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TEACHING OUTLINE:
- Introduction
- What is the importance of God's wisdom and what are its benefits?
- Pure
- Peaceable
- Gentle
- Easy to be entreated
- Full of Mercy
- Full of good fruits
- Without partiality
- Without hypocrisy
- 12 Point Summary
INTRODUCTION:
What are the 8 characteristics of God's wisdom you must know to make the right decisions?This guide on how to make decisions based on God's wisdom from James 3:17 is worth its weight in gold and will go a long way towards helping us to make better decisions in our lives.
James 3:17
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.
God's wisdom has 8 characteristics that we are going to analyze. The number 8 in the bible indicates a new beginning. We can get a fresh, clean and solid start in life when we make decisions based on God's wisdom. After all, our lives are the sum total of all the decisions we have made.
What is the importance of God's wisdom and what are its benefits?
The word "wisdom" is used 53 times in the book of Proverbs alone.
Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Proverbs 8
11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
Proverbs 9:10
The fear [this is King James old english = reverence] of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Proverbs 10:21
The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
Proverbs 11:12
He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
Proverbs 16:16
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
Proverbs 24:14
So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
The gospels and new testament have a rich list of verses on wisdom that are too good to pass up.
Luke 2:52
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Romans 11:33
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
I Corinthians 1:30
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
I Corinthians 3:19
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
Ephesians 1:8
Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Colossians 2
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
James 1:5
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
| James 3:17 - The 8 characteristics of God's wisdom | |
| Number & Characteristic | Biblical & numerical significance |
| #1 Pure | #1 in the bible indicates God and unity |
| #2 Peaceable | #2 in the bible is the number of division or establishment, depending on context |
| #3 Gentle | #3 in the bible is the number for completeness |
| #4 Easy to be intreated | #4 in the bible is the number of creation and the world |
| #5 Full of mercy | #5 in the bible is the number for God's grace |
| #6 Full of good fruits | #6 in the bible is the number of man & his imperfections |
| #7 Without partiality | #7 in the bible is the number for spiritual perfection |
| #8 Without hypocrisy | #8 in the bible is the number for a new beginning |
E.W. Bullinger's Number in scripture
PURE
"Pure" is listed first because the number one indicates the unity of God.From E.W. Bullinger:
"There can be no doubt as to the significance of this primary number. In all languages it is the symbol of unity. As a cardinal number [used in counting] it denotes unity; as an ordinal [the order of numbers] it denotes primacy.
Unity being indivisible, and not made up of other numbers, is therefore independent of all others, and is the source of all others. So with the Deity. The great First Cause is independent of all. All stand in need of Him, and He needs no assistance from any.
"One" excludes all difference, for there is no second with which it can either harmonise or conflict."
All the other characteristics of God's wisdom are based on purity and holiness. Its like a water-based paint: it consists of water, plus some other ingredients added in to make it unique from water so that it has a specific purpose and benefit, but without water, it simply cannot exist as paint.
Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
God must be first in our lives. His wisdom must be our one and only source of wisdom.
Greek lexicon of James 3:17
Pure
Definition of pure
Strong's Concordance #53
hagnos: free from ceremonial defilement, holy, sacred
Part of Speech: Adjective
Phonetic Spelling: (hag-nos')
Definition: (originally, in a condition prepared for worship), pure (either ethically, or ritually, ceremonially), chaste.
HELPS Word-studies
53 hagnos (an adjective, which may be cognate with 40 /hagios, "holy," so TDNT [Theological Dictionary of the New Testament; considered by many scholars to be the best New Testament Dictionary ever compiled.], 1, 122) - properly, pure (to the core);
virginal (chaste, unadultered); pure inside and out; holy because uncontaminated (undefiled from sin), i.e. without spoilation even within (even down to the center of one's being); not mixed with guilt or anything condemnable.
This word pure is only used 8x in the NT, which corroborates the new beginning we get when we walk by the eight characteristics of God's wisdom instead of the world's wisdom.
Philippians 4
6 Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
I John 3
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he [God] is pure.
So make sure that your decision is pure and holy, uncontaminated by anything that contradicts God's own perfectly pure & holy word, which is the bible. This is the first, or primary ingredient that sets the standard for all the other characteristics of God's wisdom.
If any of the characteristics of God's wisdom were contaminated or unholy, then they are of no use to us and will not be much different than the worldly wisdom.
Psalms 12:6
The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Seven is used here because 7 is the number of spiritual perfection in the bible. The bible is spiritually perfect! That is why we can trust in his word 100%, as the next verse testifies.
Proverbs 30:5
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Here is an example of rough, unrefined silver ore.
Here is a 1000 oz silver bullion bar that has been highly refined, with most impurities removed.
Scientists at the General Electric Research Center have made the purest substance known: ultra-pure germanium. It is so pure that there is less than 1 atom of impurities for every 1 trillion atoms!
That's the equivalent of having a freight car on a train full of salt, and being contaminated with only one grain of sugar. Yet that is more contaminated than God's original word, which is absolutely perfectly pure. If the bible were the size of the entire universe, there would still not be even one atom of impurities in it.
That's the equivalent of having a freight car on a train full of salt, and being contaminated with only one grain of sugar. Yet that is more contaminated than God's original word, which is absolutely perfectly pure. If the bible were the size of the entire universe, there would still not be even one atom of impurities in it.
I John 1:5
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
If God were the sun, then he would not have one microscopic unit of darkness in him. He is absolutely and perfectly pure and holy.
John 3:19
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
If our old man nature, the ungodly or unbiblical habit patterns we had before we were born again, are allowed to sneak into our thinking, then our decisions could be contaminated with spiritual darkness instead of God's purity and holiness.
Here are some additional verses that will help you to avoid some of the negatives of the world that could contaminate your decisions.
Matthew 16:26
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
If your decision causes you to lose your life, either literally or figuratively, it most likely was not the right one.
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Don't conform, don't agree, don't live, according to the spiritually corrupt standards of this world. Are you being transformed by God's good, acceptable, and perfect word? If not, then it wasn't the right choice.
Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Was your decision based on the traditions of men and the rudiments of the world? Make your decisions according to Christ, not the world.
II Timothy 2:4
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Did your decision cause you to become entangled with the things of this worldly life so that you are not free to live according to God's word? Then it wasn't a Godly decision.
II Peter 2:20
For if after they have escaped the pollutions [spiritual stains or defilements] of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
There's this word entangled again, for the second time. To entangle means to weave, to braid. Don't let worldly things weave or braid themselves into the fabric of your life because once they have reached that stage, then you may been deceived into thinking they are a rightful or good part of you and your life and you may not even want to unweave them out of your life.
This is often how Satan works - slowly and subtly, one camouflaged braid at a time. These counterfeit braids are much harder to recognize and remove out of your life at this point.
There's nothing wrong with getting involved with sports, or taking a class in college, or joining some non-profit organization. We just need to make sure our priorities are set right and that what we do will glorify God.
II Timothy 4:10
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
We don't want to love this world, for ultimately, it is against God's word.
Titus 2:12
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
James 4:4
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Do not allow yourself to be contaminated with the world.
II Peter 1:4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Our wise and Godly decisions based upon God's perfectly pure word will enable us to escape the lusts and corruption of the world.
I John 2
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Peaceable
Now let's look at the word peaceable. The root word peace is used 3 times in only 2 verses [James 3:17 & 18], so God must be trying to make an impression on us regarding the importance of peace.Peace is listed second in James 3:17 because two is the number of establishment or division, depending on context. If you don't have peace, you have division and conflict, which is the opposite.
The peace of God establishes and strengthens the other characteristics of God's wisdom. If you don't have peace, then its much more difficult to arrive at the right solution.
The peace of God establishes and strengthens the other characteristics of God's wisdom. If you don't have peace, then its much more difficult to arrive at the right solution.
It is very revealing indeed when you realize that the second verse of the bible reveals the division and destruction of God's creation caused by Satan - see Creation: the 3 heavens and earths
Peaceable
Definition of Peaceable
Strong's Concordance #1516
eirenikos: peaceful
Part of Speech: Adjective
Phonetic Spelling: (i-ray-nee-kos')
Definition: peaceable, disposed to peace, profitable.
HELPS Word-studies
Cognate: 1516 eirenikos - what pertains to peace, i.e. God's gift of wholeness which results from knowing (discerning) the Lord's will and obeying it. See 1515 (eirene).
Used only 2x in bible - Hebrews 12:11 [the peaceable]
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27 is a very revealing verse indeed! The peace from Jesus Christ is the opposite of worldly peace, which contains trouble and fear.
Greek lexicon of John 14:27 Go to the Strong's column, link #5015 near the bottom.
Biblical definition of root word of peaceable:
Strong's Concordance #1515
eiréné Definition: one, peace, quietness, rest.
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Phonetic Spelling: (i-ray'-nay)
Usage: peace, peace of mind; invocation of peace a common Jewish farewell, in the Hebraistic sense of the health (welfare) of an individual.
HELPS Word-studies
1515 eirḗnē (from eirō, "to join, tie together into a whole") – properly, wholeness, i.e. when all essential parts are joined together; peace (God's gift of wholeness).
This definition is the exact opposite of anxious in Philippians 4:6:
Strong's Concordance #3309
merimnaó: to be anxious, to care for
Part of Speech: Verb
Phonetic Spelling: (mer-im-nah'-o)
Definition: to be anxious, to care for
Usage: I am over-anxious; with acc: I am anxious about, distracted; I care for.
HELPS Word-studies
3309 merimnáō (from 3308 /mérimna, "a part, as opposed to the whole") – properly, drawn in opposite directions; "divided into parts" (A. T. Robertson); (figuratively) "to go to pieces" because pulled apart (in different directions), like the force exerted by sinful anxiety (worry). Positively, 3309 (merimnáō) is used of effectively distributing concern, in proper relation to the whole picture (cf. 1 Cor 12:25; Phil 2:20).
3809 (merimnaō ) is "an old verb for worry and anxiety – literally, to be divided, distracted" (WP, 2, 156). It is more commonly used in this negative sense in the NT.
Definition of troubled
Strong's Concordance #5015
tarasso: to stir up, to trouble
Part of Speech: Verb
Phonetic Spelling: (tar-as'-so)
Definition: I disturb, agitate, stir up, trouble.
HELPS Word-studies
5015 tarasso - properly, put in motion (to agitate back-and-forth, shake to-and-fro); (figuratively) to set in motion what needs to remain still (at ease); to "trouble" ("agitate"), causing inner perplexity (emotional agitation) from getting too stirred up inside ("upset").
[5015 (tarasso) translates 46 Hebrew words in the LXX (Abbott-Smith), showing the enormous connotation power of OT Hebrew vocabulary.]
Nobody wants to be troubled or agitated by various negative emotions like bitterness, anger, fear, regret, frustration, etc. Sure, we all have to defeat negative situations in life, but if they keep us in a constant state of agitation for extended periods of time, its time to take a deeper look into our lives, see whats going on through the eyes of God's word and get delivered from the trouble.
Jesus said "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid". What priceless wisdom!
I was born in Oregon and this is one of my favorite images: beautiful Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States. Surrounding yourself with an inspiring and beautiful environment can help keep you peaceful. Blue in the bible represents the presence of God and inspires peace.
I John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Anybody who has ever lived in fear, knows the torment that fear is.
Greek lexicon of I John 4:18
Definition of torment
Strong's Concordance #2851
kolasis: correction
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Phonetic Spelling: (kol'-as-is)
Definition: chastisement, punishment, torment, perhaps with the idea of deprivation.
HELPS Word-studies
Cognate: 2851 kolasis (from kolaphos, "a buffeting, a blow") - properly, punishment that "fits" (matches) the one punished (R. Trench); torment from living in the dread of upcoming judgment from shirking one's duty (cf. WS at 1 Jn 4:18).
Perfected love casts out tormenting fear (2851 /kolasis)
1 John 4:17,18:
"17 By this, love is perfected [brought to its higher stages] with us, so that we may continuously have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment [2851 /kolasis, "torment"], and the one who fears is not perfected in love."
So back to the characteristics of God's wisdom - peace. If your decision leaves you afraid or troubled in your heart, then its not in agreement with God's wisdom.
Romans 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of
In the phrase "the Holy Ghost", the word "the" is not in the critical Greek texts.
The 2 english words "Holy Ghost" are the 2 Greek words hagion pneuma which is more accurately translated holy spirit, referring to the gift of holy spirit that we receive when we get born again, so here is a much more accurate translation of Romans 15:13:
Romans 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of holy spirit [the gift holy spirit from God].
How can you get God's peace in your life?
Philippians 4
6 Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Verse 7 needs a closer look to get the critical details of this spiritually rich line of truth.
Greek lexicon of Philippians 4:7
Definition of passeth
Strong's Concordance #5242
huperecho: to hold above, to rise above, to be superior
Part of Speech: Verb
Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-er-ekh'-o)
Definition: I excel, surpass, am superior.
HELPS Word-studies
5242 hyperexo (from 5228 /hyper, "beyond, above" and 2192/exo, "have") - properly, "have beyond, i.e. be superior, excel, surpass" (A-S); to exercise prominence (superiority).
The peace of God is superior to all other forms of peace, to the extent that it surpasses, it transcends, our limited mind.
Definition of keep
Strong's Concordance #5432
phroureo: to guard
Part of Speech: Verb
Phonetic Spelling: (froo-reh'-o)
Definition: I guard, keep, as by a military guard.
HELPS Word-studies
5432 phroureo (from phrousos, "a sentinel, guard") - properly, to guard (keep watch) like a military sentinel; (figuratively) to actively display whatever defensive and offensive means are necessary to guard.
How surprising God's surpassing peace is! He uses military imagery to convey peace. We can rest in God's peace because of God's power to protect us when we walk in his son's steps, Jesus Christ.
- Philippians 4:7 begins with the peace of God, placing emphasis on the source of our peace, God
- Philippians 4:8 is about thinking Godly thoughts
- Philippians 4:9 ends with the God of peace, emphasizing the resulting peace in our lives as we think his word
Galatians 5
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
When we operate the 9 manifestations of the gift of holy spirit [listed in I Corinthians 12], we will see the 9 fruit of the spirit in our lives.
GENTLE
GentleDefinition of Gentle
Strong's Concordance #1933
epieikes: seemly, equitable, yielding
Part of Speech: Adjective
Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ee-i-kace')
Definition: gentle, mild, forbearing, fair, reasonable, moderate.
HELPS Word-studies
1933 epieikes(an adjective, derived from 1909 /epi, "on, fitting" and eikos, "equitable, fair"; also see the noun-form, 1932 /epieikeia, "equity-justice") - properly, equitable; "gentle" in the sense of truly fair by relaxing overly strict standards in order to keep the "spirit of the law."
1933 /epieikes ("justice beyond ordinary justice") builds on the real intent (purpose) of what is really at stake (note the epi, "upon") - and hence, is true equity that appropriately fulfills the spirit (not just the letter) of the law.
Gentle is listed third in James 3:17 because #3 in the bible is the number of completeness and God's wisdom is not complete without it.
This word gentle is used only 5x in NT - Philippians 4:5 [moderation], I Timothy 3:3 [patient], Titus 3:2 [but gentle], I Peter 2:18 [gentle].
I Timothy 3
1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
This word "gentle", as one of the characteristics of God's wisdom, was deemed so important that God made it one of the requirements for church leadership in I Timothy 3:3.
Titus 3:2
To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
Once again, this gentleness is a quality of church leadership, the elders of the church, so God is placing double emphasis on it. When it comes to making decisions, we must be fair, equitable and not only conform to the letter of the law [the word of God], but we must strive to get a result that is in alignment with the true spirit or heart of the word of God.
Being reasonable, appropriate and executing "justice beyond ordinary justice", according to God's standard, is a quality rarely seen in our modern and corrupt cultures.
Lady Justice, a symbol of justice.
She is depicted as a goddess equipped with three items:
- A sword, symbolizing the coercive power of a court;
- Scales, representing an objective standard by which competing claims are weighed
- A blindfold, indicating that justice should be impartial and meted out objectively, without fear or favor and regardless of money, wealth, power or identity.
I Peter 2:18
Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear [respect]; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward [crooked, perverse].
Now for the third time, gentleness [epieikes] is referenced as a quality of leadership [masters].
The number 3 in the bible indicates completeness. No right decision and no church leadership is complete without this quality of being fair, equitable, reasonable, and having justice beyond ordinary justice.
EASY TO BE ENTREATED
Easy to be entreatedDefinition of Easy to be entreated
Strong's Concordance #2138b>2138a>2138
eupeithes: ready to obey
Short Definition: reasonable
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from eu and peitho
Definition
ready to obey
NASB Translation
reasonable (1).
Strong's Concordance #2138
eupeithes: compliant
Part of Speech: Adjective
Phonetic Spelling: (yoo-pi-thace')
Definition: compliant, ready to obey.
HELPS Word-studies
2138 eupeithes (from 2095 /eu, "well" and 3982 /peitho, "persuade") - properly, "well-persuaded," already inclined, i.e. already willing (pre-disposed, favorable to); easy to come to terms with because already willing. 2138 /eupeithes ("yield") only occurs in James 3:17.
Since James 3:17 is the only place in the bible this word is used, it makes God's wisdom uniquely superior to the devil's wordly wisdom.
Have you ever heard of the phrase something like "its a hard pill to swallow"? Easy to be entreated is just the opposite because its smooth and easy to be accepted, it doesn't make you want to fight against it.
Since God's wisdom is gentle [fair & resonable; "justice beyond ordinary justice"], then that will automatically be easy to be entreated.
Since God's wisdom is gentle [fair & resonable; "justice beyond ordinary justice"], then that will automatically be easy to be entreated.
The root word of #2138 is this one:
Strong's Concordance #3982
peitho: to persuade, to have confidence
Part of Speech: Verb
Phonetic Spelling: (pi'-tho)
Definition: I persuade, urge.
HELPS Word-studies
3982 peitho(the root of 4102 /pistis, "faith") - to persuade; (passive) be persuaded of what is trustworthy.
The Lord persuades the yielded believer to be confident in His preferred-will (Gal 5:10; 2 Tim 1:12). 3982 (peitho) involves "obedience, but it is properly the result of (God's) persuasion" (WS, 422).
If we can't have confidence in our decisions, if they are not trustworthy, then they probably won't stand the acid test, or the test of time.
Definition of vote of no confidence
1. a voting process in which people show that they do not support a person or group in power
2. a statement or action that shows you do not support a particular person or group
This vote of no confidence has just the opposite meaning of God's wisdom in regards to being easily entreated.
A decision that is easy to be entreated often is instantly recognizable as the right one. You just know it in the bottom of your heart. Because of that, you can easily get behind it, support it, as can others. This builds group support for an idea that can change the course of various matters.
Here is a quote from the numbers in scripture book in reference to the number four:
"It is emphatically the number of Creation; of man in his relation to the world as created; while six is the number of man in his opposition to and independence of God. It is the number of things that have a beginning, of things that are made, of material things, and matter itself. It is the number of material completeness. Hence it is the world number, and especially the "city" number."
You can see this truth right in James 3:17 because it says that God's wisdom is "from above".
God made his wisdom for man, which necessitates it be easy to be entreated, easy to believe or accept. This is why this characteristic is listed fourth, which is 3 [completeness] + 1 [God, unity]. Easy to be entreated is a characteristic created by God on top of his completeness, making it peaceful, easy to be accepted and believed.
MERCY
[full Of] MercyDefinition of Mercy
Strong's Concordance #1656
eleos: mercy, pity, compassion
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine; Noun, Neuter
Phonetic Spelling: (el'-eh-os)
Definition: pity, mercy, compassion.
HELPS Word-studies
1656 eleos (translating OT 2617 /kataisxyno, "covenant-loyalty, covenant-love" in the OT-LXX over 170 times) - properly, "mercy" as it is defined by loyalty to God's covenant.
Used 27x in NT. 1st usage - Matthew 9:13; Ephesians 2:4 [mercy]; Hebrews 4:16 [mercy]; II John 1:3 [mercy]
Definition of Mercy
noun, plural mercies for 4, 5.
1. compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: Have mercy on the poor sinner.
2. the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing: an adversary wholly without mercy.
3. the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, especially to send to prison rather than invoke the death penalty.
4. an act of kindness, compassion, or favor: She has performed countless small mercies for her friends and neighbors.
5. something that gives evidence of divine favor; blessing: It was just a mercy we had our seat belts on when it happened.
Full of Mercy is listed 5th in the list of characteristics of God's wisdom because 5 is the number of grace in the bible.
Grace is unmerited divine favor. Mercy has also been defined as merited judgment withheld, which could only be done by God's grace.
Grace is unmerited divine favor. Mercy has also been defined as merited judgment withheld, which could only be done by God's grace.
A quote from the number in scripture book:
"Grace means favour. But what kind of favour? for favour is of many kinds.
- Favour shown to the miserable we call mercy
- favour shown to the poor we call pity
- favour shown to the suffering we call compassion
- favour shown to the obstinate we call patience
- favour shown to the unworthy we call GRACE!
Was there any real cause why they hated the Lord Jesus? No! Nor is there any cause in us why God should ever justify us. So we might read Romans 3:24 thus: "Being justified without a cause by His grace." Yes, this is grace indeed, -favour to the unworthy."
Matthew 9:13
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
This verse is a reference to one in Hosea.
Hosea 6:6
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Here is the first usage of the word "mercy" in the bible, in reference to Lot, who barely escaped out of Sodom and Gomorrah alive.
Genesis 19
18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:
19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
The word "mercy" is used 261 times in the bible. The word "mercies" occurs 44 times in the bible and "merciful" 36 times in the bible, for a total of 341 times. The phrase "for his mercy endureth for ever" occurs 35 times in the bible, including the entire 136th chapter of psalms!
Psalms 136
1 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
13 To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:
14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:
15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
16 To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.
17 To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
18 And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
19 Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:
20 And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:
21 And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:
22 Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.
23 Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
24 And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
The phrase "for he is good", in reference to the Lord, is used 8 times in the bible, all in connection with God's mercy.
For the Lord is good
None of us is perfect. We all need mercy.
Psalms 51:14
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
All humans since the fall of man [recorded in Genesis 3] are born with a corrupt bloodstream. Every human being born since Adam & Eve legally belong to the devil. This is why God sent his son Jesus Christ to redeem us. Look at the word redeem.
Definition of redeem
verb (used with object)
1. to buy or pay off; clear by payment:to redeem a mortgage.
2. to buy back, as after a tax sale or a mortgage foreclosure.
3. to recover (something pledged or mortgaged) by payment or other satisfaction:to redeem a pawned watch.
4. to exchange (bonds, trading stamps, etc.) for money or goods.
5. to convert (paper money) into specie.
6. to discharge or fulfill (a pledge, promise, etc.).
7. to make up for; make amends for; offset (some fault, shortcoming, etc.):His bravery redeemed his youthful idleness.
I Corinthians 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
I Corinthians 7:23
Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
Ephesians 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Jesus Christ paid the price with his life so that we could live through him. If it wasn't for God's gracious mercy, none of us would be here. Therefore, we should demonstrate God's mercy in the wise decisions we make.
MORE ENLIGHTENMENT ON MERCY
II Timothy 1
15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.
Phygellus and Hermogenes were born of the seed of the serpent. They were sons of the devil.
Knowing the true nature of those born of the seed of the serpent and the context of II Timothy as the church in ruin that they caused, Onesiphorus had to have been spiritually compromised by them, but he had enough meekness, humbleness and commitment to God to see what happened and got right with God again.
James 2:13
For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
What a powerful play on words that highlights the importance of mercy!
If you don't show mercy, your judgment will be merciless. You reap what you sow.
Onesiphorus is mentioned in the context of Phygellus and Hermogenes and he received the Lord's mercy, but they did not.
That is why the word mentions twice that he received the mercy of the Lord.
2 Peter 2:12
But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
There is no mercy for the people who have sold their souls to the devil such as Phygellus and Hermogenes and they "shall utterly perish in their own corruption" and as James 2:13 says, they "shall have judgment without mercy".
FULL OF GOOD FRUITS
GoodDefinition of Good
Strong's Concordance #18
agathos: good
Part of Speech: Adjective
Phonetic Spelling: (ag-ath-os')
Definition: intrinsically good, good in nature, good whether it be seen to be so or not, the widest and most colorless of all words with this meaning.
HELPS Word-studies
18 agathos - inherently (intrinsically) good; as to the believer, 18 (agathos) describes what originates from God and is empowered by Him in their life, through faith.
Used 101x in NT. Romans 8:28 [good]; Ephesians 2:10, 4:29 [is good];
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
This is the only kind of fruit that genuine wisdom produces. Good results according to God's word. If your decisions bear rotten fruit, then the decision was rotten. It contradicted God's wisdom from above.
Fruit
Definition of Fruit
Strong's Concordance #2590
karpos: fruit
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Phonetic Spelling: (kar-pos')
Definition: (a) fruit, generally vegetable, sometimes animal, (b) metaphorically: fruit, deed, action, result, (c) profit, gain.
HELPS Word-studies
2590 karpos - properly, fruit; (figuratively) everything done in true partnership with Christ, i.e. a believer (a branch) lives in union with Christ (the Vine).
By definition, fruit (2590 /karpos) results from two life-streams - the Lord living His life through ours - to yield what is eternal (cf. 1 Jn 4:17).
John 15:1,2:
"1. I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine-dresser.
2. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit (2590 /karpos), He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit" (NASU).
Used 66x in NT. 1st - Matthew 7 [fruit]; Galatians 5:22 [fruit]; Ephesians 5:9 [the fruit]; Hebrews 12:11 [fruit];
Matthew 7
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Matthew 13:22
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
If your decision does not bear any Godly fruit, then it wasn't the right decision. The pressures of this life and the deceitfulness of riches can nullify, cancel out, the good fruits if we let ourselves become contaminated by the world.
Galatians 5
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Ephesians 5
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Hebrews 12:11
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
How does God reprove us? Through his word.
Why is "full of good fruits" listed 6th when six is the number of man, his works, his imperfections and enmity against God? Because man must put away ungodly things in order to manifest true spiritual, Godly fruit. The only time a twig bears fruit is because its connected to, its in alignment with, the main vine.
Galatians 6
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
II Corinthians 9
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
It is only through God's grace and our actions that are in harmony with God's word that we can bear a lot of good fruit, as defined in James 3:17.
We must first become sons of God by believing Romans 10:9 & 10, then practice the word of God in our lives in order to produce divine fruit.
Romans 10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Once again, we must reference the source of God's wisdom: from above, from the heavenly realm, as opposed to the earthly, sensual, and devilish as is the characteristics of worldly wisdom. We cannot produce good fruit if we are out of alignment with God.
Good decisions that bear good fruit, according to God's word must be the result of us being in alignment and harmony with God.
How can we bear good fruit if we are stressed out, full of worldly impurities, not believing what God's word says? You see, as we get farther down the list of the characteristics of God's wisdom, the earlier characteristics are prerequisites of the later ones.
Each characteristic of God's wisdom builds upon all previous characteristics.
WITHOUT PARTIALITY
Without partiality [double negative - see definitions]Definition of Without partiality
Strong's Concordance #87
adiakritos: indistinguishable, without uncertainty
Part of Speech: Adjective
Phonetic Spelling: (ad-ee-ak'-ree-tos)
Definition: without uncertainty, unambiguous, undivided, whole-hearted.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from alpha (as a neg. prefix) and diakrino
Definition
indistinguishable, without uncertainty
NASB Translation
unwavering (1).
Only place used in the bible. Without uncertainty simply means with certainty. Its root word is diakrino below.
Diakrino
Strong's Concordance #1252
diakrino: to distinguish, to judge
Part of Speech: Verb
Phonetic Spelling: (dee-ak-ree'-no)
Definition: I separate, distinguish, discern one thing from another; I doubt, hesitate, waver
HELPS Word-studies
1252 diakrino (from 1223 /dia, "thoroughly back-and-forth," which intensifies 2919 /krino, "to judge") - properly, investigate (judge) thoroughly - literally, judging "back-and-forth" which can either (positively) refer to close-reasoning (descrimination) or negatively "over-judging" (going too far, vacillating). Only the context indicates which sense is meant.
[1252 (diakrino) "literally means, 'to separate throughout or wholly' (dia, 'asunder,' krino, 'to judge,' from a root kri, meaning 'separation'), then, to distinguish, decide" (Vine, Unger, White, NT, 125).]
Used 19x in NT 1st Matthew 16:3 [discern]; Romans 4:20 [he staggered]; 14:23 [he that doubteth]; James 1:6 [wavering & he that wavereth];
Matthew 16
1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
In verse 3, these hypocritical religious leaders were able to discern, [diakrino - to accurately judge or ascertain], the conditions of the sky and predict the weather, yet were spiritually blind. As one of the characteristics of God's wisdom, we must be able to accurately judge, ascertain what's going on in a situation both in the 5-senses realm and spiritually as a man or woman of God.
Romans 4
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not [this word not is not in any of the critical Greek texts, so delete it] his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
This section of scripture is in reference to Abraham who did not stagger, or waver in indecision on God's word.
"Easy to be entreated" in James 3:17 occurs before "without partiality" because once we have accepted and established our decision to be the right one, then we can stand firm on it without any wavering or doubting.
James 1
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth [blame or reproach] not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith [believing], nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Our decisions must be on strong & solid ground so that we can get behind them with confidence. If we waver in doubt, then we are not believing and we won't receive from the Lord. Our decision will not bear any fruit.
Part of the diakrino process of analyzing the entire situation reminds me of 2 important words in Ephesians 5.
Greek interlinear of Ephesians 5:15
Definition of circumspectly
Strong's Concordance #199
akribos: with exactness
Part of Speech: Adverb; Adverb, Comparative
Phonetic Spelling: (ak-ree-boce')
Definition: carefully, exactly, strictly, distinctly.
HELPS Word-studies
199 akribos (from akribes, "the high point, extreme," see 195 /akribeia, "highly accurate") - properly, extremely accurate, very exact; "more (very) accurate" because researched down to the finest detail ("factually precise").
This root (akrib-) refers to gaining exact information with the highest level of accuracy ("exactness") and is acquired by probing investigation to provide a comprehensive circumspect (precise) view in strict adherence to the facts.
["The verb is formed from akros, 'at the point' or 'end.' The idea is, therefore, he 'ascertained to the last point'; denoting the exactness of the information rather than the diligence of the search for it" (WS, 21).]
Definition of walk
Strong's Concordance #4043
peripateo: to walk
Part of Speech: Verb
Phonetic Spelling: (per-ee-pat-eh'-o)
Definition: I walk, hence Hebraistically (in an ethical sense): I conduct my life, live.
HELPS Word-studies
4043 peripateo (from 4012 /peri, "comprehensively around," which intensifies 3961 /pateo, "walk") - properly, walk around, i.e. in a complete circuit (going "full circle").
This is a full, complete, diakrino, without-partiality analysis so that we don't have any blind spots or inaccuracies in our final assessment with the goal of having a decision based on God's wisdom.
With the precision & full 360 degree view by being seated in the heavenlies, its impossible for us christians to be narrow-minded! We compare everything in the world to the eternal gold standard of truth - God's word. If it disagrees, then we throw it away because its not authored by the author of the word, God himself.
Without partiality is listed 7th because seven is the number of spiritual perfection. In I Corinthians 12:10, discerning of spirits is seventh in the list of 9 manifestations of holy spirit because in order to precisely discern the presence and identity of devil spirits you have to be at the top of your game, you must be operating at peak spiritual ability. God's wisdom is spiritually perfect and free from any devil spirit influence.
When we know that we know that we have a complete, 360 degree view of the entire situation at hand, with great precise information, we can absolutely stand firm without any wavering, even under pressure. That's without partiality.
Our decisions must not have partiality or favoritism in them, as James 2 illustrates, as this will only lead to division and conflict, which again contradicts the characteristics of the wisdom of God.
James 2
1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
WITHOUT HYPOCRISY
Without hypocrisyDefinition of Without hypocrisy
Strong's Concordance #505
anupokritos: unhypocritical, unfeigned
Part of Speech: Adjective
Phonetic Spelling: (an-oo-pok'-ree-tos)
Definition: unfeigned, without hypocrisy, sincere.
HELPS Word-studies
505 anypokritos (an adjective, derived from alpha-privative 1 /A "not" and 5271 /hypokrinomai, "to act as a hypocrite") - properly, not a phony ("put on"), describing sincere behavior free from hidden agendas (selfish motives) - literally, "without hypocrisy" (unfeigned). Hupokrinomai #5271 has krino #2919 as its root word, which has just been very thoroughly covered above.
Definition of hypocrite
noun
1. a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.
2. a person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, especially one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie his or her public statements.
Godly decisions are not based on selfish or ulterior motives. We must be honest with ourselves, God, and others. In its least common denominator, without hypocrisy also involves a full diakrino style, no-blind-spots analysis, especially in regards to our motive of heart. This is where the word of God really comes into play.
Hebrews 4:12 [KJV]
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The NET bible has a much more accurate and meaningful translation of this verse.
Hebrews 4:12 [New English Translation NET]
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 [Amplified bible]
For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.
In this verse, the word judge has krino, Strong's #2919 as its root word! Yes, that's right, God's word performs a very accurate, very thorough, no-blind-spots analysis of our motives of heart, our thoughts, our entire being 24/7/365 while we are trying to do the same of the various situations in our lives.
In Matthew 23, Jesus called some of the scribes and Pharisees hypocrites 7 times. Here is one example. God's wisdom is the opposite of this.
Matthew 23
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy [literally refers to "someone acting under a mask"], and iniquity [lawlessness; the utter disregard for God's law (His written and living Word)].
Romans 12:9
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
This word "dissimulation" is hupokrinomai [hypocrite] #5271 above. Both God's love and God's wisdom are without hypocrisy.
"Without hypocrisy" is listed 8th among the characteristics of God's wisdom because the #8 indicates a new beginning. When you can make a decision without hypocrisy, it is a new beginning for you and all involved.
8 is 7 [spiritual perfection] + 1 [God and unity], so you have God taking spiritual perfection to the next level up, resulting in a new beginning.
From number in scripture:
"It is 7 plus 1. Hence it is the number specially associated with Resurrection and Regeneration, and the beginning of a new era or order.
When the whole earth was covered with the flood, it was Noah "the eighth person" (2 Peter 2:5) who stepped out on to a new earth to commence a new order of things. "Eight souls" (1 Peter 3:20) passed through it with him to the new or regenerated world."
We see hypocrisy so much in the field of religion that it is a breath of fresh spiritual air when we see a man or woman of God without hypocrisy.
SUMMARY
- There are many scriptures, in both the old and new testaments, that tell of the need for and benefits of God's wisdom
- God's wisdom from above has 8 unique characteristics: purity & holiness; peaceable; Gentle; Easy to be intreated; Full of mercy; Full of good fruits; Without partiality; and Without hypocrisy.
- 8 is the number of a new beginning and is associated with resurrection. It is 7 [spiritual perfection] + 1 [God], thus taking spiritual perfection to a whole new level
- God's wisdom is contrasted to worldly wisdom which is earthly, sensual, devilish.
- Pure = purity and holiness. It is listed first because 1 is the number for God as the source of true, pure & holy wisdom
- Peaceable = God's gift of wholeness. In this context, it is listed second because 2 is the number for establishment, laying the foundation of God's purity and holiness.
- Gentle = mild, forbearing, fair, reasonable, moderate & justice beyond ordinary justice. It is listed third because 3 is the number of completeness and is a characteristic that church leaders are required to have in order for their leadership to be complete.
- Easy to be intreated = easy to believe and accept. It is listed 4th because four is the number of creation. God made his wisdom smooth and easy to recognize and believe
- Full of mercy = merited judgment withheld. This is listed 5th because five is the number of God's grace and withholding merited judgment can only be by God's grace, which is unmerited divine favor. The entire 136th chapter of Psalms has the phrase "for his mercy endureth for ever:" in all 26 verses!
The number 26 is 25 + 1; 25 is 5 x 5; five is the number of God's grace, so 25 is grace multiplied [squared!] II Peter 1:2 "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord". 1 is the number of God, unity, [and the resulting peace]. So 26 is grace squared + God, the source of the grace and mercy. - Full of good fruits = intrinsically good, good in nature and fruits is everything done in true partnership with Christ. This is listed 6th because six is the number of man and his weaknesses, especially when influenced by Satan. The good fruits of God can only be manifested by God's sons who are in fellowship and alignment and harmony with God's will. Thus the believer must get rid of any ungodly influences first before any Godly fruit can result
- Without partiality = a very precise, thorough, 360 degree view of the situation with no blind spots that results in us not wavering on God's wisdom, even under pressure. It is listed 7th because seven is the number of spiritual perfection. We are at our peak performance, the top of our game, when we are razor sharp in our judgments and decisions
- Without hypocrisy = without having false motives of heart. God's wisdom is not based on selfish or ulterior motives and involves being honest with God, ourselves and others. It is listed 8th because eight is the number of resurrection and a new beginning. This word also involves a precise and full 360 degree knowledge of a given situation, especially in regards to our true motive that will result in a new beginning for everyone involved.