October - Reading 7

Good afternoon -

Our Scriptures for today are:

John 2:12-25

James 3:13-18

Ecclesiastes 5

Jeremiah 14-15

May God bless you as you read from His Word.

[ October 07, 2002, 01:35 PM: Message edited by: Clint Kritzer ]

 

Thanks Aaron. Good to see you back.

Good evening all -

We also read today John's account of the Cleansing of the Temple. John cites 69:9 as a quality of the One who would be the Messiah. Just as with the miracles, John was very concrned about the signifigance of events in Christ's ministry. The immorality being commited by the money changers and the people selling sacrifices was not the acts themselves but the fact that they had gone so far as to set up their booths and stalls right inside the Temple itself in an area that was open for Gentiles to pray. This boldness for the sake of making profit was a sacrilege.

James today explores the two types of wisdom we see in the world. Wisdom that comes from above always results in a crop of righteous action.

May God bless you

- Clint

 

Sunday School lecture - 8/17/03 (conclusion)

James 3:13-18

4) (James 3:13-18)This chapter concludes with the contrast of two types of wisdom. A knowledgeable man easily demonstrates the earthly wisdom. True wisdom, the works shown by good conduct in meekness, transcends the empty intellect. True wisdom will manifest itself in good conversation and good deeds. James stresses that both are necessary for qualifying one as a teacher. Bitter jealousy (bitter envying) refers to a fierce devotion to one’s own position without any consideration of another’s. Selfish ambition (strife) refers to a spirit that uses any means to attain one’s goals. These vices lead to disorder and vile practices (confusion and evil work). James says that this type of wisdom is earthly, meaning human, unspiritual (sensual), meaning apart from God, and demonic meaning, of course, from an evil spirit. Each of these three terms puts the practitioner further from God, each more distant than the previous.

James’ discourse about the wisdom from above parallels nicely Galatians 5:22-23, Paul’s discourse on the Fruit of the Spirit. This wisdom is first pure, meaning holy and acceptable to God. It is then peaceable, productive of harmony between men. It does not pursue peace at the expense of truth or purity. It is gentle, as in reasonable, kind and considerate. It is open to reason (easy to be entreated) meaning compliant, and it is full of mercy and good fruits, abounding in compassion, love and good deeds. It is not hypocritical nor does it show favoritism.

The harvest of such wisdom is righteousness. This is the reward for doing what God demands. Interestingly, the harvest is not reaped but it is sown. This is an extremely Christian view in a very Judaistic Epistle. Righteousness is not hoarded and stored away but is instead distributed among mankind. The wisdom from above induces the recipient to make peace. This is the call, the duty and the responsibility of the teacher.

[ October 04, 2004, 08:20 AM: Message edited by: Clint Kritzer ]

 

Our Scriptures for 10/8 are:

John 3:1-15

James 4:1-10

Ecclesiastes 6

Jeremiah 16-18

 

Our Scriptures for 10/8 are:

John 3:1-15

James 4:1-10

Ecclesiastes 6

Jeremiah 16-18

 

Our Scriptures for 10/8 are:

John 3:1-15

James 4:1-10

Ecclesiastes 6

Jeremiah 16-18

 

Our Scriptures for 10/8 are:

John 3:1-15

James 4:1-10

Ecclesiastes 6

Jeremiah 16-18

 

Our Scriptures for 10/8 are:

John 3:1-15

James 4:1-10

Ecclesiastes 6

Jeremiah 16-18