IN THE WORDS OF JESUS–Part 1003

ON LOVE; PART DXCII

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GoodWill IS Love in Action

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“The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31).

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“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:36-40).

In the last essay we looked at the next part of the third chapter of the Apostle James’ Epistle where, after writing about the ways of the teacher and the expression of the man who would be the aspirant, he goes on to tell us a bit more about the nature of the man. While blessing and cursing ARE likely related to the apostle’s words on teaching, they ARE NOT as many believe, the nature of the teaching that James’ speaks against. We should remember our view that the teaching spoken against IS NOT the way that a teacher may treat his students but it IS rather the nature of the teacher’s message; that the man who teaches should beware and teach Truth and not doctrines; teach the reality of the Master’s words and not what one may interpret from them or believe. We should remember that James goes on to speak of the expression of the man, not only the man who teaches but ALL men, and tells us that a man’s expression of his thoughts and his attitudes are extremely difficult to manage and he offers us examples in the helm of the ship and the tree and the vine; examples that are likely more meaningful in his time. In James’ words on the tongue we see the totality of a man’s expression and it IS this expression that views others in thoughts and attitudes and which blesses and curses them and it IS in this idea that we must come to better understand these words. When we view the apostle’s ideas as that they are just about the tongue and the uttered words, there is little meaning except that one should watch what he may actually say; this view however DOES NOT fit into the reality of the spiritual message as DOES the greater point of expression. Men are likely to say what it IS that they think and in this IS the greater reality of the apostle’s words which he himself IS speaking without the use of the tongue.

There is a large difference between Truth and doctrine in James’ view as well as in the Master’s as we KNOW that He speaks against the Pharisee’s use of doctrine over the Truth of the law and he offers examples as well in their traditions which they treat as though they ARE the law. A simple look around modern day doctrine, and the tradition found in ceremony and ritual, will show that there IS little difference today and this IS likely True in James’ view of the new Christian ways as well; it IS this against which he IS speaking insofar as teaching. His view of the the expression of the man in found in his terms of being a DOER of the word and one who IS Truly religious. It IS in these ideas that this message must be seen, as instructions to the man who would Truly seek God; it IS this man who IS cautioned regarding teaching as well as what it IS that he says and does, his expression of his thoughts and attitudes. And we should see as well that within these instruction is the idea of correcting the thoughts and attitudes by continual focus upon the higher ideals found in following those instructions. It is more then in this idea of correcting the thoughts and the attitudes of the man that James offers us these words on blessing and cursing which we see as one’s view of others, some of whom are working along the same path. In the idea of Love for the neighbor and having NO “respect to persons” is the greater reality if James’ intent here; that in this view of Love there IS NO space for blessing or cursing in words or in thoughts and here we choose to see these things as more than words of praise or disdain. We see this blessing and cursing as how one may see another, in a spiritual or a carnal way, and form opinions about such persons according to such view; it IS in this vein that the apostle tells us that “these things ought not so to be“. In the Spirit of Love as the Master teaches and as James clarifies and amplifies, ALL men should be seen in the same light; as Souls, sons of God, trying to express their Love and Power through Life in this world and trying to overcome the nature of such Life in form. And so the apostle continues saying:

“Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:11-17).

The message of these first two verses IS that the Truly spiritual man, the aspirant, the disciple and the True seeker, become single minded; that they NO longer suffer through the duality of Life in this world and that their expression falls within the reality of the Master’s words that we discussed in the last essay:

“Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit” (Matthew 12:33).

This IS James message from the beginning of his epistle where he speaks of resisting temptation as this duality IS succumbing to temptation and resisting temptation, perhaps alternately, and in varying degrees based upon the focus of the man as a personality and the strength of his spiritual focus. ALL men are different, what may attract one man in the world will not necessarily attract another and it IS in this light perhaps that we can see a meaning in the Master’s criteria for discipleship saying that “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily , and follow me“. Can we understand the point here and how that ALL of James’ epistle that we have thus far discussed IS directed at this same idea of forsaking the carnal for the spiritual? This IS a lesson that IS not seen in popular Christianity where the developed belief IS that one can partake of the things of the world, that ones thoughts and attitudes can be of the world, and one still be accounted worthy of the Kingdom of God. In the reality of the Master’s words however this IS NOT True and while one can be a Christian, this DOES NOT mean any more than that; Jesus clearly tells us the Truth of the Kingdom and of discipleship but doctrine prefers the words of Paul where cover IS found in their own interpretations and it IS this very thing that James warns against here in speaking on the perils of teaching and the nature of the expression of men who ARE NOT single-minded. In the second part of our selection above we find the apostle’s further help in understanding the ONE way to KNOW that what one believes and thinks IS the Truth and not merely a carnal interpretation of Truth. We have discussed these words on the Wisdom from above many times in our blog and we will rely upon some of what we have previously said to paint our picture of what this Wisdom Truly IS.

James begins his look at this idea of Wisdom after first telling us about it in his words on temptation where he tells us of the use of this Wisdom in KNOWING the spiritual or carnal source of those things that one may be inclined to DO; those things that may attract his attention. Here we ARE told that “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally” and it IS in this that we seek the Wisdom from above. However the apostle also tells us that we should “ask in faith, nothing wavering” and that the man who IS NOT fixed in this faith should NOT  “think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord” (James 1:5, 6, 7). We should understand this faith as we understand the faith in relation to works; that this IS that KNOWING of the man focused upon the things of God and not that ordinary sense of mental or emotional believing; it IS in this spiritual faith, this True faith, that one will surely receive. Now this IS NOT to say that the carnally focused man will NOT receive anything but rather to say that the Wisdom from God will only come to the man who IS focused on God; for others, for the aspirant,the seeker and likely some disciples there IS that sense of duality at play. In this duality we should see James idea of wavering and it IS for this man that these next ideas are intended; James’ words on KNOWING the difference between Wisdom from above and wisdom that IS of the world and in accordance with the desires of the personality in the world. In these ideas we should be able to see the relationship of ALL his words thus far.

The apostle begins his words on Wisdom saying: “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom” as he cautions the reader to be meek in whatsoever wisdom that he may believe that he has. Here we should try to see his underlying point regarding the teacher and THE Truth versus whatsoever a man believes to be the Truth; the possessor of each will believe that he has THE Truth and that he IS “a wise man“. Through the intervening words from the earlier reference to Wisdom to this point, the apostle tells us who Truly has THE Truth: the man who IS a DOER of the word and the man of “pure religion“; the man whose faith IS made evident by his works. We should also see here the reality of the teacher that he may be the DOER and therefore the teacher of Truth, or he may be the one who follows his doctrines and believes that in them he has found the Truth; to both of these IS this additional instruction offered….that he display his Wisdom in meekness which we can see as NOT proclaiming one’s sense of possessing greater Truth than others. We should understand here that in the ways of men this an important point and this IS the reality of that glamour of which we ofttimes speak in which a man will build himself and what he believes above the beliefs of others. Understanding this, the apostle goes on to define for us how that we can KNOW the difference between that Wisdom that IS Truly from above and from God, and that wisdom that is worldly and concerned with the self and the self in the world; this latter IS NEVER from God.

We will break the rest of our selection of sayings into two parts; on the wisdom that IS NOT from above James says: “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work“. Here in these ideas we have again words that ARE NOT understood as they are intended; “bitter envying and strife” ARE much deeper that is commonly thought. From our perspective it IS easy to see that “bitter envying and strife” ARE NOT merely envy, no matter how ardent, and most any degree of strife only; first these have nothing to do with one’s sense of what Wisdom IS nor its source and, despite our own comments above regarding glamour, this IS NOT envy but IS more a certainty of one’s own rightness. Let us look as some of the ways that this IS seen:

• John Gill, in his Exposition of the Bible tells us that: But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, Though these may not be expressed by words, or actions: envy at the happiness of others, whether at the external blessings of Providence, as riches and honours, or at the internal endowments of their minds, as their wisdom and knowledge, their parts and abilities, is a root of bitterness in the heart, which bears wormwood and gall, and produces bitter effects in the persons in whom it is; it embitters their minds against their neighbours and friends; it is rottenness in their bones, and slays and destroys those who are so silly as to be governed by it; and also in the persons the objects of it; for who can stand before it? and strife in the mind, or an intention to strive and quarrel with others, who are the objects of envy, is very sinful, and of pernicious consequence: and if these be fomented and cherished in the minds and breasts of men, though they may not outwardly show themselves, yet glory not; let not such boast of their being Gnostics, wise men, and endued with knowledge; they are far from deserving such a character; and such boasting is contrary to truth, yea, is lying against it, as follows. and lie not against the truth; for, for a man to assert himself to be a wise and knowing man, and yet cherishes bitterness in his heart, and quarrelling and contention in his mind, arising from envy, at the equal or superior knowledge of others, he lies both against the truth of God’s word and his own conscience, which condemn such things as ignorance, folly, and madness ⁸. Except for the conclusion, this IS a most literal interpretation. 
• The Commentary Critical and Explanatory of the Whole Bible takes a different approach saying: if ye have–as is the case (this is implied in the Greek indicative). bitter— Ephesians 4:31 , “bitterness.” envying–rather, “emulation,” or literally, “zeal”: kindly, generous emulation, or zeal, is not condemned, but that which is “bitter” [BENGEL]. strife–rather, “rivalry.” in your hearts–from which flow your words and deeds, as from a fountain. glory not, and lie not against the truth–To boast of your wisdom is virtually a lying against the truth (the gospel), while your lives belie your glorying. 3:15 , 1:18 , “The word of truth.” Romans 2:17 Romans 2:23 , speaks similarly of the same contentious Jewish Christians ⁸. Can we see the stark differences between this and Mr. Gills interpretation and can we glimpse here the reality of the apostles words on teaching?  The authors here do not see the envy at the equal or superior knowledge of others as we see in Mr. Gill’s words and they perhaps see the strife as a part of this boasting.
• Vincent, in his Word Studies in the New Testament sees this in yet another way; we read: Envying (ζῆλον); The word is used in the New Testament both in a bad and a good sense. For the latter, see John 2:17; Romans 10:2; 2 Corinthians 9:2. From it is our word zeal, which may be either good or bad, wise or foolish. The bad sense is predominant in the New Testament. See Acts 5:17; Romans 13:13; Galatians 5:20, and here, where the bad sense is defined and emphasized by the epithet bitter. It is often joined with ἔρις strife, as here with ἐρίθεια, intriguing or faction. The rendering envying, as A. V., more properly belongs to φθόνος , which is never used in a good sense. Emulation is the better general rendering, which does not necessarily include envy, but may be full of the spirit of self-devotion. Rev. renders jealousy. Strife (ἐριθείαν); A wrong rendering, founded on the mistaken derivation from ἔρις , strife. It is derived from ἔριθος , a hired servant, and means, primarily, labor for hire. Compare Romans Romans 2:8: them that are contentious (ἐξ ἐριθείας)lit., of faction. Rev., factious. Also, 2 Corinthians 12:20. Rev., here, rightly, faction ⁴. While he does not offer us an interpretation, Mr. Vincent DOES explain the Truer meaning of these words and in the idea of emulation we have the Truer key to the meaning; not here only but in most ALL places that this IS rendered as envy or zeal which themselves ARE NOT related.

If we can take Vincent’s idea here on self-devotion and expand upon it as the intent that IS built into this Greek word we can begin to sense James’ intent. It IS NOT envy of others; it IS NOT that sense of zeal interpreted as boasting; it IS rather a sense of self, a sense of believing that one’s own sense of Truth IS the greater Truth and the central point here in this should be seen as self. We can get this sense in the definition of emulation as we find it in Webster’s 1828 edition which IS NOT as this IS viewed today:

EMULA”TION, n. The act of attempting to equal or excel in qualities or actions; rivalry; desire of superiority, attended with effort to attain to it; generally in a good sense, or an attempt to equal or excel others in that which is praise-worthy, without the desire of depressing others. Rom.11. In a bad sense, a striving to equal or do more than others to obtain carnal favors or honors. Val.5. 1. An ardor kindled by the praise-worthy examples of others, inciting to imitate them, or to equal or excel them. 2. Contest; contention; strife; competition; rivalry accompanied with a desire of depressing another ¹.

We will continue with our thoughts in the next post.

Aspect of God	Potency	Aspect of Man	In Relation to the Great Invocation	In relation to the Christ
GOD, The Father	Will or Power	Spirit or Life	Center where the Will of God IS KNOWN	Life
Son, The Christ	Love and Wisdom	Soul or Christ Within	Heart of God	Truth
Holy Spirit	Light or Activity	Life Within	Mind of God	Way

Note on the Quote of the Day

This daily blog also has a Quote of the Day which may not be in any way related to the essay. Many of these will be from the Bible and some just prayers or meditations that may have an influence on you and are in line with the subject matter of this blog. As the quote will change daily and will not store with the post, it is repeated in this section with the book reference and comment.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)

This is called by some of the church the Great Commission and so it is. It is however hardly understood and at times grossly misapplied. Somewhere in the centuries that have passed since the Master left us we have come to think that the meaning of this is just to preach the word through any particular doctrine and baptize according to any particular belief. Vincent tells us that the word translated as teach here should be seen as make disciples of ⁴ and the lexicon bears this out. There is nowhere in scripture an actual defining understanding of the concept of baptism and we generally think of it as the immersion into or the pouring on of water and that somehow this clears us of sin. This is but an outward sign however of real spiritual undertaking by the conscious man and it is only when a man is ready to commit to the Master that a baptism can be considered real. We will leave this as the Quote of the Day for a few days and try to find in it some true meaning. Keeping in mind our four points, we should ponder on this.

The Master is speaking to disciples and not the multitudes and these are those that do believe on Him and follow Him and keep His words. Hard sayings for man in the world but claimed by many nonetheless. There IS a reality in the idea that the disciple should be “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” which IS His words that ARE to be kept and in this light we add these ideas from the Buddha: “Love yourself and watch – today, tomorrow, always. First establish yourself in the way, Then teach, and so defeat sorrow. To straighten the crooked you must first do a harder thing – straighten yourself” (Dhammapada; on Yourself)⁵.

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts!

• ¹  Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, 1828 and 1913
• ⁴ Word Studies in the New Testament; Marvin R Vincent D.D. 2nd edition, 1888
• ⁸ Bible commentaries on BibleStudyTools.com