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and storing knowledge may have built some big buildings in the past, but it has not gotten us
very far spiritually.
Because of this, wisdom has not become the "principle thing," but instead has become the
"mysterious" thing that only those with "exalted knowledge" and "understanding" attain.
Wisdom from God is not like this. It comes when we simply obey His commandments. Anyone
can do it. No "enlightened level of knowledge and understanding" is required! Check out
Isaiah 35:8:
And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the
unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools,
shall not err therein.
and Psalm 19:7:
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple.
By embracing the Greco‐Roman mindset of "knowledge is the principal thing" we have the
other kind of wisdom that James describes as not from God, but "earthly, sensual, devilish."
Wisdom In the NT
By now one might be saying "Alright, I'm OK with what you're saying, but what does the New
Testament say about all of this. Surely Jesus has a 'new and better' way to get wisdom, doesn't
He?" I'll let Messiah's words in Matthew 7:24‐26 explain it:
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him
unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the
floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was
founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them
not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: [emphasis
mine]
"These sayings" that Jesus spoke of included his admonition to obey the Torah down to the very
least of the Commandments! (Matthew 5:19) Again, obedience equals wisdom.
Another New Testament example of this concept is found in Luke Chapter 1. An angel of the
Lord appeared to Zacharias while he was ministering in the Holy Place by the altar of incense.
After totally freaking Zacharias out, the angel proceeds to tell him about the son he and
Elisabeth will soon bring forth. After saying the prophecy from Malachi 4:5‐6 about the hearts
of the fathers being turned to the children, the angel goes on to say,
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