“The wisdom that is from above is… without hypocrisy.” (v.17)
When there is a discrepancy between what we say and what we do, we create confusion in the minds of others. That's why many nonbelievers do not take the gospel message seriously. A Christian who makes the greatest impact on a watching world, and who furthers the cause of Christ, is one whose actions are in harmony with his speech.
When James spoke of the "wisdom that is from above," he described it as "pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy" (v.17). This wisdom does not require a high IQ or a great SAT score. It comes from a rebirth of our hearts and our spirits to a life truly taken captive by God, which allows us to speak and do the truth.
The opposite of this of course is wisdom which is not from above, but of the world, man's wisdom. Man's wisdom seeks to gain its own way, it is not peaceable, nor gentle, or willing to yield. It is not without partiality or hypocrisy, and generally comes with an agenda. Oh you will hear one message, but the end result will be far from the truth.
Only when actions and words agree, does the message become loud and clear, and without hypocrisy.
The Truth: “Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.” (Matthew 23:1-3)
