The crimes condemned in this and the following chapter were so atrocious, and of so public a nature, that we can hardly suppose them to have been committed by any who bore the name of _Christians._ Wherefore, as this letter was directed _to the twelve tribes_, (James 1:1,) it is reasonable to think... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye lust_ Επιθυμειτε, _ye covet_, or eagerly desire; _and have not_ What you desire; you are, some way or other, hindered from attaining that of which you are so greedy; _ye kill_ In your heart; _for he that hateth his brother is a murderer._ Or he speaks of the actual murders which the carnal Jews,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye adulterers and adulteresses_ Who have broken your faith with God, your rightful spouse. Thus many understand these expressions, because God himself represented his relation to the Jews as his people under the idea of a marriage, and because the prophets, in conformity to that idea, represented t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain_ Without good ground, or that it speaks falsely. St. James seems to refer to many, not to one particular passage of Scripture. _The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy_ That is, as many understand the words, our natural corruption, excited and inf... [ Continue Reading ]
_But he_ God, _giveth more grace_ To all those who, while they shun those tempers, sincerely and earnestly pray for it. _Wherefore he saith_, [see the margins] _God, resisteth the proud_ The unhumbled; those that think highly of themselves, and put confidence in their own wisdom, power, or holiness,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Speak not evil one of another_ See on Titus 3:2. Evil- speaking is a grand hinderance of peace and comfort; yea, and of holiness. O who is sufficiently aware of the evil of that sin? _He that speaketh evil of his brother_ Of his fellow-Christian or fellow-creature; _and judgeth his brother_ For suc... [ Continue Reading ]
_Go to now_ Αγε νυν, _come now_, an interjection, calculated to excite attention; _ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will_ go, &c. As if future events were in your own power, and your health and lives were ensured to you for a certain time; _whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow_ Whether... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now ye rejoice_ Καυχασθε, _ye glory, in your boastings_ Ye please yourselves in the vain thoughts which you entertain of these worldly projects and successes, and you boast of them. _All such rejoicing_ Or _glorying, is evil_ The delight you take in these expectations argues either a strange want o... [ Continue Reading ]