James 1:27

Pure religion The word still presents the outward aspect of the devout life. Better perhaps, pure worship.

undefiled The term seems chosen with special reference to the Pharisee's scrupulous care to avoid anything that caused ceremonial defilement. Comp. John 18:28, "lest they should be defiled," where the word is that commonly used in the LXX. for polluted, or being "unclean," as in Leviticus 5:3; Leviticus 11:23. St James reproduces the teaching of our Lord, that the real defilement comes from within, not from without, that true purity is found in "giving alms of such things as we have" (Mark 7:20-23; Luke 11:40).

before God and the Father The last word seems chosen with a special reference to the duty that follows. We worship the Father when we are like Him in our care for the orphans (Psalms 68:5).

To visit The Greek word implies somewhat more than that which we commonly attach to the English; "to care for," "look after," as in "God hath visitedhis people" (Luke 7:16).

the fatherless and widows These were the natural and therefore proverbial types of extremest affliction. Comp. Job 29:12-13; Sir 35:14. We find from Acts 6:1, that they occupied a prominent place in what we may venture to call the "Charity Organisation" of the Church of Jerusalem. Comp. also Acts 9:39; 1 Timothy 5:3-10.

and to keep himself unspotted from the world The adjective is chosen with special reference to the "undefiled." The "world" is used as including all the circumstances that tempt to sin, especially perhaps, the mass of unrenewed humanity out of which Christians are called, but into which they are in danger of sinking back. The real defilement to be guarded against was to be found in spiritual contact with that "world," and not, as the Pharisee thought, in touching cup or garment that was ceremonially unclean. Comp. chap. James 4:4. In this fullest sense of the word, God alone can thus keep a man unspotted, but it is characteristic of St James to lay stress on the co-operation of man's will, even, we may add, as St Paul does in "keep thyself pure" (1 Timothy 5:22). The teaching of St James finds a striking parallel in that of Philo, who speaks of those who practise "a ritual religion" (using the same word as St James) "instead of holiness" (Philo, p. 173). Comp. also Coleridge, Aids to Reflection, Aph. xxiii. "The outward service (θρησκεία) of ancient religion, the rites, ceremonies, and ceremonial vestments of the old law, had morality for their substance. They were the letter of which morality was the spirit; the enigma of which morality was the meaning. But morality itself is the service and ceremonial (cultus exterior, θρησκεία) of the Christian religion."