing, proud, and harsh, all of which contradict the spirit of the gospel and the essence of spiritual wisdom. There is a reason why Paul speaks of "love" as the greatest of Christian virtues, beyond even "faith" and "hope" (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:13). While our God possesses the attribute of omniscience, His essence is "love" (cf. 1 John 4:8). Our God knows all things, but His knowledge is always used in "love." Our God can do all things, but His power always serves "love." We, who are "not to be conformed to this world, but (to) be transformed by the renewing of our minds" are to follow our God’s example and make our knowledge and strength serve "love" (cf. Romans 12:2).

Verse 14: "For if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth."

Having examined our hearts, we may just find things there that we prefer we would not find—"bitter jealousy" and "selfish ambition." The original word used for "jealousy" implies a strong contending for something someone else has, so they you might have it yourself, while the original word for "selfish ambition" implies a rivalry, in which opponents seek every advantage to satisfy their own desires.

God’s "wisdom," the chief expression of which is the gospel, decries such attitudes. Jesus Christ came not "to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28). He urged His disciples to define greatness in terms of service, not in terms of worldly splendor (cf. Matthew 20:20ff.). Yet, how often does not even our knowledge of Scripture reveal itself in ways that would secure our temporal advantage and in ways, which appear condescending and contrary to the spirit of genuine Christian "love"? James urges us to examine our hearts and should such attitudes exist within them, we are to repent for such attitudes can only yield false boasting and lies, contrary to the precious truths of the gospel.

Verse 15-16: "This wisdom is not coming down from above, but is earthly, physical, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition (are found), there (will be) unrest and every evil thing."

James is very blunt. Any "wisdom" guided by the attitudes of "bitter jealously" and "selfish ambition" does not come from God, but is the product of God’s enemies—the world, our sinful flesh, and the old, evil foe—Satan himself. This in itself should give us pause to reflect. Satan can and does come forward posing as an emissary of Scripture, using his knowledge as a cloak for his own covetous ends (cf. Matthew 4:5). It has been rightly said, that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. It must be rightly judged, that each of us, no matter what the extent of our training and experience, still knows but a little of Bible doctrine. It does us well, therefore, to walk humbly before our Lord and in our relationships with our fellow men, as we seek God’s wisdom to promote both right understanding and right living!

The evil fruits of "jealousy" and "selfish ambition" are evident wherever their presence is felt. There will be "unrest"—the original word denotes disturbance, disorder, unruliness, and insurrection, none of which are conducive for growth in godliness and virtue. Beyond this there will be "every evil thing."

Consider the news of our day:

Verse 17-18: "But the wisdom from above, on the other hand, is first pure, then peaceful, yielding, compliant, full of mercy and good fruit, unwavering, without hypocrisy. Now fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who bring about peace."

Note the wonderful words used to describe heavenly "wisdom"—purity, peacefulness, a willingness to yield, an ability to comply, a desire to allow mercy to overflow in good works, faithfulness, and honesty. These are not the virtues of the mighty of this world. In fact, they are scoffed at by the supposed wise of this world. Yet, this should not surprise us, for God’s wisdom and God’s will are always to be found at work in those things which are directly opposite of those found in the world (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18-31). Yet, if we are to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33), then we know that our greatest efforts must be made to "bring about peace" by sowing "peace."

Discuss how that might be done:

Martin Franzmann provides a wonderful summary of this section with the following words: "Turn from a wisdom which in its selfish bitterness creates divisions and produces every file practice and thus gives the lie to the truth (13-16). Turn from a wisdom that is earthly, unspiritual, and devilish (15). Turn to God, who gives true wisdom and understanding, who alone can save man from his fruitless and arrogant wisdom and give him true wisdom characterized by meekness and productive of good (13), a wisdom whose purity attests its divine origin, an active and graciously productive wisdom, that goes its way in the certitude and candor of faith (17). Turn in the strength of this wisdom to a life devoted to the making of peace, as teachers who by their words and deeds plant seeds which grow and ripen into righteousness. (18) [Concordia Bible with Notes, p. 465.]

(PDN)