The Christian Teacher’s Integrity—James 3:1-18
Attention:
The teachers we remember:
Elementary School:
Mrs. Kluttz—1st grade
Mrs. Smeltzer—2nd grade
Mrs. Elaine Kluttz—4th grade
These all expressed such love for us. They cared about our hurts & wanted us to succeed. In a way, these were sort of an extension of family.
High School:
Mr. Jerry Peck—12th grade—Expected much from his students, knowing he was preparing us for college.
College: My major was Biology
Dr. Wayne Robertson—Biology professor
Dr. Manly—Botany professor
Dr. Redman—Chemistry professor
These all had true teacher tendencies—Real concern for our grasp of the subjects at hand & our future.
Seminary:
Dr. Gary Galeotti—Professor of OT—Made the books of Jeremiah & Ezekiel come alive!—Made the OT in general approachable & preachable. His classes were like worship & his exams were a real bear thru which we learned a great deal. I have a tremendous respect for him.
Dr. Wayne McDill—Preaching Professor—Got us over our fears & bumbles in the pulpit & replaced them with great confidence.
Drs. Reid &Andrews—Biblical languages professors. Expected nothing less than the best, thus gave us an ability to handle the original languages of the Bible though we were not language scholars.
Dr. Maurice Robinson—Huge body of knowledge & wisdom regarding the text of the Bible. Like a walking encyclopedia. Quirky but highly respected by all.
Dr. Daniel Akin—Christianity Professor(now president of the Seminary)—Gave us confidence in the realm of apologetics, dealing with some of the difficulties already present in our own minds & those which we hadn’t even thought of yet!
Dr. Paige Patterson—President of the Seminary—Authoritatively & unapologetically looked to the Bible as God’s word & expected that of every staff member across the board.
All of these wanted their students to have what they had.
Need:
As a teacher what am I really responsible for? It must be more than curriculum, more than just shelling out information. Is this a job or a calling? Am I really a change agent for others?
James highlighted the grave responsibility of the Christian teacher’s integrity.
Inconsistencies may exist which can undermine the Christian teacher’s integrity.
What inconsistencies can undermine the teacher’s integrity?
4 Inconsistencies undermining the Christian teacher’s integrity.
1—The Christian teacher’s integrity can be undermined by their...
NUMBER(:1)
Explanation: (:1)
:1—“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”
Again(1:2, 16, 19; 2:1, 5,14) James endears himself to his audience. He has a true concern for their well-being. Here he is encouraging them to exercise their giftedness in the Spirit rather than setting their hearts on something they have determined themselves.
Teaching is a gift & is given specifically to those chosen of God for it. It is neither for merely anyone, nor is it a gift which is to be had by the “many”(majority) of a congregation.
2Cor. 10:18—“For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.”
Heb. 5:12-6:1—“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; & you have come to need milk & not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good & evil. Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works & of faith toward God,”
“The pretense of knowledge adds to the teacher’s responsibility & condemnation.”—RWP
2Tim. 2:14-16—“Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane & idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.”
2Pet. 1:10-11—“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call & election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.”
1Tim. 4:6—“If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith & of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.”
Mat. 13:52—“Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new & old.””
Jn. 21:15-17—“So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”
“Become”—ginomai—Strong—To cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) To become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.).
“Teachers”—didaskalov—1) A teacher; 2) In the NT one who teaches concerning the things of God, & the duties of man. Strong—An instructor (genitive case or specially):-- Doctor, Master, Teacher.
Getting God’s word & desire right absolutely consumes me personally. That’s the result of my calling to teach & preach. Not many are pressured in that way.
A church may be blessed with an abundance of God-called teachers but that is not the norm. On the other hand, a church may “lack”(in opinion) teachers. This may be closer to the reality than is popularly thought! Our Bible Study/Teaching ministries must be determined by that which God provides. When we force the ministries involving teaching, we unknowingly proffer false doctrine & discouragement.
Argumentation:
Mat. 10:24—““A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.”
Jn. 10:8-14—““All who ever came before Me are thieves & robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, & will go in & out & find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, & to kill, & to destroy. I have come that they may have life, & that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming & leaves the sheep & flees; & the wolf catches the sheep & scatters them. “The hireling flees because he is a hireling & does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; & I know My sheep, & am known by My own.”
Illustration:
Vidalia Sweet onions/You can plant the same seed anywhere & can grow millions of onions/But the soil determines their sweetness their fitness to be labeled ‘Sweet Onions’/NUMBER isn’t enough
Stand-ins for hollywood scenes/The real actor is fronted while the stand-ins make the scene look realistic/Simply because you are one of a large number of people does not make one worthy of being a respected actor/NUMBER isn’t enough
Application:
?Your integrity, as a teacher, undermined by your NUMBER?
?Your integrity, as a Christian, undermined by your NUMBER?
?You Fit/Called to be a Christian teacher?
2—The Christian teacher’s integrity can be undermined by their...
JUDGMENT(:1-2)
Explanation: (:1-2)
:1—“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”
Those who are in fact gifted teachers recognize that the free exercise of their gift places them in a position where they will be held to a higher standard of responsibility than those with other gifts ordained of the Spirit of God.
Though not stated here, this stronger/greater/higher standard is essential to establishing the absolute truth of God’s word rightly divided among His people.
*Why a stricter judgment? Why greater responsibility?....Teachers of God’s word, design & will are entrusted with God’s absolute truth!
“Receive”—lambanw—Strong—To take (in very many applications, literally & figuratively [properly objective or active, to get hold of.....-- Accept, + be amazed, assay, attain, bring, X when I call, catch, come on (X unto), + forget, have, hold, obtain, receive (X after), take (away, up).
“Stricter”—meizwn—1) Greater, larger, elder, stronger. Irregular Comparative of megav—Large, big, great.
“Judgment”—krima—1) A decree, judgments; 2) Judgment; 3) A matter to be judicially decided, a lawsuit, a case in court. Strong—A decision (the function or the effect, for or against ["crime"]):-- Avenge, condemned, condemnation, damnation, + go to law, judgment.
:2—“For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.”
“For we all stumble in many things.”
Every single Christian “stumbles.” This stumbling occurs across many varied areas, as Christians are unique individuals & are, gifted & faithful in unique & varied ways.
“If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man,”
In fact, if a person does not stumble “in word” it is accepted that that person would be a “perfect” or complete person. This is because if he can control the tongue in Christ, he is also able to “bridle” his entire body in Christ. Thus flesh would have no hold upon his character, but only Christ.
This scenario is completely impossible naturally(by the flesh) but is also ultimately supernaturally(by the Spirit) fleeting, as it depends solely upon one’s unceasing obedience to the Holy Spirit. However, the complete end of man is not that his perfection is actual flawlessness, but rather that he allows God, thru the Spirit, to control His life so that even his imperfection is a declared(of God) perfection(acceptability) which he thus strives to honor thruout his lifetime.
The reality is that there has never been a truly complete/perfect/flawless man except Christ, as evidenced in His sinlessness. Every Christian has this as a goal...something striven for, yet never flawlessly attained.
Php 3:8-14—“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, & count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ & be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him & the power of His resurrection, & the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind & reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
“Able also to bridle the whole body.”
Curbing one’s tongue is a result of surrendering oneself completely to the Holy Spirit. From most difficult(tongue) to less difficult(body).
Js. 1:26—“If anyone among you thinks he is religious, & does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”
“All”—apav—1) Quite, all, the whole, all together, all. Strong—Absolutely all or (singular) every one:-- all (things), every (one), whole.
“Stumble”—ptaiw—1) To cause one to stumble or fall; 2) To stumble—2a) To err, make a mistake, to sin, 2b) To fall into misery, become wretched. Strong—To trip, i.e. (figuratively) to err, sin, fail (of salvation):-- fall, offend, stumble.
“Word”—logov—Something said (including the thought); by implication A topic (subject of discourse), also Reasoning (the mental faculty) or Motive; by extension, A computation; specifically (with the article in John) The Divine Expression (i.e. Christ):-- Account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.
“Perfect”—teleiov—1) Brought to its end, finished; 2) Wanting nothing necessary to completeness; 3) Perfect; 4) That which is perfect. Strong—Complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental & moral character, etc.); neuter Completeness:-- Of full age, man, perfect.
“Bridle”(See 1:26)—calinagwgew—1) To lead by a bridle, to guide; 2) To bridle, hold in check, restrain. Strong—To be a bit-leader, i.e. To curb (figuratively):-- Bridle. Used 2X.
Argumentation:
1Cor. 8:1-2—“Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.”
Rom. 14:22—“Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.”
Don’t seek what you do not need.
Illustration:
Video Marketing for Hardees/Many are base, sexually oriented ads/The one who puts the final stamp of approval upon the commercials is answerable to the CEO & owner/JUDGMENT
Application:
?Your integrity, as a teacher, undermined by your JUDGMENT?
?Your integrity, as a Christian, undermined by your JUDGMENT?
?You Fit/Called to be a Christian teacher?
3—The Christian teacher’s integrity can be undermined by their...
TONGUE(:2-12)
Explanation: (:2-12)
:2—“For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.”
A. Bit
:3—“Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, & we turn their whole body.”
The picture of the above completeness/perfection is seen in the bit used to control a horse. The entire body of the horse is “turned” & brought into obedience by the “bit.”
“Bits”—calinov—A bridle. Used 2X.
“Obey”—peiyw—1) Persuade; 2) Be persuaded; 3) To trust, have confidence, be confident. Strong—a primary verb; To convince (by argument, true or false); by analogy, To pacify or conciliate (by other fair means); reflexively or passively, To assent (to evidence or authority), To rely (by inward certainty):-- Agree, assure, believe, have confidence, be (wax) conflent, make friend, obey, persuade, trust, yield.
“Turn”(See :4)—metagw—1) To transfer, lead over; 2) To direct. Strong—To lead over, i.e. Transfer (direct):-- Turn about. Used 2X.
“Whole Body”(See :2, 6)—olon to swma—olon—All, whole, completely & swma—The body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively:-- Bodily, body, slave.
B. Rudder
:4—“Look also at ships: although they are so large & are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.”
Likewise with the bit for the horse, so is the rudder of a ship. A “very small” part( “rudder”) of it directs the whole vessel.
“Driven”—elaunw—To drive—1a) Of the wind driving ships or clouds, 1b) Of sailors propelling a vessel by oars, to row, 1c) To be carried in a ship, to sail, 1d) Of demons driving to some place the men whom they possess. Used 5X.
“Fierce/Strong”—sklhrov—Strong—from the base of skelov; Dry, i.e. hard or tough (figuratively, harsh, severe):-- Fierce, hard. Thayer—1) Hard, harsh, rough, stiff—1a) of men: metaph. Harsh, stern, hard, 1b) of things: Violent, rough, offensive, intolerable. Always has an unfavorable meaning.
“Winds”—anemov—1) Wind, a violent agitation & stream of air; 2) A very strong tempestuous wind.
“Turned/Directed/Steered”(See :3)—metagw—1) To transfer, lead over; 2) To direct. Strong—To lead over, i.e. Transfer (direct):-- Turn about. Used 2X.
“Rudder/Helm”—phdalion—Strong—neuter of a (presumed) derivative of phdon (the blade of an oar); a "Pedal", i.e. Helm:-- Rudder. Used 2X.
“Pilot/Governor”—euyunw—1) To make straight, level, plain; 2) To lead or guide straight, to keep straight or direct—2a) Of the steersman or helmsman of a ship, 2b) Of a charioteer.
“The inclination of the pilot desires”(NASB)—ormh tou euyunontov boulhtai—“Inclination/Withersoever”—ormh—1) A violent motion, impulse; 2) A hostile movement, onset, assault. Ormh indicates hostile motion toward an object, either for seizing or repelling.
“Desires/Listeth”—boulomai—1) To will deliberately, have a purpose, be minded; 2) Of willing as an affection, to desire. Strong— To "will," i.e. (reflexively) Be willing:-- Be disposed, minded, intend, list, (be, of own) will(-ing).
C. Fire
:5—“Even so the tongue is a little member & boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!”
As in the above illustrations, so is the tongue like the bit & rudder. It too is very small yet controls great things.
The tongue however, is capable of & does “boast” & brag of doing “great things.” Thus to desire recognition as a teacher(:1)—for non-gifted reasons, regardless of motive or intentions— is an entirely selfish endeavor.
To become a teacher without the calling to it, will result in one’s “boasting great things.” & this in turn will produce a small spark which is uncontainable feeding on anything fuel-worthy & engulfing much more than envisioned. An entire forest(church & lost witness) as-it-were can be consumed by such high speaking.
“Fire has an amazing & virtually unique capacity to reproduce itself in an almost unlimited way as long as it has fuel to burn.”—John MacArthur
“Boasts great things/Makes great boasts”—megalaucew—1) To be grandiloquent; 2) To boast great things, to bear one’s self loftily in speech or action. Strong—To talk big, i.e. Be grandiloquent (arrogant, egotistic):-- Boast great things. Used 1X.
“Little”—oligov—Little, small, few. Strong—Puny (in extent, degree, number, duration or value); especially neuter (adverbial) Somewhat:-- + Almost, brief[-ly], few, (a) little, + long, a season, short, small, a while.
“Fire”(See :6)—pur—Fire. Strong—"Fire" (literally or figuratively, specifically, Lightning):-- Fiery, fire.
“Kindles”—anaptw—To light up, kindle. Strong—To enkindle:-- Kindle, light.
:6—“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, & sets on fire the course of nature; & it is set on fire by hell.”
“The tongue” is itself a fire of sorts. Whatever small word(used wrongly (selfishly, fleshly, hatefully, wrong time & place) comes forth from it can indeed utterly destroy those very lives whom God has ordained to saving faith in Christ.
The tongue, as a fire, can breathe out an entire “world” or arrangement of wrong & injustices.
“No other bodily part has such far-reaching potential for disaster & destruction as the tongue.”—John MacArthur
The tongue has such far-reaching consequences because of its “setting.” It “defiles” the entire body because it declares/announces openly the thoughts & intents of the heart, mind & body, that others may know it.
Mk. 7:20-23—“And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, “thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. “All these evil things come from within & defile a man.””
“World”—kosmov—Strong—Orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, The world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively [morally]):-- Adorning, world.
“Iniquity”—adikia—1) Injustice, of a judge; 2) Unrighteousness of heart & life; 3) A deed violating law & justice, act of unrighteousness. Strong—(legal) Injustice (properly, the quality, by implication, the act); Morally, wrongfulness (of character, life or act):-- Iniquity, unjust, unrighteousness, wrong.
“Set”—kayisthmi—1) To set, place, put. Strong—To place down (permanently), i.e. (figuratively) To designate, constitute, convoy:-- Appoint, be, conduct, make, ordain, set.
“Defiles”—spilow—1) To defile, spot. Strong—To stain or soil (literally or figuratively):-- defile, spot.
“Sets on fire”—flogizw—1) To ignite, set on fire; 2) To burn up; 3) fig. To operate destructively, have a most pernicious power—3a) Of that in which the destructive influences are kindled. Used 2X only here.
“Course”—trocov—A wheel. Strong—A wheel (as a runner), i.e. (figuratively) A circuit of physical effects:-- course.
“Nature/Life”—genesiv—1) Source, origin—1a) A book of one’s lineage, i.e. in which his ancestry or progeny are enumerated; 2) Used of birth, nativity; 3) Of that which follows origin, viz. existence, life—3a) The wheel of life (Jas 3:6), other explain it, the wheel of human origin which as soon as men are born begins to run, i.e. its course of life. Strong—Nativity; figuratively, Nature:-- Generation, nature(-ral). From —genea—A generation; by implication, An age (the period or the persons):-- Age, generation, nation, time.
“Hell”—geenna—of Hebrew origin Mnh-ayg= ‘Valley of Hinnom’(lamentation). Hell is the place of the future punishment call "Gehenna" or "Gehenna of fire". This was originally the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the filth & dead animals of the city were cast out & burned; a fit symbol of the wicked & their future destruction. Strong—Valley of (the son of) Hinnom; ge-henna (or Ge-Hinnom), A valley of Jerusalem, used (figuratively) as a name for the place (or state) of everlasting punishment:-- Hell. Used only here outside the Gospels.
D. Uncontrollable nature
:7—“For every kind of beast & bird, of reptile & creature of the sea, is tamed & has been tamed by mankind.”
:8—“But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”
As the entire wheel of our lives is set in motion by the tongue, it is clear that it cannot be “tamed”(:8).
James sets before us a tremendous contrast in that every category of animals “is tamed”(Pres Pass Ind) & indeed “has been tamed”(Perf Pass Ind) which indicates a ‘present state of conquest’ as with domestics—RWP. This taming of the animals has & is occurring due to the very ‘nature of mankind’(fusei th anyrwpinh) to do so.
Ironically though, it is impossible for man(without the Holy Spirit of God) to tame his own tongue.
Therefore man’s tongue remains an “evil” which is incapable of being held down or in its place.
The untamable tongue, which is set on fire by hell, is in fact, filed with the venom of animals, its intent &/or result being the destruction of others as fuel for hell.
Jer. 17:9-10—““The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.”
“Kind”—fusiv— Nature. Strong—Growth (by germination or expansion), i.e. (by implication) Natural production (lineal descent); by extension, A genus or sort; figuratively, Native disposition, constitution or usuage:-- ([man-])Kind, nature([-al]).
“Beast/Animals”—yhrion—1) An animal; 2) A wild animal, wild beast, beast; 3) metaph. A brutal, bestial man, savage, ferocious. Strong—diminutive from the same as yhra—(Hunting, destruction, trap); A dangerous animal:-- (venomous, wild) beast. ‘Used only of undomesticated animals.’ in the NT.—James Adamson
“Reptile/Serpents”—erpeton—1) A creeping animal, reptile—1a) Used chiefly of snakes; 2) An animal of any sort—2a) Four-legged animals & birds, 2b) Marine animals. Strong—neuter of a derivative of erpw (to creep); A reptile, i.e. (by Hebraism [compare smr—a reptile or any other rapidly moving animal:-- that creepeth, creeping (moving) thing.]) A small animal:-- Creeping thing, serpent. Used 4X.
“Creature/Things of the sea”—enaliov—That which is in the sea, marine. Strong—In the sea, i.e. marine:-- Thing in the sea.
“Tamed” &”Has been tamed”2X—damazw—1)To tame; 2) curb, restrain.
“Mankind”—anyrwpinov—1) Human—1a) Applied to things belonging to men. Strong—Human:-- human, common to man, man[-kind], [man-]kind, men’s, after the manner of men.
“Unruly”(TR, Byz.)—akatascetov—That can not be restrained. Strong—Unrestrainable:-- unruly. Negation of —katecw—To hold down(fast). Used 1X.
“Restless”(NU)(See :16—“Confusion”)—akatastatov—Adj.—Unstable, inconstant, restless. Strong—Inconstant:-- Unstable. Negation of —kayisthmi—To place down (permanently), i.e. (figuratively) To designate, constitute, convoy:-- Appoint, be, conduct, make, ordain, set.
“Evil”—kakov—1) Of a bad nature—1a) Not such as it ought to be; 2) Of a mode of thinking, feeling, acting—2a) Base, wrong, wicked; 3) Troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful. Strong—Worthless (intrinsically, such), i.e. (subjectively) Depraved, or (objectively) injurious:-- Bad, evil, harm, ill, noisome, wicked.
“Full”(See :17)—mestov—1) Full—1a) In reference to persons, whose minds are as it were filled with thoughts & emotions, either good or bad. Strong—Replete (literally or figuratively):-- Full. Used 8X.
“Deadly”—yanathforov—Death bringing, deadly. Used 1X.
“Poison”—iov—1) Poison (of animals)—1a) Poison of asps is under their lips, 1b) Spoken of men given to reviling & calumniating & thereby injuring others; 2) Rust. Strong—perhaps from eimi (to go) or ihmi (to send); Rust(as if emitted by metals); also Venom (as emitted by serpents):-- Poison, rust. Used 3X.
E. Dichotomy / Inconsistency
:9—“With it we bless our God & Father, & with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.”
With our(Christians/God’s people) tongue we—even Christians— are capable of both blessing & cursing. We bless “our God & Father” yet also “curse the men who have been made in the image of the God we bless.
“Bless”—eulogew—Strong—To speak well of, i.e. (religiously) To bless (thank or invoke a benediction upon, prosper):-- Bless, praise. “(a good word)”—RWP
“God”(Byz., TR)—yeov—1) A god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities. 2) The Godhead, trinity; 3) Spoken of the only & true God; 4) Whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way. Strong—A deity, especially (with o) The supreme Divinity; figuratively, A magistrate; by Hebraism, Very:-- X Exceeding, God, god[-ly, -ward].
*“Lord”(NU)—ton kurion—1) He to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord. Strong—from kurov (supremacy); Supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) Controller; by implication, Mr. (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir.
“Father”—pathr—Strong—A "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote):-- Father, parent.
“Curse”—kataraomai—1) To curse, doom, imprecate evil upon. Strong—To execrate; by analogy, to doom:-- Curse.
“Made”—ginomai—Strong—To cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) To become (come into being), Used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.).
“Similitude”—omoiwsiv—1) A making like; 2) Likeness: after the likeness of God. Strong—Assimilation, i.e. Resemblance:-- Similitude. Used 1X. “From omoiow (to make like)”...“the usual word being omoiwma, resemblance (Php 2:7).”—RWP
:10—“Out of the same mouth proceed blessing & cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”
The presence of both “blessing & cursing” by God’s people should not even exist. It should never continue as such among them. It is never God’s desire to produce two opposing streams of behavior from a person who has become a new creature in Christ(2Cor. 5:17).
Since this blessing & cursing dualism should not “be so,” this informs us of the saved person’s dilemma—Christians are empowered of the Spirit of God yet He intentionally subjects Himself to their human will.
“Proceed”—exercomai—1) To go or come forth of. Strong—To issue (literally or figuratively):-- Come (forth, out), depart (out of), escape, get out, go (abroad, away, forth, out, thence), proceed (forth), spread abroad.
“Ought not”—ou crh—1) It is necessary; 2) It behooves. Signifies the necessity resulting from time & circumstances. Strong—It needs (must or should) be:-- ought. Used 1X.
“To be so”—outwv ginesyai— “So to keep on happening,” not just “to be,” present middle infinitive of ginomai.—RWP
a. Spring
:11—“Does a spring send forth fresh water & bitter from the same opening?”
“Does/Can”—mhti—1) Whether, at all, perchance. Strong— Whether at all:-- Not [the particle usually not expressed, except by the form of the question].
“The use of mhti shows that a negative answer is expected in this rhetorical question.”—RWP
“Spring/Fountain”—phgh—1) Fountain, spring; 2) A well fed by a spring. Strong—A fount (literally or figuratively), i.e. Source or supply (of water, blood, enjoyment) (not necessarily the original spring):-- Fountain, well.
“Send forth”—bruw—1) To abound, gush forth, teem with juices; 2) To send forth abundantly, to teem. Strong—To swell out, i.e. (by implication) To gush:-- Send forth. Used 1X.
“Fresh”(See :12)—glukuv—Sweet. Strong—Sweet (i.e. not bitter nor salt):-- Sweet, fresh. “neuter singular articular adjective is a common way of presenting a quality.”—RWP
“Bitter”(See :14 & :12—“Salt”)—pikrov—1) Bitter; 2) metaph. Harsh, virulent. Strong—Sharp (pungent), i.e. Acrid (literally or figuratively):-- Bitter. Used 2X.
“Opening”—oph—1) Through which one can see, an opening, an aperture. Strong—A hole (as if for light), i.e. Cavern; by analogy, A spring (of water):-- Cave, place. Used 2X.
b. Tree
:12—“Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water & fresh.””
James asks of his “brethren,” that is his fellow believers in Christ.
He asks them to compare 1 aspect of 2 known crops. He asks, 1) Whether “a fig tree” naturally produces “olives”—which it does not; & 2)Whether “a grapevine” naturally produces figs,”—which it does not.
Jesus applied this same tree analogy to distinguishing false prophets from true.
Mat. 7:15-20—““Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down & thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
James then applies the tree analogy to the truth regarding the singular source of spring water above(:11) & the impossibility of it producing two water types. He plainly states that a single spring indeed never produces both “salt”(“bitter”(:11)) & “fresh”(:11).
“Can”—mh dunatai—Negation of—dunamai—Strong—To be able or possible:-- Be able, can (do, + -not), could, may, might, be possible, be of power. “Negative answer expected.”—RWP
“Bear”(See “yields” below & :18)—poiew—Strong—To make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct).
“Grapevine”—ampelov—1) a vine. Strong—A vine (as coiling about a support):-- Vine.
“Yields”(See “Bear” above & :18)—poiew—Strong—To make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct).
“Salt”—alukov—Salt. Strong—Briny:-- Salt. Used 1X.
“Fresh”(See :11)—glukuv—Sweet. Strong—Sweet (i.e. not bitter nor salt):-- Sweet, fresh. “neuter singular articular adjective is a common way of presenting a quality.”—RWP
Argumentation:
Prov. 21:23—pro 21:23—“Whoever guards his mouth & tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.”
1Cor. 12:26-31; 13:13; 14:1, 26—“And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, & members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”.....“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” “Pursue love, & desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”.....“How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.”
1Tim. 3:1-2 “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;”.....“not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.”
Illustration:
Back in the day when people butchered their own meat....A woman maliciously gossiped about another lady & her family in her small town/Had a change of heart/She went to the town’s pastor & asked how she could take back all the wrong she had done/He told her to go home & kill her chickens, pluck the feathers & put them into a bag. Then return to the pastor, but on her way back, to scatter all the feathers she had plucked from the chickens. When she returned, pastor told her, “now go back & pick up all the feathers that you have scattered.” The woman was astonished at such a command & said, “By now the wind has carried the feathers thruout the town & beyond.” The pastor then told Her, And so it is with your careless words. They are like the feathers scattered in the wind. You cannot retrieve them/TONGUE
—Adapted from Jeffrey Smith’s ’The Power of Words’ —Sermon Central.com 2002
Toothpaste/Once out of the tube it cannot be replaced/TONGUE
Application:
?Your integrity, as a teacher, undermined by your TONGUE?
?Your integrity, as a Christian, undermined by your TONGUE?
?You Fit/Called to be a Christian teacher?
4—The Christian teacher’s integrity can be undermined by their...
WISDOM(:13-18)
Explanation: (:13-18)
:13—“Who is wise & understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.”
James then asks anticipatingly who among the church(his audience) is respectably both “wise” & knowledgeable.
Those recognized as such are encouraged/rebuked/instructed to reveal their “wisdom” by their works(2:18, 22). These works(which honor Christ) will be accomplished “by good conduct.” This conduct is, in-turn, empowered of the Spirit & thus couched within an attitude of “meekness.”
“Wisdom” is never to be wielded as a club over others but is to be exercised & shared with concern for the well-being of others. Godly wisdom is not used as a means of drawing attention to one’s own importance. If recognition is to come of our wisdom, it must arise as a side result of our pointing to every intrinsic & manifesting quality & purpose of God.
“James here returns to the standpoint of verse 1 about many teachers. Speech & wisdom are both liable to abuse”—RWP
“Wise”—sofov—Wise—1a) Skilled, expert: of artificers, 1b) Wise, skilled in letters, cultivated, learned—1b1) Of the Greek philosophers & orators, 1b2) Of Jewish theologians, 1b3) Of Christian teachers, 1c) Forming the best plans & using the best means for their execution. Denotes wise, skilled, an expert. Strong—Wise (in a most general application):-- Wise. “sofov is used for the practical teacher”—RWP
“Understanding”—episthmwn—1) Intelligent, experienced, one having the knowledge of an expert. Eng.—‘epistemology’—Study of knowledge. “an expert, a skilled & scientific person with a tone of superiority.”—RWP. Used 1X.
“Show”—deiknuw—1) To show, expose to the eyes; 2) metaph.—2a) To give evidence or proof of a thing, 2b) To show by words or teach.
“Good”—kalov—1) Beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable. It means beautiful, physically or morally. It is, however, distinctly the beauty which comes from harmony, the beauty which arises from a symmetrical adjustment in right proportion, in other words, from the harmonious completeness of the object concerned. Strong—properly, Beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) Good (literally or morally), i.e. Valuable or virtuous(for appearance or use)--X better, fair, good(-ly), honest, meet, well, worthy.
“Conduct/Conversation/Behavior/Life”—anastrofh—1) Manner of life, conduct, behaviour, deportment. Strong—Behavior:-- Conversation. Used 13X.
“Works”—ergon—1) Business, employment, that which any one is occupied—1a) That which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking; 2) Any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind; 3) An act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasized in opp. to that which is less than work. Strong—Toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, An act:-- Deed, doing, labour, work.
“Meekness”—prauthv—1) Mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness. Strong—Mildness, i.e. (by implication) Humility:-- Meekness.
“Wisdom”—sofia—N. f.—1) Wisdom, broad & full of intelligence; used of the knowledge of very diverse matters. Knowledge or the apprehension of truths with the added dimension of the power of reasoning about them & tracing their relationships. Denotes a "mental excellence of the highest sense", to details.
:14—“But if you have bitter envy & self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast & lie against the truth.”
The “bitterness” & “salt” characterizing the waters of :11-12 is now applied to the Christian. These saved people may possess the same offensive qualities within their own “hearts.” Such unsavory tastes are seen in the presence of “envy” & “self-seeking” within the heart. Hidden yet expressed, presumably by the tongue not given to the wooing & control of the Holy Spirit.
Promotion of self over God is thereby “boasting” over & above God which is obviously a “lie.”
In so doing, they are actually “boasting”(of themselves) & presenting a “lie” which is necessarily contrary to God’s “truth.”
“Boasting arrogance disproves the possession of wisdom.”—RWP
1Cor. 8:1-2—“Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.”
“Bitter”(See :11 & :12—“Salt”)—pikrov—1) Bitter; 2) metaph. Harsh, virulent. Strong—Sharp (pungent), i.e. Acrid (literally or figuratively):-- Bitter. Used 2X.
“Envy/Jealousy”(See :16)—zhlov—1) Excitement of mind, ardor, fervor of spirit—1a) Zeal, ardor in embracing, pursuing, defending anything—1a1) Zeal in behalf of, for a person or thing, 1a2) The fierceness of indignation, punitive zeal, 1b) An envious & contentious rivalry, jealousy. Strong—properly, Heat, i.e. (figuratively) "Zeal" (in a favorable sense, Ardor; in an unfavorable one, Jealousy, as of a husband [figuratively, of God], or an enemy, malice):-- Emulation, envy(-ing), fervent mind, indignation, jealousy, zeal.
—This is a neutral word which seems to be guided by the context.
“Self-seeking/Strife/Selfish ambition/”(See :16)—eriyeia—1) Electioneering or intriguing for office—1a) Apparently, in the NT a courting distinction, a desire to put one’s self forward, a partisan & fractious spirit which does not disdain low arts, 1b) Partisanship, fractiousness. Strong—properly, Intrigue, i.e. (by implication) Faction:-- Contention(-ious), strife. From—ereyizw—1) To stir up, excite, stimulate, to provoke. Used 7X.
“Boast/Glory/Arrogant”—katakaucaomai—1) To glory against, to exult over, to boast one’s self to the injury (of a person or thing). Used 4X.
“Lie”—qeudomai—1) To lie, to speak deliberate falsehoods; 2) To deceive one by a lie, to lie to. Strong—To utter an untruth or attempt to deceive by falsehood:-- Falsely, lie.
“Truth”—alhyeia—1) objectively—1a) What is true in any matter under consideration; 2) subjectively—2a) Truth as a personal excellence. Strong—Truth:-- True, X truly, truth, verity.
:15—“This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.”
The kind of “wisdom” set forth in :14 is not that which comes down to us “from above” but rather arises from the earth & possesses all the characteristics of such. It is thus, created but is also fallen.
Such earthly wisdom is also marked by both the “sensual” & “demonic” nature inherent to it. It is a wisdom which has not been surrendered to the power of the Holy Spirit & is thus given to the flesh & the flesh, in serving its own ends, is thereby given to “demonic” ends & control.
“Earthly”—epigeiov—1) Existing upon the earth, earthly, terrestrial.
“Sensual”—qucikov—1) Of or belonging to breath. Qucikov has really a distinct meaning, describing the life which is controlled by the quch—1a) Having the nature & characteristics of the breath—1a1) The principal of animal life, which men have in common with the brutes, 1b) Governed by breath—1b1) the sensuous nature with its subjection to appetite & passion It denotes, therefore, that which belongs to the animal life, or that which is controlled simply by the appetites & passions of the sensuous nature. Used 6X.
“Demonic”—daimoniwdhv—1) Resembling or proceeding from an evil spirit, demon-like. Used 1X.
:16—“For where envy & self-seeking exist, confusion & every evil thing are there.”
If there are particular characteristics of evil present—such as envy & self-seeking) in any person or people, then there will also be all manner of equivalent & telling actions, choices, results there as well.
Gal. 5:19-21—“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, & the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Mat. 18:20—““For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.””
1Cor. 3:3—“....For where there are envy, strife, & divisions among you, are you not carnal & behaving like mere men?”
1Cor. 14:27-33—“If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, & let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, & let him speak to himself & to God. Let two or three prophets speak, & let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn & all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”
Rom. 8:11-14—“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
“Envy/Jealousy”(See :14)—zhlov—1) Excitement of mind, ardor, fervor of spirit—1a) Zeal, ardor in embracing, pursuing, defending anything—1a1) Zeal in behalf of, for a person or thing, 1a2) The fierceness of indignation, punitive zeal, 1b) An envious & contentious rivalry, jealousy. Strong—properly, Heat, i.e. (figuratively) "Zeal" (in a favorable sense, Ardor; in an unfavorable one, Jealousy, as of a husband [figuratively, of God], or an enemy, malice):-- Emulation, envy(-ing), fervent mind, indignation, jealousy, zeal.
—This is a neutral word which seems to be guided by the context.
“Self-seeking/Strife/Selfish ambition/”(See :16)—eriyeia—1) Electioneering or intriguing for office—1a) Apparently, in the NT a courting distinction, a desire to put one’s self forward, a partisan & fractious spirit which does not disdain low arts, 1b) Partisanship, fractiousness. Strong—properly, Intrigue, i.e. (by implication) Faction:-- Contention(-ious), strife. From—ereyizw—1) To stir up, excite, stimulate, to provoke. Used 7X.
“Confusion/Disorder”(See :8—”Restless”)—N. f.—akatastasia—1) Instability, a state of disorder, disturbance, confusion. Strong—Instability, i.e. Disorder:-- Commotion, confusion, tumult. Used 5X.
“Evil”—faulov—1) Easy, slight, ordinary, mean, worthless, of no account; 2) Ethically, bad, base, wicked. Faulov is the bad chiefly as the worthless, the good for nothing. Strong—"Foul" or "flawy", i.e. (figuratively) Wicked:-- Evil.
“Thing”—pragma—1) That which has been done, a deed, an accomplished fact; 2) What is done or being accomplished—2a) spec. business, a commercial transaction; 3) A matter, question, affair—3a) spec. in a forensic sense, A matter at law, case, suit; 4) That which is or exists, a thing. Strong—A deed; by implication, An affair; by extension, An object (material):-- Business, matter, thing, work. From—prassw—To "practice", i.e. Perform repeatedly or habitually.
:17—“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy & good fruits, without partiality & without hypocrisy.”
Regarding that wisdom characterized as having arisen from God in Christ & of the Spirit, it is first & foremost, “pure,” or free from that which can contaminate, such as the envy & self-seeking of :14 & :15.
As this foremost purity distinguishes this wisdom, so its purity results in its seeking peace, its heart for equitability & that which is fair.
This godly wisdom also manifests itself in a compliance to the Spirit which affords Him ease regarding the particular believer.
Rather than being “full of” deadly poison(:8), this wisdom produces & offers a fullness of “mercy” in thought word & deed. It also offers a fullness of “good fruits,” in that such wisdom, in granting God’s goodness to others & other effects, produces, in those people & things, a self-perpetuating goodness.
Godly wisdom from above also is exercised with no suspect qualities such as the partiality discussed in 2:1-13.
Likewise, godly wisdom from above exhibits no hypocritical determinations. There is nothing in the agenda of the honorably wise which must be disguised or hidden in order to be executed.
“First”—prwton—1) First in time or place—1a) in any succession of things or persons; 2) First in rank—2a) Influence, honor, 2b) Chief, 2c) Principal; 3) First, at the first. Strong—Firstly (in time, place, order, or importance):-- Before, at the beginning, chiefly (at, at the) first (of all).
“Pure”—agnov—1) Exciting reverence, venerable, sacred; 2) Pure—2a) Pure from carnality, chaste, modest, 2b) Pure from every fault, immaculate, 2c) Clean. It means specifically pure. But this may be only in a ceremonial sense, or it may have a moral signification. It sometimes describes freedom from impurities of the flesh. Strong—properly, Clean, i.e. (figuratively) Innocent, modest, perfect:-- Chaste, clean, pure.
“Then”—epeita—1) Thereupon, thereafter, then, afterwards.
“Peaceable”—eirhnikov—1) Relating to peace; 2) Peaceable, pacific, loving peace; 3) Bring peace with it, peaceful, salutary. Used 2X.
“Gentle”—epieikhv—1) Seeming, suitable; 2) Equitable, fair, mild, gentle. Strong—Appropriate, i.e. (by implication) Mild:-- Gentle, moderation, patient. Used 5X.
“Willing to Yield”—eupeiyhv—1) Easily obeying, compliant. Strong—Lit. = ‘good for persuasion,’ i.e. (intransitively) Complaint:-- Easy to be intreated. Used 1X.
“Full of”(See :8)—mestov—1) Full—1a) In reference to persons, whose minds are as it were filled with thoughts & emotions, either good or bad. Strong—Replete (literally or figuratively):-- Full. Used 8X.
“Mercy”—eleov—1) Mercy: Kindness or good will towards the miserable & the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them. Denotes sympathy, fellow-feeling with misery, mercy, compassion. Eleov, however, manifests itself chiefly in acts rather than words.
“Good fruits”—karpwn agaywn—agayov—1) Of good constitution or nature; 3) Good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy; 4) Excellent, distinguished; 5) Upright, honorable.
“Without Partiality”—adiakritov—1) Undistinguished, unintelligible; 2) Without dubiousness, ambiguity or uncertainty. Strong—properly, Undistinguished, i.e. (actively) Impartial:-- Without partiality. Used 1X.
“Hypocrisy”—anupokritov—1) Unfeigned, undisguised, sincere. Strong—Undissembled, i.e. Sincere:-- Without dissimulation (hypocrisy), unfeigned.
:18—“Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.””
In fact, the very “fruit” borne of “righteousness” is itself “sown” in “peace” rather than in the confusion(:16) of envy & self-seeking. This fruit is also sown by the very one’s who themselves are the makers/doers/practicers of “peace.” God’s righteousness is thus always grasped & understood fully within the confines of His peace.
“Righteousness”—dikaiosunh—1) in a broad sense: State of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God; 2) in a narrower sense, Justice or the virtue which gives each his due. Strong—Equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) Justification:-- Righteousness.
“Sown”—speirw—1) To sow, scatter, seed; 2) metaph. of proverbial sayings.
“Peace”2X—eirhnh—1) A state of national tranquillity; 2) Peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord; 3) Security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace & harmony make & keep things safe & prosperous); 4) Of the Messiah’s peace; 5) Of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, & so fearing nothing from God & content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is; 6) The blessed state of devout & upright men after death. Strong—probably from a primary verb eirw (to join); Peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, Prosperity:-- One, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again.
“Make”—poiew—(See “bear” & “yields” :12)—Strong—To make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct).
Argumentation:
Isa. 5:21—“Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!”
Prov. 26:12—“Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
Rom. 1:21-23—“because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, & their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, & changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--& birds & four-footed animals & creeping things.”
Isa. 47:10—““For you have trusted in your wickedness; You have said, ‘No one sees me’; Your wisdom & your knowledge have warped you; And you have said in your heart, ‘I am, & there is no one else besides me.’”
Mat. 6:19 -23—““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth & rust destroy & where thieves break in & steal; “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys & where thieves do not break in & steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”
Rom. 11:25(:15-25)—“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”
Rom. 12:16—“Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.”
1Cor. 3:18-20—“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; & again, “The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.””
1Cor. 13:2 “And though I have the gift of prophecy, & understand all mysteries & all knowledge, & though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”
You may have a vast knowledge of biblical truth, God’s truth, spiritual truth, but utilized without love there is no wisdom to use it properly.
Illustration:
Me attempting to fix our outside handrail which had separated from the wall/Went to Lowes/Oogled & ogled over the right anchors to buy—Did not have the proper size & length/Got home & my wife discovered after blowing the dirt from the hole, that there was a nut anchored deep in the mortar/Simple solution!/I had neglected to examine the already existent hole more closely!/WISDOM
Application:
?Your integrity, as a teacher, undermined by your WISDOM?
?Your integrity, as a Christian, undermined by your WISDOM?
?You Fit/Called to be a Christian teacher?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
The teachers we remember:
Action:
The Christian teacher’s integrity can be undermined by their...
1. NUMBER(:1)
2. JUDGMENT(:1-2)
3. TONGUE(:2-12)
4. WISDOM(:13-18)
Presented 01/16/2010am to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
