Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Tonight’s study includes two verses.

They are James 4:5-6

These two verses will conclude the first paragraph of this chapter.

Next week, we will summarize and review the entire section.

However, for this evening, we have these two verses to consider.

So, let’s get right to it.

GRAMMAR STUDY

You can divide these two verses into 5 different clauses.

“Do ye think that that the Scripture saith in vain,” (question)

“The Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?” (quotation)

“But he giveth more grace.”

(statement of Divine action)

“Wherefore he saith,” (inference based on previous information)

“God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

(quotation)

VERBS

As for the parts of speech beginning with verbs, we have eight verbs.

They are:

“Do ye think” - “to be of opinion, think, suppose,” also signifies in specific contexts “to seem, be accounted, reputed.”

“Saith” - “to say,” occasionally signifies “to ask” as of an inquiry, the reason being that “lego” is used for a variety of speaking methods.

“That dwelleth” - “to cause to dwell” is often said of God’s actions through the Holy Spirit.

“Lusteth” - “to long greatly” and is a strengthened form of “potheo” meaning “to long for” and is an entirely different Greek word than the two we studied in the first 2 verses.

“He giveth” - “to give”, however, in Revelation 3:8 it is translated “add.”

“He saith” - same word as “saith” in verse 5.

“Resisteth” - gives the sense of setting oneself against, “opposing oneself to.”

“Giveth” - same word and meaning as before.

NOUNS

There are eight nouns as well.

They are:

“Scripture” - means “to write” and primarily denotes “a drawing, painting,” thus, “a writing” of the O.T. Scriptures.

“Spirit” - denotes “breath” and is often used in conjunction with the Holy Spirit as being the “breath” of God.

“Envy” - “envy” is the feeling of displeasure produced by witnessing or hearing of the advantage of the prosperity of others, as here in this verse.

It is rhetorical and strongly rebukes such action as it signifies that the Spirit which God made to dwell in us was undoubtedly not bestowed that we should be guilty of “envy.”

“Grace” - unmerited favor, however, in this verse, the statement is be taken in connection with the preceding verse with the implied answer that “it cannot so be.”

Accordingly, if those who are acting so flagrantly, as if it were so, will listen to the Scripture instead of letting it speak in vain, and will act so that the Holy Spirit may have His way within, God will give even “greater grace,” namely, all that follow from humbleness and from turning away from the world.

“God” - the proper name of God

“Proud” - “showing oneself above others,” though often denoting preeminent, is always used in the N.T. in the evil sense of “arrogant, disdainful, haughty.”

“Grace” - unmerited favor.

[Philippians 2:13 “13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

]

“Humble” - primarily, “that which is low, and does not rise from the ground,” hence, metaphorically, signifies “lowly, of no degree.”

ADVERBS

There is one.

It is the word “vain” in verse 5.

“Vain” simply means “for no reason or to no end.”

Today, we would say it is pointless and meaningless.

ADJECTIVES

There is also only one.

It is the word “more.”

As we might conclude, it simply means having more external form, size, measure, degree, intensity, and rank.

Now that we have some idea of the words and their meanings, it is time we moved to:

SPIRITUAL APPLICATION

What is the Holy Spirit talking about?

Up to this point, the Holy Spirit has given us several causes surrounding temptation and wrongdoing.

Now, the Holy Spirit moves to the cure in overcoming temptation and sinful behavior.

In fact, we will see two different remedies mentioned in these two verses.

Thus,

He is giving us the CURE for that which CAUSES temptation and wrongdoing.

What is the Holy Spirit saying about the CURE for our temptation and wrongdoing?

As we look at these verses, we see how the Holy Spirit poses a question.

He asks, “Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain?”

In other words, “Are you of the opinion that Scripture is written without meaning or purpose?”

As believers, our answer is “No!”

We fully believe His Word has purpose and meaning.

Through faith, we fully accept that everything written through the entire Word of God is for our benefit and understanding.

It is full of purpose and meaning.

The Holy Spirit asks this question in order to arrest our attention in our text!

Essentially, in a way, the Holy Spirit is saying here is something you NEED TO KNOW!

What is it that He wants us to know?

We NEED TO KNOW that He, the Holy Spirit, YEARNS overs us with JEALOUSY!

Two key words are given in the statement, “The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy.”

This statement is part of the question and is asked so that it is accepted as truth.

“The spirit that dwelleth in us” is the Holy Spirit.

Remember that this entire letter was written to believers.

We have noted this several times throughout our study of this great book.

The Holy Spirit uses the term “beloved brethren” in the first two chapters of this letter three times.

You cannot be called His “beloved” unless you have already accepted Christ as your personal Savior.

When you accept Christ fully and completely by faith, we understand that God places His Spirit within us through Scripture.

The Holy Spirit indwells us.

I go give more verses, but I think you get the point.

Going now back to our text, we see something important about God’s Spirit.

Note that He “lusteth.”

This word is not the same word used before in verses 1 through 3.

Those words described a sinful and selfish desire to satisfy fleshly desires through worldly pleasures.

The word used here in verse 5 is longing or yearning for something.

In other words, the Holy Spirit YEARNS to the point of envy.

I will get the “envy” part in just a moment.

However, here is the idea for now.

Not only does the Holy Spirit indwell us, but He also YEARNS over us.

We are constantly in His thoughts as He is concerned each moment of each day about our spiritual well-being.

Stop and think about that for just a moment.

Not only is He the God of the Universe, but every single moment He is living within us, constantly desiring that we live a path filled with His grace each day.

Again, note that the Holy Spirit lusteth [yearns] to envy over us.

How about the word “envy?”

It is a vital component of this verse.

“Envy” and “jealousy” are interchangeable.

Scripture speaks again and again to the fact that God is a jealous God.

We have just begun our study of the Names of God on Wednesday evenings.

One of His names speaks to the fact that He is a jealous God.

Exodus 20:5 (KJV 1900)