Wisdom that is Sensual and Devilish James 3:15

As James continued to exhort the people within the “twelve tribes scattered abroad”, he asked them “who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among” them? He exhorted them to “show out of good conversation” their “works with meekness of wisdom”. He challenged them that if they had “bitter envying and strife in” their “hearts”, they were to not “glory” in them and not “lie against the truth”. In chapter three and verse fifteen of his letter, James told them about “wisdom” that is “sensual and devilish” where we read:

This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

The verse begins, “This wisdom descends not from above,...” James began with the words, “This wisdom” or “the thinking and varied knowledge of things human and divine acquired by acuteness and experience that included bitter envying and strife” “descends” which means “comes down from a higher to a lower locality” “not from above” or “from a higher place such as heaven or God”. James declared “bitterness” and “envy” did not come from God above.

The verse continues, “... but is earthly, sensual, devilish.” James added, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated, “moreover, nevertheless and notwithstanding” “is earthly” or “existing upon the earth and terrestrial”, “sensual” which means “belonging to breath and the sensuous nature with its subjection to appetite and passion”, “devilish” or “resembling or proceeding from an evil spirit which is demon-like”. Rather than being “wisdom” that comes from above, James declared that way of thinking to be of the “earth”, related to sensation and evil”.

When we consider these words of James, we understand the origin of “bitterness” and “envy” and how they lead to “bitter” speech and a wicked manner of living. When we allow “earthly, sensual and devilish” thinking to enter our souls, we are not only to know it did not come from “above”, but rather it came from the lowest sources opportune to man. Our words and actions are affected by our “wisdom”, and we must listen to the “wisdom” of Jesus Christ if we are to speak and act as He did in this world.

Next time James shares what happens when there is “envying and strife”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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