Slow to Wrath

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

Swift to hear the Word of God. Since we have been begotten by the Word, we need to grow by the hearing of the Word.

Swift to hear the Word of God. Since we have been begotten by the Word, we need to grow by the hearing of the Word.

Matthew Henry - It is our duty rather to hear God’s word, and apply our minds to understand it, than to speak according to our own fancies or the opinions of men, and to run into heat and passion thereupon.

And to be ready to hear and consider what God’s word teaches in all such cases.

As to our human nature - We have two ears, and one mouth - we need to listen to what is being said, not just hear words. There are two types of listening – Active and Passive. Active is preferred, because it shows you are paying attention, and asking questions about what is said. Passive listening is what we typically do, and it is easy for our thoughts to drift.

This applies to our relationship to G-d, as well as with others.

Proverbs 17:27 - He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

1Cor2:14 - But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned

The Holy Spirit wants to teach us Slow to speak - be careful before we start witnessing, we need to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit before witnessing -

JVM: as a child of God you are in dwelt by the Spirit of God who wants to teach you the Word of God. The Creator of this universe and the Redeemer of lost sinners wants to talk to you, my friend.

What an AWESOME promise!

Mark 13:11-But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

Slow to wrath - anger is contrary to the will of God. Moses did not enter the promised land due to his anger,

Num 20:8-11

David Guzik

Anger and wrath come from our being self-centered, and not others-centered.

Slow to speak a way to be others-centered.

We really need to think about this, and seek G-d’s wisdom/guidance on this topic.

Eccles 5:1-5 - Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil.

2 Do not be rash with your mouth,

And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.

For God is in heaven, and you on earth;

Therefore, let your words be few.

3 For a dream comes through much activity,

And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.

4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it;

For He has no pleasure in fools.

Pay what you have vowed—

5 Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.

1 Cor 2:14 - The Holy Spirit wants to teach us

Heb 4:12 is an example of the power.

Slow to speak - be careful before we start witnessing, we need to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit before witnessing -

Mark 13:11

Slow to wrath - anger is contrary to the will of God. Moses did not enter the promised land due to his anger,

20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

D.Guzik – “Our wrath almost always simply defends or promotes our own agenda - not G-d’s righteousness.”

21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of dnaughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Col 3:8-But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth

1Pet 2:1 - Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking

superfluity of naughtiness - an abundance of wickedness...

engrafted word - implanted..

Chuck Smith: receive with meekness - Set aside our pride, set aside our wicked ways, and let's just hear the word of God because it is by the word of God that we are born again

There are two interpretations of “receive with meekness” - One refers to the Word of God, and the other I believe refers to how we interact with the world.

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

this is a command... we need to do the work of the word...

KJV Bible Commentary says this about verse 22: “The Greek present tense in be ye doers of the word may be rendered “Continue being doers.…” However, the word be (Gr ginomai), often translated “become,” views their obedience as a constant struggle. Hearing profits when it generates a transformed life, but hearers only merely soothe their consciences temporarily, deceiving themselves.”

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

This is what makes it easy to judge others, and we forget to judge ourselves - remember what we look like - to a HOLY God....

Other verses refer to the mirror of the Word as looking thru a glass darkly...

Luke 6:42 - Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

Other verses refer to the mirror of the Word as looking thru a glass darkly...

1Cor13:12 - For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Looketh means “to look attentively, penetratingly

We are to seek the law of liberty - we are constrained by the love of Christ to keep the law - because we love Him.

1 Cor 6:12 - All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any

KJV Bible commentary - “The perfect law of liberty parallels the glassof verse 23. James chose two words which contradict each other. Law signifies restrictions; liberty the absence of them. The apparent misnomer sets forth a momentous teaching. Although God embraces inflexible standards and laws, He freely pardons anyone who trusts in Christ.”

JVM: “When Paul refers to the law, he is talking about the Mosaic Law; James is referring to the law of faith - love of and in Christ - 1 John 5:3 - For this is the love of G-d, that we keep His commandments.”

26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

It is not what goes into a man that defiles, but what comes out... Mat 15:11

JVM: “James is saying here that if a religious man does not control his speech, his religion—regardless of what it is—is vain. What about the Christian and his tongue? James is going to have a great deal to say in chapter 3 about the child of God and this matter of bridling the tongue. Someone has said, “You can’t believe half of what you hear, but you can repeat it.” That is a real problem in the church today. We have too many people who have unbridled tongues.”

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

MH: “True religion teaches us to do every thing as in the presence of God; and to seek his favour, and study to please him in all our actions.”

We are not to become like the world - we live in it, but are not to behave like those in the world.

What does that mean?

We need to look after, help the fatherless children and the widows - with practical things. Helping them with their houses - repairs and such. Doing things for the fatherless children - Little League? Boy Scouts?

Home Group Questions 1:19-27

1. How do we control our anger? 1:19

2. Why should we refrain/control our anger? 1:20

3. Why is it important to be “doers of the Word”? 1:22-25

4. Why is it important to control our tongue? 1:26

5. What is pure religion? 1:27