Passage James 3:17-18
Similar to Paul’s contrast of “worldly standards” and “Godly wisdom” (cf. 1 Cor. 1:20; 2:5-6), James now paints a picture of Godly wisdom that is unlike that which he described in the previous section (3:14-16). And, just as Paul lists for us the fruit that manifests from the Holy Spirit in us (Galatians 5:22-23), James lists the fruit produced by the “wisdom from above.” He offers eight indicators of wisdom in the life of a Christian.The first is “pure.” Purity is holiness or the very nature of God evident in the life of the Christian.
The next is” peaceable.” Jerusalem is the “City of Peace.” “Shalom” is the Jewish greeting of “peace.” Jesus, of course, is the “Prince of Peace.” It would be hard to overstate the importance the God of Peace places on the quality of a life for his children to be free from anxiety and turmoil. Think about Jesus sleeping in the sinking boat during the storm. Remember how chaos broke out around him as Judas applied the betrayer’s kiss, yet he immediately brought calm to the situation. Now consider how the world reacts during times of crisis, even throughout the COVID-19 scare of this year. No matter the outcome, The Christian is at peace because the earth is not his home and his hope is tied to the God of Heaven.
To be “gentle” is the fruit of doing what is right, fitting and moderate. The previously mentioned spiritual quality of “meekness” is that which leads one to be gentle when the flesh might wish to do otherwise.
One who is “open to reason” demonstrates that he is easily persuaded, with the implication of being reasonable or willing to listen. Those who run on instinct or feelings risk being misled by their flesh rather than Godly wisdom. As Solomon writes, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future” (Proverbs 19:20).
Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful for they will receive mercy in return” (Matthew 5:7). It stands to reason that the wisdom from above would bear the fruit “full of mercy.” The merciful demonstrate kindness and goodwill toward the miserable and afflicted and have a genuine desire to relieve them
The last three can be combined (i.e. “good fruits,” “impartiality,” “sincere”). James repeats his premise of having “good fruits” to emphasize the two qualities that those fruits should exclude: partiality and hypocrisy. Though written more affirmatively in English here, the prophet wrote them as emphatically negative (e.g. “without partiality,” “without hypocrisy”) just as Campbell translated them (AC, Living Oracles). As Fream observes, the Christian, “like God, shows mercy and the fruits of the Spirit are evident in his life; [that] which is constant and unchanging, and true to the core” (College Press, p. 143).
In the final verse of the section (3:18), James returns to the idea of peace. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). Likewise, the prophet here returns to the great harvest of righteousness that yields from what is sown in peace. Perhaps the writer of Hebrews had a similar thought in mind when he wrote about how our Heavenly Father trains us, “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11).
By making such a stark contrast between those who live by worldly standards and those who live by the wisdom from above, James clearly delineates a metric by which every Christian can examine himself. If you find yourself exhibiting the wrong fruit, “Wise up!”
