CHAPTER I. ANALYSIS. James, a servant of Christ, writes this letter to the twelve tribes then in dispersion; and while some are mentioned as unbelievers and some as believers, the Epistle is intended mainly for the latter. He desires them to count the temptations to which they are subject as _gain,... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 1. A SERVANT OF GOD AND OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. The expression is not identical with those of the apostle Paul to be found in his Epistle to the Romans, wherein he called himself a servant of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1), and the one to the Philippians, wherein he designates himself and Timothy... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 2. WHEN YE FALL INTO DIVERS TEMPTATIONS. This, I take it, at least in this place, means trials which assail in this life, and which at that time had visited those addressed. The believer must meet these trials, and that, too, almost any day. Being engaged in a warfare, the Christian must expe... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 3. TRYING OF YOUR FAITH WORKETH PATIENCE. It may be an unpleasant thought to contemplate all that is comprehended in the expression "trying of your faith." The idea is that your faith may be put to the test once and again many times and, while in this life, is to be expected. Faith that stands... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 4. LET PATIENCE HAVE HER PERFECT WORK. If patience builds up, strengthens and perfects Christian character so that its subject shall be perfect and entire, or complete, wanting nothing, or, as the Revised Version has it, lacking nothing, the argument to the true disciple of Christ is simply c... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 5. IF ANY LACK WISDOM. Lack wisdom for what? To accomplish the end named in verse 4, to become "perfect and entire, wanting nothing." Any one lacking this wisdom is exhorted to ask the same of God, who will not upbraid for your lack in this regard, but who will bestow this wisdom. In this part... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 6. LET HIM ASK IN FAITH, NOTHING WAVERING. The Revised Version is clearer "nothing doubting." Doubting conveys the idea evidently intended much more distinctly than the word "wavering." At least it so strikes my mind. The idea is that, in asking for wisdom which we lack in relation to our Chri... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 7. FOR LET NOT THAT MAN THINK. This is sufficiently set forth in the exposition of verse 6. The wavering man, that is, the man who asks for wisdom doubting God's willingness to grant his request, need not expect the divine bequest, for he shall receive no favorable response. He shall not rece... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 8. A DOUBLE-MINDED MAN. Of the kind of a man James calls double-minded; he affirms that he is unstable, not in one thing, nor in one way, but in all his ways. It is important, therefore, to ascertain just what is meant by double-minded as applied to men. Dr. Macknight's translation has a "man... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 9. BROTHER OF LOW DEGREE REJOICE. While the double-minded man is unstable, it is not so with the brother who, so far as worldly advantages are concerned, possesses few, and in that regard is of low degree when compared with his more favored neighbor, for he is exalted in that he is strong in... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 10. THE RICH, THAT HE IS MADE LOW. The rich in this world's goods, if there be any among you claiming heirship in heaven, let such rejoice if circumstances should arise which should destroy their goods. The reasons are plain, and appear upon the very surface of investigation. Men are liable t... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 11. A BURNING HEAT WITHERETH. In this verse the apostle enforces the idea advanced in the former verse by an expansion of the figure he there introduces. The rich must understand that no reliance whatever is to be placed in their belongings, for with riches and the owner the fate that the gras... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 12. BLESSED IS THE MAN. That is, happy. The apostle here again takes up the thought of the results to the man who successfully resists temptations, and withstands all the trials to which his faith is subjected. This without regard as to whether he is of low degree or rich. If he endureth, sta... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 13. I AM TEMPTED OF GOD. The Judaizer and the enemy of the cross may suggest the thought and urge its reception that because of the trials that befall us in this life, God is thereby seducing the believer from the path of rectitude. The apostle is emphatic in denunciation of this thought, and... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 14. BUT EVERY MAN IS TEMPTED. Man is free and yet possesses passions and appetites. These appeal to man, and their influence upon him entice him and draw him from a virtuous course, and he is thereby induced to tread the paths of vice. These passions and appetites are by the apostle called "h... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 15. LUST HATH CONCEIVED. First a begetting and then a bringing forth that is, a birth. Lust is here personified. It is the begetter. Lust entices. Yielding to it is the conception, and the birth thereof is sin. SIN, WHEN IT IS FINISHED. Finished; that is, completed, run its course. Certainl... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 16. DO NOT ERR, MY BELOVED BRETHREN. Here is a solemn charge urged with much force by James, the writer of this Epistle. Now, in what respect were they liable to err? Evidently in the possible thought that God was the author of evil. This the apostle fully exploded in his former reasoning. The... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 17. EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT. Gifts are here designated (1) good; (2) perfect. The same qualities in the gifts, whether applied to this life in temporal affairs or are related to our spiritual concerns, are present. View it as we may, God is the author of these gifts. Pardon of sin, the fa... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 18. OF HIS OWN WILL BEGAT HE US. God is the author of the system of faith proclaimed to the world. The scheme of human redemption is the product of the infinite love of our Father in heaven. The gospel of his Son must be proclaimed. This heard, understood and received makes man alive. It impa... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 19. WHEREFORE, MY BELOVED BRETHREN. For the reason that you are begotten of God by the word of truth, you are under obligations to be swift, prompt, anxious to hear not only the gospel, but all things connected therewith, so far as the same relates to duties you owe to God and to your fellowm... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 20. FOR THE WRATH OF MAN WORKETH NOT, ETC. Another reason is here given why the brethren should be slow to anger or wrath. The wrath of man worketh not that is, it can not work or produce the righteousness of God. It possesses no such power. The character of God's righteousness is such that t... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 21. WHEREFORE LAY APART. Simply lay aside. Entirely discard and put away from you. ALL FILTHINESS. That is, all impurity which may arise from the lusts of the flesh, and all abounding or overflowing maliciousness; or, as expressed in the Peshita Syriac, the "abundance of wickedness"; or, as... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 22. BUT BE YE DOERS OF THE WORD, AND NOT HEARERS ONLY. One who is a hearer of the Word only, and not a doer, deceives himself, for he reasons that hearing only is sufficient. Our blessed Master, in the conclusion of his Sermon on the Mount, settled this matter for all time. "Therefore whosoev... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 23. FOR IF ANY BE A HEARER OF THE WORD, AND NOT A DOER. James illustrates such by the man that looked at himself in a mirror so negligently he could not soon thereafter describe his own personal appearance.... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 24. HE BEHOLDETH HIMSELF. That is, he saw his, natural face in the mirror certainly, but even then he scanned it so negligently that he failed to discern the splotches or other prominent marks. They were overlooked just as we are liable to overlook our own defects; hence unable to describe hi... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 25. BUT WHOSO LOOKETH INTO THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY. God's blessed system for man's salvation the gospel of Christ, the word of truth. This perfect law of liberty will show every man just what he is, and just what he may become. No room for mistakes, no fear of forgetting if followed as its... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 26. IF ANY MAN AMONG YOU. There may be men among you that seem to be religious that is, imagine they are worshiping God acceptably and yet if such do not restrain their tongues, but continue to rail at those who may differ from them in opinions, all such deceive their own hearts. Their religi... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 27. PURE RELIGION AND UNDEFILED BEFORE GOD AND THE FATHER IS THIS. The word "religion" occurs but four times in the New Testament, as follows: "That after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee" (Acts 26:5). This was used by the apostle Paul in his defense before King Agrip... [ Continue Reading ]