James 4:17

"Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin". "Therefore" -Indicating that this verse is connected with the preceding verses. James has outlined the right thing to do, not only in this chapter but in the previous three Chapter s. Therefore, the person who keeps on making plans without God is continuing in sin, and the person who continues to be hypercritical of their brethren (James 4:11-12) is doing the same thing."to one who knows the right thing to do" -The verse assumes that Christians do know the right thing to do. James knew that these Christians could understand exactly what he was saying. On the whole, when people don't do the right thing, it's not because they are confused by the teaching found in the biblical record. The verse also infers that we can do the right thing (2 Timothy 3:16)."and does not do it" -"present active, 'and to one not doing it'" (Robertson p. 56). These Christians knew that friendship with the world is enmity with God, that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble, and so on. They knew better, they were not living up to the standard which they were capable (Luke 12:47; John 15:22).

Points To Note:

1. "One of the great tragedies in our day has been that we have come to treat lightly sins of omission. We have come to think that it is not nearly as bad if we don't do something as it is if we do something. For instance, few of us have any guilt at all over not (talking to others) about Christ. We go day after day, week after week and never tell anyone about Christ…..If we get mad, lose our temper, or say. curse word, we feel terrible. But we can go all week and not do what is the most precious thing. Christian could do and feel no guilt at all. We have built an immunity to the things we don't do" (Draper p. 139). See 1 Samuel 12:23... "Those of this category are careful to observe the 'Thou shalt nots', of the Scriptures, but are little concerned with the 'Thou shalts'. They assume they are good, simply because they are not bad! They forget that goodness is. positive quality; not merely the absence of the bad" (Woods p. 254). Compare with Matthew 25:42. The same lesson is found in the parable concerning the one talent man (Matthew 25:14 ff). "to him it is sin" -It is also sin for anyone else that falls into the same category. "he is guilty of sin" (Gspd). God is making it clear that these Christians are without excuse if they fail to apply the teachings in this letter. It is. sin to do something which one has moral doubts about, even if it is the right thing to do (Romans 14:23), it is also. sin to know that. thing is right and yet leave it undone.