James 1:19-27

English Standard Version James 1:19

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

We may respond to trials by complaining about them and becoming angry over them. James advised his readers to remain silent (“slow to speak”) and calm (“slow to anger”), and to listen submissively to (“quick to hear”) the Word of God.

“It is possible to be unfailingly regular in Bible reading, but to achieve no more than to have moved the book-mark forward: this is reading unrelated to an attentive spirit.”

Many people have observed that we have two ears and one mouth, which ought to remind us to listen twice as much as we speak (cf. Prov. 10:19; 17:27). Apparently Zeno of Citium (334–262 B.C.), the founder of Stoicism, is the oldest known source of this observation. The rabbis also noted that our ears are open and exposed, whereas our tongue is walled in behind our teeth and lips.

   “The great talker is rarely a great listener, and never is the ear more firmly closed than when anger takes over.”    “The tribute was once paid to a great linguist that he could be silent in seven different languages.”    “The most effective means of ministry … is responding to need; not dumping our load.”

“He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction” (Prov. 13:3)

“In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Prov. 10:19)

In talking to the believers dispersed throughout the Roman Empire, undergoing unbelievable persecution, James says, “Don’t forget that God is good. And what’s happening in you is going to work for good ultimately. Therefore, don’t be cynical; don’t be quick to complain about your situation. Instead, stop speaking and start listening—and you’ll hear God’s voice in your trial.”

English Standard Version James 1:20

for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

An angry response to temptations does not advance the righteousness that God is seeking to produce in the character and conduct of the believer. The difficulties of life are intended to make us better, not bitter.

I hope you have this verse underlined—at least mentally—for being ticked-off and hot under the collar doesn’t accomplish anything that proves to be right. Ever.

“he who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city” (Prov. 16:32).

English Standard Version James 1:21

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

lay aside. Lit. “having put off,” as one would do with dirty clothes (see notes on Rom. 13:12–14; Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:8; Heb. 12:1; 1 Pet. 2:1, 2). The tense of this Greek verb stresses the importance of putting off sin prior to receiving God’s Word. filthiness … wickedness. The first term was used of moral vice as well as dirty garments. Sometimes it was even used of ear wax—here, of sin that would impede the believer’s spiritual hearing

Perhaps you can’t hear the Word of God for you because your ears are clogged up with “filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness”—plain old sin. If I’m filling my ears with the music and the scenes, gossip, and junk of the world, I can’t hear properly. I need to get rid of that stuff before I can really be tuned in to God’s frequency.

The filthiness in view seems to refer to all kinds of unclean behavior that lies outside the will of God, including anger and wrath. The “remains of wickedness” are those evil habits of life that we carry over from the unredeemed world (cf. Ps. 17:4; Luke 6:45)

The believer should accept submissively what God has revealed (“in humility receive the word”), and should respond cooperatively to what He commands. The Word of God will then have good soil in which to grow, and it will yield an abundant harvest of righteous character and conduct in the believer.   

“We pray for safety instead of purity because we do not see impurity as dangerous.”

By obeying God’s Word the believer can save (preserve) his life (himself, his entire person) from the consequences of sin. The ultimate consequence of sin for a rebellious believer is premature physical (not eternal) death.

40 instances in the New Testament where the translators of the AV rendered the Greek word psyche life rather than soul. The Greek word translated soul, as contrasted with its English usage, often does not describe a part of the individual that is different from some other part of him or her such as the body, but it often describes the whole person.

Perhaps I can’t hear the Word of the Lord because my mind is made up. James tells us we are to receive the Word with meekness

English Standard Version James 1:22

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James’ original readers would have been used to hearing their Scriptures read aloud weekly in their synagogues

“The call to ‘do what it says’ lies at the center of all that James teaches. It sums up the message of the whole book: Put into practice what you profess to believe. Indeed, 1:22 may well be the key verse of James’s epistle

There should never be a time when we go to the Scriptures without allowing them to change our lives for the better. To profess great love for God’s word or even to pose as a Bible student is a form of self-deception unless our increasing knowledge of the word is producing increasing likeness to the Lord Jesus.

To go on gaining an intellectual knowledge of the Bible without obeying it can be a trap instead of a blessing. If we continually learn what we ought to do, but do not do it, we become depressed, frustrated, and callous.

“Impression without expression leads to depression.”

deceiving. Lit. “reasoning beside or alongside” (as in “beside oneself”). This word was used in mathematics to refer to a miscalculation. Professing Christians who are content with only hearing the Word have made a serious spiritual miscalculation.

You see, so many times our tendency is to think that just because we’re reading the Word, we’re obeying it—at least that’s the way it is with me. A lot of times I’ll hear a sermon or read a book and I’ll say, “Right on. I agree with that.” But I deceive myself if, having seen what needs to be taken care of in the mirror of the Word, I then don’t do it. One of the great dangers for us who love the Word is to falsely assume that simply agreeing that we should pray means we’re praying; or knowing we should worship makes us worshipers.

English Standard Version James 1:23–24

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

This illustration is so clear and so common that it needs little comment.

The Greek verb katanoeo [to look] refers to careful observation. It does not mean to cast a hasty superficial glance, as some have suggested.

observing. A forceful Greek word meaning to look carefully and cautiously, as opposed to taking a casual glance

James changes the picture and compares the Word to a mirror (glass). The Word of God reveals what we are on the inside, just as a mirror reveals how we appear on the outside. When Christians look into the Word, they see themselves as God sees them and thus are able to examine their hearts and confess their sins.

mirror. First-century mirrors were not glass but metallic, made of bronze, silver—or for the wealthy—gold. The metals were beaten flat and polished to a high gloss, and the image they reflected was adequate, but not perfect

He derives no benefit from the mirror or from looking into it. Of course, there are some things about our appearance that cannot be changed. But at least we should be humbled by the sight! And when the mirror says “Wash” or “Shave” or “Comb” or “Brush,” we should at least do as we are told. Otherwise the mirror is of no practical benefit to us.

natural face renders a difficult phrase in Greek the face of his “genesis

Verses 23–25 would then contrast the man who sees what God intended him to be, but does nothing about it, with the man who sees what God wants him to be and strives to attain it.

It is easy to read the Bible casually or because of a sense of duty without being affected by what we read. We see what we ought to be but we quickly forget and live as if we were already perfect. This type of self-satisfaction prevents spiritual progress.

English Standard Version James 1:25

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

The law to which James referred is the revelation of God’s will contained in Scripture (cf. Matt. 5:17). It is perfect because it is the perfect will of a perfect God.

“Unlike the imperfect metal mirror in the previous illustration, this law is able to give the beholder a true and undistorted revelation of himself.”

It is a law of liberty because, by obeying it, we find true liberty from sin and its consequences

Verses 22–25 speak of the private life of believers as they look into the Word;

James clearly warns us not to think that seeing our reflection properly means we’re doers of the Word automatically. If the Lord shows you in the Word that you need to praise Him, don’t say, “Good point”—but start praising Him right then! If the Lord shows you in the Word that you need to get right with a brother, don’t say, “Someday”—do it right then. Be a doer of the Word.

Don’t be like the Nike slogan for the South--“just fixin’ to do it”

English Standard Version James 1:26

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

Verses 22–25 speak of the private life of believers as they look into the Word; vv. 26–27 describe their public life, their practice of the Word.

religious.

This refers to ceremonial public worship (cf. Acts 26:5). James chose this term, instead of one referring to internal godliness, to emphasize the external trappings, rituals, routines, and forms that were not followed sincerely

Religious (Gr. threskos, used only here in the New Testament) describes someone who fears or worships God. In particular it refers to the outward expression of what one believes (i.e., piety, good works), rather than to what he believes, or the fact that he believes deeply. Jews, who were James’ original readers (1:1), typically regarded alms-giving, prayer, fasting, regular attendance at worship services, and the observance of holy days and feasts as signs of true spirituality (cf. Matt. 6:1–18). However James said that a better test of spirituality was a person’s control of his or her tongue (cf. 3:1–12).

The Bible nowhere calls the Christian faith “a religion”; it is a miracle, a new birth, a divine life. “If any man imagines himself to be religious,” says James, “then let him prove it by the life he lives.”

bridle his tongue. Bridle means “control,” or as another translation renders it, “keep a tight rein.” Purity of heart is often revealed by controlled and proper speech

Matthew 12:36 (ESV) 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

An unbridled tongue is only one example of futile religion. Any behavior inconsistent with the Christian faith is worthless. The story is told of a grocer who apparently was a pious fraud. He lived in an apartment above his store. Every morning he would call down to his assistant, “John!”  “Yes, sir.”  “Have you watered down the milk?”  “Yes, sir.”  “Have you colored the butter?”  “Yes, sir.”  “Have you put chicory in the coffee?”  “Yes, sir.”  “Very well. Come up for morning devotions!”

English Standard Version James 1:27

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Taking care of orphans and widows is a duty that lies close to the heart of God (cf. Exod. 22:22–24; Deut. 10:18; Isa. 1:17; Jer. 5:28; Ezek. 22:7; Zech. 7:10). Yet many who professed to love Him neglected this duty (Ps. 68:5; Eccles. 4:1; Mark 12:40)

orphans and widows. Those without parents or husbands were and are an especially needy segment of the church ; Since they are usually unable to reciprocate in any way, caring for them clearly demonstrates true, sacrificial, Christian love. 

“To summarize, vv. 22–27 insist that a person’s religion must consist of more than superficial acts. It is not enough to listen to the statement of spiritual truth (vv. 22–25), nor is it sufficient to engage in formal religious activity (v. 26). The person whose religious experience is genuine will put spiritual truth into practice, and his life will be marked by love for others and holiness before God.

We should put our own faith on trial with the following questions: Do I read the Bible with a humble desire to have God rebuke me, teach me, and change me? Am I anxious to have my tongue bridled? Do I justify my temper or do I want victory over it? How do I react when someone starts to tell an off-color joke? Does my faith manifest itself in deeds of kindness to those who cannot repay me?