James 1:19,20

Quick to Hear

Because we are born of God's word, we ought to be quick to hear it (Matthew 11:15; Matthew 13:9). The Bereans show us how to do this (Acts 17:11) and Cornelius, with his friends and family, waited to hear the word (Acts 10:24; Acts 10:30-33). Our attitude toward God's word ought to be the same as three of David's men to the expressed desire of their king. They immediately carried out his expressed wishes, even to the point of jeopardizing their own lives (2 Samuel 23:14-17). We should be ready to carry out God's wishes, especially because God's word is truth and is able to set us free (John 17:17; John 8:32). When it is heard, it produces the faith necessary to please God (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:7). To fail to hear it is to endanger the soul (Matthew 13:15; Proverbs 28:9; 3 John 1:9-12).

Further, we should be "slow to speak", which Roberts suggests is in response to God's word. Later, James is going to talk about wars among the brethren (4:1), which may have been caused by contentions over the truth. The Corinthians all wanted to speak at once and caused confusion that prohibited learning (1 Corinthians 14:26-33).

Then, James says to be "slow to wrath" (James 1:19). Some hear the truth and become enraged by it. Those who heard Stephen ran and bit him and finally stoned him (Acts 7:54-60). When Jehoiakim heard the truth read, he began to cut out the pages and throw them in the fire (Jeremiah 36:20-23). Paul, through the power of the Holy Ghost, caused Elymus Bar-Jesus to be blind for a season for refutingGod's word (Acts 13:4-13). He also directed that those who refused to follow his instructions, as given by inspiration, be withdrawn from (2 Thessalonians 3:12-14).

Men who are uncontrollably angry are not ready to receive God's truth and do that which is right (Micah 6:8). Notice that James is talking about the "wrath of man", which would be a personal anger. This does not condemn righteous indignation which is actually needed at times (Mark 3:5). We must learn to control our anger so that we do not sin (James 1:20; Ephesians 4:26-27).