James 3:17-18
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.

Application: 

The hearts of some people are characterized by bitter envy and selfish ambition (3:14). Such attitudes may enable them to succeed in life, but this kind of “wisdom” does not come down from above. It’s demonic and comes straight from hell (3:15). Remember, mere human wisdom is an expression of Satan’s agenda. To convey heavenly wisdom, you must communicate with heaven.*

Human wisdom is grounded in selfish ambition, yielding the bitter fruit of envy. In contrast, consider the root and fruit of heavenly wisdom.*

True wisdom comes from above; the Lord is its source. What does it look like? It’s pure, peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, and without pretense (3:17). Whereas human wisdom tears others down, godly wisdom builds them up. It’s authentic and leads to peace rather than strife. Do you want to bear the fruit of righteousness? Then you must sow and cultivate peace (3:18).*

James describes the harmful effects of false wisdom. Earthly wisdom results in jealousy and selfish ambition, which can lead to troubling situations for Christian communities. The virtues James lists are primarily selfless and nonaggressive; those who practice these virtues show greater concern for others than for themselves. They contrast sharply with the vices described in vv 14-16.^

*Reference: Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 1175.
^Reference: John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Jas 3:16-17.

To God be the glory!

Our Lord Jesus Christ created everything! By Him, For Him!

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

Disclaimer

When God inspires me, I write blogs. Consider this writing as a Bible study. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, search the Scriptures to determine whether what I write is so. Always consult with your church ministers about biblical matters. I am also not a professional writer, so some grammar or spelling errors may be present. I try my best to write as efficiently as possible. Your brother in Christ, Ricardo

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