Faith Obeys God

Need for Slowness in Speaking and Anger James 1:19-20

Introduction

Slowness in Speech

Quote:

‘Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.’ That, I say, is one of the best ways of being a peacemaker, that you just learn not to speak.

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Explanation:

This you know

You Know this - Tells of something to come

my beloved brethern

Another call out to the saints that they are the ones with this knowledge

Switches with a conjunction to everyone

Must be

James (1) Going Fast and Slow (1:19)

Wherever wisdom is the goal, hearing will be a first virtue.

James Vers. 19–21

he enjoins is that of cautiousness. Because we are in danger of speaking—(1) The wrong thing. (2) At the wrong time.

James (1) Going Fast and Slow (1:19)

Learning requires slowness; action requires quickness. In this case the requiring quickness is that which is to be learned by hearing. The required learning is in speaking, in which case wisdom is easily abandoned in favor of self-interest.

Illustration:

God has given us two ears, but one tongue, to show that we should be swift to hear, but slow to speak. God has set a double fence before the tongue, the teeth and the lips, to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our tongue.

Thomas Watson

Argumentation:

Proverbs 10:19–20 NASB95

When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise. The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver, The heart of the wicked is worth little.

Application:

Quick to Listen and Slow to Speak

James (1) Going Fast and Slow (1:19)

The only way that peace can prevail with the “everyone” to whom the admonitions apply is to be ready listeners and slow commentators, especially in heated situations.

Slowness in Anger

Information

Intemperate anger deprives men of their senses.

John Calvin

Anger, if not restrained, is frequently more hurtful to us than the injury that provokes it.

Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Anger is a short madness. The less we do when we go mad the better for everybody, and the less we go mad the better for ourselves. John Ploughman’s Pictures, Page 36

Charles Spurgeon

Explanation

19b

James (1) Going Fast and Slow (1:19)

Angry speech is part of the temptation to seek vengeance and was of deep concern to both James and Paul.

20

James (2) Discarding Offense and Accepting the Word (1:20–21)

James expressed himself clearly and strongly in this verse: “The righteousness of God”100 (dikaiosunēn theou, freely translated by the NIV as “the righteous life that God desires”) cannot be accomplished by human anger. Only God can vindicate the righteous by his anger without becoming involved in sin.

Illustration

"JUST" BLOWING UP

Source: Soul Prescription, Bill Bright and Henry Brandt A lady once came to Billy Sunday and attempted to rationalize her angry outbursts. She said, “There’s nothing wrong with losing my temper. I blow up, and then it’s all over.” Mr. Sunday replied, “So does a shotgun, and look at the damage it leaves behind!”

IDIOT DRIVERS

Source: Unknown A young mother and her little boy were driving down the street. The little boy asked, “Mommy, why do the idiots only come out when Daddy drives?”

Argumentation:

Numbers 20:8 NASB95

“Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their beasts drink.”

Numbers 20:9 NASB95

So Moses took the rod from before the Lord, just as He had commanded him;

Numbers 20:10 NASB95

and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?”

Numbers 20:11 NASB95

Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank.

Numbers 20:12 NASB95

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

Application:

James (2) Discarding Offense and Accepting the Word (1:20–21)

Human anger will inhibit the wholehearted trust necessary for the relationship between the believer and God.

James (2) Discarding Offense and Accepting the Word (1:20–21)

Human anger will injure the merciful peacemaking required for the relationships among fellow believers and those outside their fellowship.