James 3:13

“Who is a wise man.] Meaning, not in things natural and civil, or merely moral, but in things spiritual: and he is a wise man, who is both wise to do good, and wise unto salvation; who has learned to know his own ignorance, folly, and stupidity; for the first lesson in the school of spiritual wisdom is for a man to know that he is a fool: and he is a wise man who considers his latter end, thinks of a future state, and what will become of him in another world; and who builds his faith and hope of eternal salvation on the sure and only foundation, the rock Christ Jesus; and who takes up a profession of religion upon principles of grace, and with views to the glory of God, and, upon mature…”

“Who--(Compare Psa 34:12-13). All wish to appear "wise": few are so. show--"by works," and not merely by profession, referring to Jam 2:18. out of a good conversation his works--by general "good conduct" manifested in particular "works." "Wisdom" and "knowledge," without these being "shown," are as dead as faith would be without works [ALFORD]. with meekness of wisdom--with the meekness inseparable from true "wisdom."”

“Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? - This is spoken with reference to the work of public teaching; and the meaning of the apostle is, that if there were such persons among them, they should be selected for that office. The characteristics here stated as necessary qualifications, are wisdom and knowledge. Those, it would seem, on which reliance had been placed, were chiefly those which were connected with a ready elocution, or the mere faculty of speaking. The apostle had stated the dangers which would follow if reliance were placed on that alone, and he now says that something more is necessary, that the main qualifications for the office are wisdom and knowledge. No…”

“Let him show his wisdom as well as his faith by his works; not by words only. James 3:14”

“3:13 If you are wise and understand: The wisdom that comes from God (1:5) is not mere intellectual skill nor the collection of information, it is practical insight and spiritual understanding which expresses itself in moral uprightness, as described in 3:17-18 (see also Job 28:28; Prov 1:2-4; 2:10-15).”

“is a: Jam 3:1; Psa 107:43; Ecc 8:1, Ecc 8:5; Jer 9:12, Jer 9:23; Mat 7:24; Co1 6:5; Gal 6:4 endued: Ch2 2:12, Ch2 2:13; Job 28:28; Isa 11:3; Dan 2:21 let: Jam 2:18; Isa 60:6; Co2 8:24; Pe1 2:9 a good: Phi 1:27; Ti1 4:12; Heb 13:5; Pe1 2:12, Pe1 3:1, Pe1 3:2, Pe1 3:16 with meekness: Jam 3:17, Jam 1:21; Num 12:3; Psa 25:9, Psa 45:4, Psa 149:4; Isa 11:4, Isa 29:19, Isa 61:1; Zep 2:3; Mat 5:5, Mat 11:29, Mat 21:5; Co2 10:1; Gal 5:23, Gal 6:1; Eph 4:2; Col 3:12; Ti1 6:11; Ti2 2:25; Tit 3:2; Pe1 3:4, Pe1 3:15 James 3:14”