James 3:18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - James 3:13-18

As the sins before condemned arise from an affectation of being thought more wise than others, and being endued with more knowledge than they, so the apostle in these verses shows the difference between men's pretending to be wise and their being really so, and between the wisdom which is from beneath (from earth or hell) and that which is from above. I. We have some account of true wisdom, with the distinguishing marks and fruits of it: Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you?... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 3:17-18

3:17-18 The wisdom which comes from above is first pure, then peaceable, considerate, willing to yield, full of mercy and of good fruits, undivided in mind, without hypocrisy. For the seed which one day produces the reward which righteousness brings can only be sown when personal relationships are right and by those whose conduct produces such relationships. The Jewish sages were always agreed that the true wisdom came from above. It was not the attainment. of man but the gift of God.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 3:17-18

(iv) The true wisdom is eupeithes ( Greek #2138 ). Here we must make a choice between two meanings. (a) Eupeithes ( Greek #2138 ) can mean ever ready to obey. The first of William Law's rules for life was, "To fix it deep in my mind that I have but one business upon my hands, to seek for eternal happiness by doing the will of God." If we take the word in this sense, it means that the truly wise man is for ever ready to obey whenever God's voice comes to him. (b) Eupeithes ( Greek... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 3:18

And the fruit of righteousness ,.... Which is either eternal life, which is the fruit of Christ's righteousness, and shall be enjoyed by all those who are justified by it; and who, in consequence of it, through the grace of God, live soberly, righteously, and godly; see Romans 6:22 or else what is enjoyed in this life, as the fruit and effect of a righteous and holy conversation, which is peace of conscience; and may be truly called the peaceable fruit of righteousness; see Isaiah 32:17 ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:18

And the fruit of righteousness is sown - The whole is the principle of righteousness in the soul, and all the above virtues are the fruits of that righteousness. Is sown in peace - When the peace of God rules the heart, all these virtues and graces grow and flourish abundantly. Of them that make peace - The peace-makers are continually recommending this wisdom to others, and their own conduct is represented as a sowing of heavenly seed, which brings forth Divine fruit. Perhaps sowing... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:18

Verse 18 18And the fruit of righteousness. This admits of two meanings, — that fruit is sown by the peaceable, which afterwards they gather, — or, that they themselves, though they meekly tolerate many things in their neighbors, do not yet cease to sow righteousness. It is, however, an anticipation of an objection; for they who are carried away to evil speaking by the lust of slandering, have always this excuse, “What! can we then remove evil by our courteousness?” Hence James says, that those... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:13-18

WARNING AGAINST JEALOUSY AND FACTION . James 3:13 contains the positive exhortation to meekness; James 3:14 the negative warning against jealousy and party spirit; and then the following verses place side by side the portraits of the earthly and the heavenly wisdom. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:13-18

Wisdom. I. WISDOM SHOWS BY ITS FRUITS IN HEART AND LIFE . The following are some of the fruits of the heavenly wisdom: "By their fruits ye shall know them;" and therefore the presence or absence of such qualities as these form tests by which every one may recognize the presence or absence in his own heart of the wisdom which is from above. II. THE SINFULNESS OF PARTY SPIRIT . A sin which is not always recognized, especially in religious circles, as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:13-18

Wisdom, true and false. The temptation to be "teachers" ( James 3:1 ) arose from the notion that they possessed wisdom. How shall they show this wisdom, how shall they even use it, if they may not teach? The life is to be at once the practice and the manifestation of a wisdom that is true ( James 3:13 ). James here reverts to his earlier theme ( James 1:5 ); and we have for our consideration—The false wisdom and the true, in their origin, nature, and fruits. I. THE FALSE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:15-18

Contrast between the earthly and the heavenly wisdom: (1) the earthly ( James 3:15 , James 3:16 ); (2) the heavenly ( James 3:17 , James 3:18 ). read more

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