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Ordinary Time · Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year B

James 3:16–4:3

Wisdom from Above and the Cure for Conflict

September 19, 2027

Cain and Abel, Titian
Cain and Abel, Titian, c. 1543–1544Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Venice
A ceiling canvas, so the struggle is seen from below with the two bodies tangled against a stormy sky and Cain's club already up.Where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. James names it; Genesis gives the first case.TitianThe dominant painter of sixteenth-century Venice (c. 1488-1576), who worked into his eighties and whose late manner, applied with fingers as much as brushes, startled even his admirers.Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, VeniceA domed church at the mouth of the Grand Canal, built in thanks for the end of the plague of 1630 and still visited in procession each November.Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Venice
Roman Lectionary
GospelMark 9:30-37Mk 9:30-37
Second ReadingJas. 3:16–4:3Jas 3:16–4:3
First ReadingWis. 2:12, 17-20Wis 2:12, 17-20
Responsorial PsalmPs. 54:3-4, 5, 6+8 (6b)Ps 54:3-4, 5, 6+8 (6b)

Overview & Insights

"The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits." (James 3:17)

James contrasts earthly wisdom marked by envy and selfish ambition with the peaceable wisdom from above, traces conflicts to inner cravings, and calls readers to submit to God, resist the devil, and draw near to him.

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Take it further: James 3:16–4:3

Commentary

Commentary on James 3:13-4:3, 7-8aCommentary on Jas 3:13-4:3, 7-8a Working Preacher

Luther Seminary exegesis covering the wisdom from above and the conflicts that arise from disordered desire.

James 4: Drawing Near to GodJas 4: Drawing Near to God Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse by verse evangelical commentary on wars, fights, and the passions at war within.

James 3 CommentaryJas 3 Commentary Precept Austin

A deep gathering of word studies and cross references on the wisdom from above worked verse by verse.

James 4:1 CommentariesJas 4:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregates classic commentaries on the source of quarrels and fights in one place.

James 4, Expository NotesJas 4, Expository Notes StudyLight

Thomas Constable's expository notes on conflict, worldliness, and drawing near to God.

Background & Word Study

Book of James OverviewBook of Jas Overview BibleProject

An animated overview of James and its call to a wise and peaceable faith.

James 4:1 Greek InterlinearJas 4:1 Greek Interlinear BibleHub

Greek word by word with parsing for the verse on quarrels and passions.

The Church Fathers

Catena on James 4Catena on Jas 4 Catena

Patristic comments verse by verse on the wars within and friendship with the world.

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