James 1:21

Superfluity of naughtiness] better, 'overflowing of malice.' The much-speaking of the Jews often ended in evil-speaking.

Engrafted] RV 'implanted.' The Word is like a seed lying in the heart, which, under favourable conditions, would grow and bear fruit in life.

22-25. Hearing without doing is useless. A mere hearer is like a man who glances at his natural face in a mirror (1 Corinthians 13:12), and then goes away and at once forgets what he looks like. But the man who practises as well as hears stoops down and gazes into the perfect Law of Christ, obedience to which is perfect freedom. He remembers the ideal of Christian manhood he sees there, and strives to realise it in life. Thus he wins blessing. See on James 2:12.