James 2:16

Depart in peace The phrase was one of familiar benediction, and had been used by our Lord to those who came to Him seeking bodily or spiritual healing (Luke 7:50; Luke 8:48; Acts 16:36). It would naturally only be used where such wants, if they existed, had been, or were going to be, relieved.

be ye warmed and filled The first verb refers obviously to the naked, the second to those who are destitute of food. The Greek verbs may be either in the imperative or indicative, " Get yourselves warmed and filled," or "Ye are warming and filling yourselves." The former is the more generally received interpretation, and represents the kind of benevolence which shews itself in good advice. The idea of mere good wishes is excluded by the use, on this assumption, of the imperative. It may perhaps, however, be questioned whether the indicative does not give a preferable meaning. The man whose faith was only the acceptance and the utterance of a dogma, was mocking the souls of others when he said "God is One God is your Father," as much as if he said to the naked or hungry, "Ye are being warmed or filled." No amount of faith on their part could turn that mockery of a feast into a reality, unless they had the food and clothing they needed; and the man who gave a bare dogma to men without the reality of love, was mocking them, yes, and cheating himself, in much the same manner.

notwithstanding ye give them not Better, and ye give them not. The change to the plural generalises the individual case presented in "one of you."