“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.”
Monthly Archive for October, 2000
This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
“This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.”
Sensual,
“Sensual” means belonging to the soul and refers to the natural mind and physical aspects of man. This has to do with our appetites and passions – life in the natural world, the fallen world. There is nothing higher in man. The wisdom of the previous verse is wisdom typical of human nature, not divine nature. That is soulish wisdom, not spiritual wisdom.
1 Co 2: 14 “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”
Ju 19 “These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.”
PRINCIPLE: The combination of “bitter envy” and “self-seeking” produces a calloused attitude to God and to others.
APPLICATION: Wisdom that gives rise to strife does not come from God. Do you find yourself full of bitter envy and self-interest? “Yes, I have alienated myself from family and friends. I have developed a calloused attitude toward people and life as a whole.” The combination of “bitter envy” and “self-seeking” will do this every time. This is a difficult position to shed.
“This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.”
This verse distinguishes divine viewpoint from the human viewpoint of the previous two verses. The Bible is God’s message from Himself to us. There is where we find divine viewpoint.
This wisdom does not descend from above,
The readers of this epistle gloried in self-centered wisdom (3:13,14). This wisdom does not descend from above [heaven] but from below [earth and the forces on it]. Human wisdom is not divine viewpoint but simply human viewpoint.
PRINCIPLE: The mature Christian operates on divine viewpoint, not human viewpoint.
APPLICATION: There is a tendency in our day for Christians to use human viewpoint to direct their Christian lives. This is a terrible mistake. Without divine viewpoint [knowing the principles of God’s Word and how He thinks as over against how man thinks], we cannot live the Christian life.
1 Co 1: 20 “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world [human viewpoint]? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God [divine viewpoint], the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.”
1 Co 3: 18 “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness’; 20 and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.’ 21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. 23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.”
But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
“But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.”
But if you have bitter envy
We should translate the word “envy” as zeal. A zealous person is an enthusiastic person (Ro 10:2). In this context, zeal is destructive because it is a “bitter” zeal.
The word “bitter” means to cut, prick, hence, it is something sharp and pungent. The idea is “harsh envy.” This is a person in an embittered state, a state of animosity. Eventually an embittered person becomes malignant and cruel. Harsh jealousy is a passion that will poison our relationships.
He 12: 14 “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled…”
PRINCIPLE: Misdirected zeal has a harsh effect on our relationships.
APPLICATION: Pettiness and jealousy expose a weak underside. This not only makes us insensitive to others but it makes us insensitive to ourselves. The more insensitive we become to others, the more insensitive we become to ourselves. Envy keeps the cycle moving.
Ep 4: 31 “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”
Some zeal triggers quarreling and strife among fellow believers. If we keep zeal under control like explosions in a motor, zeal is good. If we allow zeal to explode uncontrolled, then it is not good. Many Christians operate without “wisdom and understanding” (3:13). Zeal without knowledge is dangerous.