_James, a servant of Jesus Christ_ Whose name the apostle mentions but once more in the whole epistle, namely, James 2:1, and not at all in his whole discourse, Acts 15:14, &c., or Acts 21:20. It might have seemed, if he had mentioned him often, that he did it out of vanity, as being the brother, or... [ Continue Reading ]
_Count it all joy_ That is, matter of the greatest joy; _when ye fall into divers temptations_ Πειρασμοις, _trials;_ for though rendered _temptations_, it does not signify here what is commonly meant by temptations, for these we are directed to pray against, but it denotes _trials_ by affliction and... [ Continue Reading ]
_If any of you_ In whole or in part; _lack wisdom_ To understand whence and why temptations come, and how they are to be improved, or for any other purpose. Wisdom, in the common acceptation of the word, denotes a sound practical judgment concerning things to be done or avoided: but here the express... [ Continue Reading ]
_A double-minded man_ Ανηρ διψυχος, _a man who has_, as it were, _two souls;_ whose heart is divided between God and the world, and is not simply given up to him, nor entirely confides in him for the direction, aid, and support which he stands in need of; _is unstable in all his ways_ Being without... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let the brother_ St. James does not give this appellation to the rich; _of low degree_ Poor and tempted, or brought low by his sufferings for Christ, and humbled in spirit thereby; _rejoice that he is exalted_ To be a child of God, and an heir of eternal glory; let him think of his dignity as a Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed_ Μακαριος, _happy, is the man that endureth temptation_ Trials of various kinds, patiently and perseveringly; _for when he is tried_ Δοκιμος γενομενος, _being approved on trial, he shall receive the crown of_ eternal _life, which the Lord_ Christ _hath promised to them that love him_ And ex... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let no man say, when he is tempted_ To commit sin, in whatever way it may be; _I am tempted of God_ God has laid this temptation in my way; _for God cannot be tempted with evil_ It cannot appear desirable, or otherwise than detestable, in God's eyes; nor can he be inclined to it in any degree, thro... [ Continue Reading ]
_But every man is tempted when_ In the beginning of the temptation; _he is drawn away of his own lust_ Greek, υπο της ιδιας επιθυμιας εξελκομενος; literally, he is _drawn out_ of God, his strong refuge, _by his own desire;_ excited by some external object presenting itself; _and enticed_ Δελεαζομενο... [ Continue Reading ]
_Do not err_, &c. By supposing that God is the author of sin, or that any thing which is sinful in the heart or conduct of man can, with truth, be ascribed to him: as well might darkness and coldness be attributed to the sun. It is indeed a grievous error to ascribe the evil, and not the good, which... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of his own will_ Without any necessity on his part, or merit on ours; from a will most loving, most free, most pure, just opposite to our evil desire, James 1:15; _begat he us_ He converted, regenerated us, who believe; _by the word of truth_ The true word, emphatically so termed, the gospel; _that... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore_ As if he had said, Since you are regenerated, and that by the word of God, therefore _let every man be swift to hear_ That word; let him be willing and desirous to receive instruction from it, and therefore diligent in embracing all opportunities of hearing it; _slow to speak_ To deliver... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore_ Because wrath is such a hinderance to true religion, and you are regenerated; _lay apart_ As you would a dirty garment; _all filthiness_ Every kind of sin which is of a defiling nature. The word ρυπαρια, here used, signifies filthiness adhering to the body. When, as here, applied to the... [ Continue Reading ]
_But be ye doers of the word_ See on Matthew 7:21; Matthew 7:24. We are then doers of the word, when, being enlightened by its doctrines, awed by its threatenings, and encouraged by its promises, we, through the aid of divine grace, love and obey its precepts, both those which enjoin repentance towa... [ Continue Reading ]
_If any be a hearer of the word_ merely, _and not a doer_ If he do not comply with its design, do not so consider and believe it as to lay it to heart, and be influenced by its doctrines, obey its precepts, embrace and rely on its promises, revere and stand in awe of its threatenings, guarding again... [ Continue Reading ]
_But whoso looketh_ Not with a transient glance, but, as παρακυψας signifies, _bending down_, as it were, with an intention to fix his eyes upon, examine with accuracy, and search all things to the bottom. The expression implies much thought and meditation, joined with self- examination: _into the p... [ Continue Reading ]
_If_ &c. Here the apostle shows more particularly who are the doers of the word; 1st, Negatively, in this verse: 2d, Positively, in the next verse. _If any man among you_ Who are professors of Christianity; _seem to be religious_ Θρησκος, _pious_, devout, or a worshipper of God: and if his conduct i... [ Continue Reading ]