BIG IDEA:
THE ROOT AND FRUIT OF PRACTICAL WISDOM
I. (:13-14) ANY CLAIM TO PRACTICAL WISDOM MUST BE VINDICATED BY THE GENUINENESS OF ITS FRUIT
A. Anyone Can Claim to be Wise
“Who among you is wise and understanding?”
B. The Proof is in the Behavior
“Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.”
C. Selfish Motives Produce Proud Hypocrites
1. The Root = Selfish Motives
a. “But if you have bitter jealousy”
b. “and selfish ambition in your heart”
2. The Fruit = Proud Hypocrites
a. “do not be arrogant”
b. “and so lie against the truth”
II. (:15-18) THE ROOT OF WISDOM WILL PRODUCE CORRESPONDING FRUIT
A. (:15-16) Wisdom Not From Above Stirs Up Strife and Trouble
1. Source
“This wisdom is not that which comes down from above”
2. Characteristics
a. “earthly”
Barclay: “Its standards are earthly standards; its sources are earthly sources. It measures success in worldly terms; and its aims are worldly aims.”
b. “natural”
c. “demonic”
3. Motivation
a. “For where jealousy”
b. “and selfish ambition exist”
4. Fruit
a. “there is disorder”
b. “and every evil thing”
B. (:17-18) Wisdom From Above Promotes Peace and Blessing
1. Source
“But the wisdom from above”
2. Characteristics
a. “is first pure”
b. “then peaceable”
Barclay: “The true wisdom is the wisdom which produces right relationships. There is a kind of clever and arrogant wisdom which separates man from man, and which makes a man look with a superior contempt on his fellow-men. There is a kind of cruel wisdom which takes a delight in hurting others with clever, but cutting, words. There is a kind of depraved and wicked wisdom which seduces men away from purity and from their loyalty to God. But the true wisdom is the wisdom which at all times brings men closer to one another and closer to God.”
c. “gentle”
d. “reasonable”
e. “full of mercy and good fruits”
f. “unwavering”
g. “without hypocrisy”
3. Fruit
“and the seed whose fruit is righteousness”
4. Motivation
“is sown in peace by those who make peace”