James 1:5-8

Wisdom, and the Prayer that gains it

5. If any of you lack wisdom As before, in James 1:1-2, the prominent word of the preceding clause suggests the opening of the next, the word for "lack" being the same as the "wanting" in the previous verse. The prominence thus given to wisdom is characteristic of the teaching of St James (comp. ch. James 3:13-17). It is as though he had largely fashioned his thoughts of the spiritual life on the teaching of the Book of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, perhaps also on the Wisdom of Solomon and Ecclesiasticus. Wisdom, in its good sense, stands, in New Testament language, as implying both a wider range of thought and a more direct influence on conduct than knowledge (1 Corinthians 12:8; Colossians 2:3).

that giveth to all men liberally Literally, simply, but as to give simply, without reserve or arrière pensée, is to give freely, both the adverb and the corresponding noun often carried with them the idea of liberality (comp. Romans 12:8; 2 Corinthians 9:11; 2 Corinthians 9:13). The thought is that God gives absolutelyall good gifts to those that ask Him (Matthew 6:11), and the highest gift, that of the Spirit that imparts wisdom, is included in the promise (Luke 11:13).

and upbraideth not The word implies a contrast with human givers who too often, at the time or afterwards, mar their bounty with bitter and reproachful speeches. There seems here a direct allusion to the description in Sir 20:15, of "the gift of a fool," "He giveth little and upbraideth much," to the counsel "after thou hast given, upbraid not" (Sir 41:23). Not so, St James implies, does God give, though we are more open to His reproaches than any who are the objects of our bounty can be to ours.

and it shall be given him An obvious echo of our Lord's promise in Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:9.