THE TWO WISDOMS – (James 3:13-18) 

Introduction: James gave us the answer there are two wisdoms and they produce entirely different patterns of conduct. One is the wisdom of the world with earthly, fleshly and satanic concept while the other is the wisdom from heaven. If we possess the right wisdom in our mouth, we shall solve most if not all the problems of our homes, our churches and all our relationships.

1. The Character of Earthly Wisdom. (vs.14-16)

“But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.”

 The Wisdom of the World – 

a.      Wisdom is earthly vs. 15

b.      Wisdom is sensual  or unspiritual  vs. 15

c.       Wisdom is of the evil or demonic  vs. 15

i. Bitter envy and self-seeking: These are the opposite of the meekness of wisdom mentioned in James 3:13. These words actually refer to someone who has a critical, contentious, fight-provoking manner. 

ii. “Religious people may be extremely provoking, and defeat their own ends by overbearing methods; right views and sound counsels may lose their effect if they are expressed by men who are self-seeking partisans or unscrupulous controversialists.” (Moffatt)

d. Earthly, sensual, demonic: Adam Clarke defined each term:

i. Earthly: “Having this life only in view.”

ii. Sensual: “Animal- having for its object the gratification of the passions and animal propensities.”

iii. Demonic: “Demoniacal- inspired by demons, and maintained in the soul by their indwelling influence.”  (Guzik)

e. Confusion and every evil thing: This is the fruit of human, earthly wisdom. The wisdom of the world, the flesh, and the devil may be able to accomplish things, but always with the ultimate fruit of confusion and every evil thing. These are wisdom opposite to God’s wisdom that produces characteristics and behaviour of the world and flesh.

 Application: Do we have bitterness, envy and strife in our hearts toward anyone else?  If we have why won.t we let forgiveness, love and grace work in our heart to show that Jesus now lives inside us.

2. The Character of Heavenly Wisdom. (vs. 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.

What is the heavenly and Godly Wisdom? (Rodney)

There are nine Characteristics of Wisdom:

1.   Humility (3:13)

The divine wisdom pure selfish ambition of vain conceit out of the question and replace good attitudes of humility.

2.   Purity is the foremost  characteristic of the wisdom God imparts. It is not a mixture as human wisdom is. Wisdom is pure from every defilement.  It is chaste, clean and not contaminated by anything or any person. Vs. 13

3.   Peace-loving – is an excellent way to describe peaceable-ness. Peaceable means peaceful, healthful and wholesome.

4.   Gentle means yielding, considerate, forbearing, kind, fair. It is opposite of violence and quarrelsomeness.  

5.   Submissiveness  vs. 17 – or willing to yield.

          This wisdom is willing to yield: “Not stubborn  nor obstinate; of a yielding disposition in all indifferent things”. (Clarke)

           Wisdom is not being stubborn and of being willing to listen to reason and to appeal… true wisdom is not rigid but is willing to listen and skilled in knowing when wisely to yield.” (Barclay)

6.   Mercy is one of God’s essential qualities (Rom. 15:9; 2 Tim. 1:2) and it is mirrored in the wisdom He gives. Full of mercy is an active compassion, the desire to relieve the miserable.

7.   Good fruit sums up the good actions to which true wisdom leads. Fruit does not appear all at once, and it may take considerable time to mature, but once there it is a proof of the existence of the divine wisdom in a human life.

8.   Impartiality – The word translated impartial carries the meaning of the sins of favouritism in James 2:1. It has to do with respecting of persons, prejudices on races, etc.

9.   Sincerity or without hypocrisy – means genuineness and freedom from hypocrisy. Those who are filled with God’s wisdom are never underhanded but they are utterly straightforward. Hypocrisy is pretending to be what one is not.  Wisdom is more than having knowledge.  It involves the outworking of the character of God that is in us by the Holy Spirit and is manifested by the way we speak and act. (Rodney)

b. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace: This fruit is like a seed that will bear fruit as it is sown by those who make peace. v.18

“The fruit of righteousness; either the fruit we bring forth, which is righteousness itself, or the fruit we reap, which is the reward of righteousness, viz. eternal life.” (Poole)  It is doing or being what is just and right: the character and acts of a man approved by God.  (Bullinger’s)

 Application:  Apply God's Wisdom in Your Life:

Ø Make wise decisions: Apply the knowledge and understanding gained from God's Word to your daily choices.

Ø Cultivate a teachable spirit: Be open to learning from others and from your experiences.

Ø Be humble: Recognize that true wisdom is not about personal gain but about seeking what aligns with God's truth.

May the Lord bless you with Great Wisdom from above!