James 3:14

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. IF YE HAVE - as is the case (Greek indicative). BITTER (Ephesians 4:31). ENVYING, [ zeelon (G2205)] - zeal: generous emulation is not condemned, but "bitter" (Bengel). STRIFE, [ eritheian (G2052)] - 'rivalry:' cabal, faction (note, Galatians 5:20). IN YOUR HEARTS - from which flow words and deeds, as from a fountain. GLORY NOT, AND LIE NOT AGAINST THE TRUTH. To boast of wisdom which...

l4_But if ye have bitter envying_. He points out the fruits which proceed from that extreme austerity which is contrary to meekness; for immoderate rigor necessarily begets mischievous emulations, which presently break forth into contentions. It is, indeed, an improper mode of speaking, to place contentions in the heart; but this affects not the meaning; for the object was to shew that the evil disposition of the heart is the fountain of these evils. He has called _envying_, or _emulation_, _bitter_; for it prevails not, except when minds are so infected with the poison of malignity, that they turn all things into bitterness. (125) That we may then really glory that we are the children of God, he bids us to act calmly and meekly towards our brethren; otherwise he declares that we are lying in assuming the Christian name. But it is not without reason that he has added the associate o

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 on earthly motives, and is intent on serving earthly purposes. Those who are lifted up with such wisdom, described by the apostle James, is near to the Christian love, described by the apostle Paul; and both are so described that every man may fully prove the reality of his attainments in them. It has no disguise or deceit. It cannot fall in with those managements the world counts wise, which are...

Verse 14. _IF YE HAVE BITTER ENVYING AND STRIFE_] If ye be under the influence of an _unkind, fierce_, and _contemptuous_ spirit, even while attempting or pretending to defend true religion, _do_ _not boast_ either of your _exertions_ or _success_ in silencing an adversary; ye have _no religion_, and no _true wisdom_, and to profess either is _to lie against the truth_. Let all writers on what is called _polemic_ (fighting, warring) _divinity_ lay this to heart. The pious Mr. Herbert gives excellent advice on this subject: - "Be calm in arguing, for _fierceness_ makes _Error a fault_, and _truth discourtesy_; Why should I feel another man's mistakes More than his _sickness_ or his _poverty_?...

BUT IF YE HAVE BITTER ENVYING AND STRIFE IN YOUR HEARTS - If that is your characteristic. There is reference here to a fierce and unholy zeal against each other; a spirit of ambition and contention. GLORY NOT - Do not boast, in such a case, of your qualifications to be public teachers. Nothing would render you more unfit for such an office than such a spirit. AND LIE NOT AGAINST THE TRUTH - You would lie against what is true by setting up a claim to the requisite qualifications for such an office, if this is your spirit. Men should seek no office or station which they could not properly seek if the whole truth about them were known....

EXPOSITION JAMES 3:1 WARNING AGAINST OVER-READINESS TO TEACH, LEADING TO A DISCOURSE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF GOVERNMENT OF THE TONGUE. JAMES 3:1 (1) _Warning_. BE NOT MANY TEACHERS. The warning is parallel to that of our Lord in Matthew 23:8, _seq._,_ _"Be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your Teacher [διδάσκαλος,_ _and not, a

BUT IF YE HAVE BITTER ENVYING AND STRIFE IN YOUR HEARTS,.... Though these may not be expressed by words, or actions: envy at the happiness of others, whether at the external blessings of Providence, as riches and honours, or at the internal endowments of their minds, as their wisdom and knowledge, their parts and abilities, is a root of bitterness in the heart, which bears wormwood and gall, and produces bitter effects in the persons in whom it is; it embitters their minds against their neighbours and friends; it is rottenness in their bones, and slays and destroys those who are so silly as to be governed by it; and also in the persons the objects of it; for who can stand before it? and strife in the mind, or an intention to strive end quarrel with others, who are the objects of envy, is very sinful, and of pernicious consequence: and if these be fomented and cherished in the minds and b...

III. THE EVILS OF THE TONGUE CORRECTED CHAPTER 3 _ 1. The tongue and its work (James 3:1)_ 2. The wisdom which is earthly and the wisdom that is from above (James 3:13) James 3:1 The practical character of this Epistle is still more evidenced by the contents of this chapter. The tongue is the member of the human body which is made prominent. The human tongue is a great and wonderful gift of the Creator; with which no other earthly creature is endowed. It is written: “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” It therefore reveals the real ‘condition of the heart and by what it is governed. The opening verse exhorts to caution as to teaching: “My brethren, be not many teachers, knowi

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 scorning truth and heaping up lies. Sensual, natural, and animal are all imperfect representations of the adjective _psychic_ from _psyché,_ soul or life. As contrasted with spirit, it means the immaterial parts of man as untouched by the Divine: the climactic adjective following shows that what does not touch God is touched by hell. Note in James 3:16 the stress on _unproductiveness_ as the characteristic of sin. Confusion or re...

THE TEACHER'S PERIL (James 3:1) _ 3:1 My brothers, it is a mistake for many of you to become teachers, for you must be well aware that those of us who teach will receive a greater condemnation._ In the early church the teachers were of first rate importance Wherever they are mentioned, they are mentioned with honour. In the Church at Antioch they are ranked with the prophets who sent out Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey (Acts 13:1). In Paul's list of those who hold great gifts within the Church they come second only to the apostles and to the prophets (1 Corinthians 12:28; compare Ephesians 4:11)