INTRODUCTION TO JAMES 4
In this chapter the apostle gives the true cause of contentions and
strifes; and cautions against intemperance, covetousness, pride,
detraction, and vain confidence. Having, in the latter part of the
preceding chapter, inveighed against strife and contention, he here
shows f... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM WHENCE COME WARS AND FIGHTINGS AMONG YOU?.... Which are to be
understood, not of public and national wars, such as might be between
the Jews and other nations at this time; for the apostle is not
writing to the Jews in Judea, as a nation, or body politic, but to the
twelve tribes scattered abro... [ Continue Reading ]
YE LUST, AND HAVE NOT,.... The apostle proceeds to show the
unsuccessfulness of many in their desires and pursuits after worldly
things; some might be like the sluggard, whose soul desireth all good
things, and yet he has nothing, Proverbs 13:4 because he does not make
use of any means, even of such... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ASK, AND RECEIVE NOT,.... Some there were that did ask of God the
blessings of his goodness and providence, and yet these were not
bestowed on them; the reason was,
BECAUSE YE ASK AMISS; not in the faith of a divine promise; nor with
thankfulness for past mercies; nor with submission to the will... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ADULTERERS AND ADULTERESSES,.... Not who were literally such, but
in a figurative and metaphorical sense: as he is an adulterer that
removes his affections from his own wife, and sets them upon another
woman; and she is an adulteress that loves not her husband, but places
her love upon another ma... [ Continue Reading ]
DO YE THINK THAT THE SCRIPTURE SAITH IN VAIN?.... Some think that the
apostle refers to a particular passage of Scripture in the Old
Testament, and that he took it from Genesis 6:3 as some; or from
Exodus 20:5, as others; or from Deuteronomy 7:2 or from Job 5:6 or
from Proverbs 21:10 others think he... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE GIVETH MORE GRACE,.... The Arabic version adds, "to us"; the
Ethiopic version, "to you"; and the Syriac version reads the whole
thus; "but our Lord gives more grace to us"; or "greater grace"; than
the world can give, whose friendship is courted by men; the least
measure of grace, of faith, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 7 SUBMIT YOURSELVES THEREFORE TO GOD,.... To the will of God,
with respect to worldly things, and be content with such things as are
enjoyed, and be satisfied with the portion that is allotted; it is
right and best for the people of God to leave themselves with him, to
choose their inheritance... [ Continue Reading ]
DRAW NIGH TO GOD, AND HE WILL DRAW NIGH TO YOU,.... This must be
understood consistently with the perfection of God's immensity and
omnipresence: the saints draw nigh to God when they present their
bodies in his sanctuary; when they tread in his courts, and attend his
ordinances; where they always f... [ Continue Reading ]
BE AFFLICTED, AND MOURN, AND WEEP,.... Not in a bare external way; not
by afflicting the body with fastings and scourgings, by renting of
garments, and clothing with sackcloth, and putting ashes on the head,
and other such outward methods of humiliation; but afflicting the soul
is meant, an inward m... [ Continue Reading ]
HUMBLE YOURSELVES IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD,.... Which is done, when
men, before the Lord, and from their hearts, and in the sincerity of
their souls, acknowledge their meanness and unworthiness, their
vileness, sinfulness, and wretchedness, and implore the grace and
mercy of God in Christ, as did Ab... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAK NOT EVIL ONE OF ANOTHER, BRETHREN,.... The apostle here returns
to his former subject, concerning the vices of the tongue, he had been
upon in the preceding chapter, James 3:6, and here mentions one, which
professors of religion were too much guilty of, and that is, speaking
evil one of anothe... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS ONE LAWGIVER,.... The Alexandrian copy, and others, and the
Syriac, Ethiopic, and Vulgate Latin versions, add, "and judge". Who is
the one only Lord God, Isaiah 33:22. This is a character that may be
applied to God the Father, who gave the law to the people of Israel,
both the judicial and... [ Continue Reading ]
GO TO NOW, YE THAT SAY,.... The apostle passes from exposing the sin
of detraction, and rash judgment, to inveigh against those of
presumption and self-confidence; and the phrase, "go to now", is a
note of transition, as well as of attention, and contains the form of
a solemn and grave address to pe... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREAS YE KNOW NOT WHAT SHALL BE ON THE MORROW,.... Whether there
would be a morrow for them or not, whether they should live till
tomorrow; and if they should, they knew not what a morrow would bring
forth, or what things would happen, which might prevent their intended
journey and success: no man... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THAT YE OUGHT TO SAY,.... Instead of saying we will go to such and
such a place, and do this, and that, and the other thing, it should be
said,
IF THE LORD WILL, AND WE SHALL LIVE, AND DO THIS AND THAT; the last
"and" is left out in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic
versions; and... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT NOW YE REJOICE IN YOUR BOASTINGS,.... Of tomorrow, and of the
continuance of life, and of going to such a place, and abiding there
for such a time, and of trading and trafficking with great success, to
the obtaining of much gain and riches; see
Proverbs 27:1
ALL SUCH REJOICING IS EVIL; wicked... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE TO HIM THAT KNOWETH TO DO GOOD,.... This may regard not only
the last particular of referring all things to the will of God, the
sovereign disposer of life, and all events, which some might have the
knowledge of in theory, though they did not practise according to it;
but all the good thin... [ Continue Reading ]