James 3:13-4:6 NIV

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - James 3:13-18

13-18 These verses show the difference between men's pretending to be wise, and their being really so. He who thinks well, or he who talks well, is not wise in the sense of the Scripture, if he does not live and act well. True wisdom may be know by the meekness of the spirit and temper. Those who live in malice, envy, and contention, live in confusion; and are liable to be provoked and hurried to any evil work. Such wisdom comes not down from above, but springs up from earthly principles, acts... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - James 3:1-99

James 3 WITH CHAPTER 3 a fresh series of exhortations commences. James turns from the subject of the works of faith to exhort his brethren against the very common failing of wishing to be a master of others when one has in no sense learned to be master of oneself. The word translated “masters” really signifies “teachers,” and if we glance at Romans 2.17-2.21 we shall see that the Jew especially fancied himself in this direction, and when converted the same tendency would doubtless remain in... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - James 3:13-18

Warning against strife: v. 13. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. v. 14. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. v. 15. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. v. 16. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. v. 17. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - James 3:1-18

VI. FOURTH ADMONITION WITH REFERENCE TO THE FOURTH FORM OF TEMPTATION—PROPAGADISMCAUTION AGAINST THE JUDAISTIC BIAS TO FANATICAL ACTIVITY OF TEACHING. REFERENCE TO THE POWER OF THE TONGUE AND TO THE DEPRAVITY, LICENCE AND DUPLICITY OF THE FANATICALLY EXCITED TONGUE. THE CONTRAST OF FALSE AND TRUE WISDOM IN SPEECH ACCORDING TO THEIR OPPOSITE OPERATIONSJames 3:01My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2For in many things we offend all. If any man... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - James 3:13-18

Seek Wisdom from Above James 3:13-18 The true wisdom is not the child of the intellect, but of the heart. It consists not only in what we know, but in what we are. It is in this sense that it is used in the earlier chapters of the book of Proverbs and in Job 28:1-28 . Some who profess to be wise are jealous and factious, despising others and confident in their superiority. This spirit and temper are from beneath. Notice this exquisite string of qualities-like a thread of pearls-that... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - James 3:1-18

The writer now proceeded to show the effect of faith on speech. Beginning with the warning against every man setting up to teach, he proceeded to deal with the power of speech. He likened the tongue to the bit in the mouth of a horse, and to the helm of a ship. Surely a contrast between the tongue set on fire by hell and the tongue of fire is suggested. Speech ever waits for inspiration, and such inspiration comes from the depths of evil or from the Spirit of the living God. Follows a contrast... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:13

‘Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.’ These words take us back to James 3:1 and to what is required of the ‘perfect’ Teacher, and also to James 1:17-19 in considering God’s good giving and perfect gifts from above. Note the contrast in James 3:13-14 between the wise one who reveals the truth through his good life (James 3:13), and the one who as a result of bitter jealousy, selfish ambition and self-assertiveness, lies against... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:13-18

What Is Required Therefore Is Not Earthly Wisdom But Wisdom From Above (James 3:13-18 ) Having warned against the unruly tongue, James now explains how men can ensure that their tongues are under control by receiving wisdom from above. We were informed in James 1:17-18 of the giving and the gifts from above, and the effect of the word of truth, now these are to be expanded on and contrasted with what the earth offers. There is a wisdom from above which produces peace and righteousness, and is... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:13-18

James 3:13-Job : . “ Who is enlightened among you, and a man of knowledge? Let him exhibit the fruits of it by a noble life, with the humility that true enlightenment brings.” We must be careful to remember that “ meekness” in popular use has lost its nobility: the Gr. word describes a strong man’ s self-discipline and a wise man’ s humility. One who is strong, and knows it, is not jealous of rivals, or frenzied with partisanship for a cause that God will prosper. Such a spirit means only... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - James 3:13

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? i.e. if there be a wise man, &c. See Psalms 25:12, and 1 Peter 3:10, where what David speaks by way of interrogation, Peter explains by way of assertion. The apostle having shown the disease of the tongue, comes now to remove the cause, viz. men’s opinion of their own wisdom; (they censure others, because they take themselves to be wiser than others); and to point out the remedy, godly meekness, which is the truest wisdom. By wisdom and... read more