James: Doers of the Word
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The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter of James A. Hasty Speech and Anger Do Not Please God (1:19–20)
That “word” will be the focus of vv. 21–27, where James calls believers to recognize in God’s word the demand of obedience that comes to all who claim the blessing of the new birth
story about assumed identity
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter of James A. Hasty Speech and Anger Do Not Please God (1:19–20)
Verses 19–20 may then be viewed as James’s brief announcement of a motif that is woven like a thread through the fabric of the letter.
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
Know this, my Beloved brother
As we saw last week James has been writing to these young Christians who have been driven from their homes, encouraging them to live faithfully as followers of Christ while facing persecution.
Last week we saw James calling these young Christians to:
We saw last week in vv. 12-18 James talking to these young Christians calling them to
1. Remain Steadfast Under Trial
2. Do Not Blame God When You Are Tempted
2. Not Blaming God When You Are Tempted
3. Know Your Own Heart (Desires)
3. Knowing Your Own Heart (Desires)
not blaming God for temptation
4. Do Not Be Deceived
In verse 18 James reminds them that they have been brought forth by the word of truth, and that they are the first fruits of the new creation.
(If you missed last weeks sermon you can listen or watch it online)
I could see the young believers reading this letter and getting wide eyed wanting to know more about what this means.
What does it mean to be the first fruits of the new creation
4. Not Being Deceived
What does it mean that we have been brought forth by the word of truth
This is more than just believing in something, this is a life changing event, an identity altering truth.
Through Christ the dividic promises have been fulfilled that we are born of Zion!
5 And of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”; for the Most High himself will establish her. 6 The Lord records as he registers the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah
So before James
But before James continues his thought from v.12-18 he abruptly pauses for just a moment and wants to tell the reader something thats really important.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
This abrupt interruption seems out of place, it seems sudden.
James tells them that they were
Know this, my Beloved brother
18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
This abrupt interruption seems out of place, it seems sudden.
He had the readers on the edge of their seats wanting to know more about this being brought forth by the word of truth and first fruits stuff.
But James hits the pause button, when he says, “know this, my beloved brother:
EXAMPLE**
My Son Owen really like power tools
James had been walking us through the new creation theme, that we are the first fruits of the new creation.
I remember showing my son how to use a miter saw
I showed how the slide works
How to adjust your angles
And now, he wants to pause, and based on everything he has already said wants to address a different topic.
and how to hold the saw in order to get the best cut.
I remember showing him the trigger and when be pulled it and the saw kicked on his eyes got really big and he looked at at me.
And I had a moment like this where paused what we were doing and I looked at Owen, and like James said something like, “know this, my beloved son, this blade is very sharp and can cut your little fingers off”
James wants them to understand something before he continues
James wants them to understand something before he continues
He says, Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.
you tell them what you’re going to tell them
you tell them
Here James echoes wisdom from the book of proverbs and other Jewish sources.
then you tell them what you told them.
Before these young Christians start pondering the theology of what it is to be a new creation in Christ, James wants them to know what it looks like practically
This is what James is doing in verses 19-20
And what it looks like is being quick to hear and slow to speak.
He telling us what he going to tell us
James wants these young Christians to cultivate a habit of listening well.
he introduces the themes of
anger
hearing
he talks about
the wise man listens
and speaking
then in 21-27
He listens to wisdom,
He listens to teaching
He listens when people speak so he will know how to answer
And most importantly he listen to the word of God, that same word that brought them forth as first fruits.
Not only does wise man listen, but he slow to speak.
I wise man once said, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.”
James knows the power of the words,
5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
James wants his readers to understand the power of words, for by them God created the whole world, and by them we can destroy.
in chapter three he says it
can set forests abaze
that it can set the entire course of life on fire
he says its restless evil
full of poison
with it we bless God and curse those created in his image
The tongue is so powerful James is saying be slow to speak, know what you are saying, be sure your words are in keeping with who you are as a child of God.
Not only are we to be slow to speak but we are also to be slow to anger.
Uncontrolled Anger leads to uncontrolled speech
I think its interesting how these two things are linked: so often Uncontrolled Anger leads to uncontrolled speech
Uncontrolled Anger leads to uncontrolled speech
Uncontrolled Anger leads to uncontrolled speech
How often do we find ourselves regretting words spoke “ in the heat of the moment”
Most of the time the confession that follows anger includes words spoken.
Does God really expect us to feel the way he feels about things?
The Wise person, James tells us, will learn to control the emotion of anger and so eliminate one of the most common sources of hasty and unwise speech.
James focuses in on anger here and explains why we should be slow to anger
look at 1.20
Because the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Does James intend to prohibit all anger of any kind?
I don’t think so.
Because the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
James is making a generalization here that is generally true.
Does James intend to prohibit all anger of any kind—even what we sometimes called “righteous anger”? Probably not. James falls into the wisdom genre at this point. And wisdom sayings are notorious for the use of apparently absolute assertions in order to make a general, “proverbial” point. Qualification of that general truth is often found in other biblical contexts. So we can assume that James intends us to read his warning as a general truth that applies in most cases: human anger is not usually pleasing to God, leading as it does to all kinds of sins. That it can never be pleasing to God would be an interpretation that is insensitive to the style in which James writes at this point
In fact, the style in which is he writing allows him to make such generalizations.
James is speaking proverbially, he is not here trying to make a strict theological point.
For we know throughout the bible that anger is used in many different ways.
There are times when such evil is done, that to not be angry is to be outright rebellious.
Have you ever thought about that? There are times in your life where if you are not angry you are not being faithful.
You see this word for anger is the greek word ὀργή which is most often translated as wrath, and God is the one this word is most often attributed too.
You see, if we are to think, act and feel like God, than the things that make God feel angry should make us feel angry.
When we see injustice, abuse, and wickedness how should we feel?
Well, if we feel differently than the way God feels about it than we are not being faithful image bearers.
You see, if we are to think, act and feel like God, than the things that make God feel angry should make us feel angry.
We should not only long to love the way God loves, to be happy the way God is happy, and to laugh when god laughs, but we should also long to be angry when God is angry.
For when we feel the way God feels we feel rightly.
And James knows this, he knows that anger is not inherently sinful, but he also knows that there are two different kinds of angry.
The anger of God
The anger of Man
What does James mean when he talks about producing the righteousness of God
Probably not. James falls into the wisdom genre at this point. And wisdom sayings are notorious for the use of apparently absolute assertions in order to make a general, “proverbial” point. Qualification of that general truth is often found in other biblical contexts. So we can assume that James intends us to read his warning as a general truth that applies in most cases: human anger is not usually pleasing to God, leading as it does to all kinds of sins. That it can never be pleasing to God would be an interpretation that is insensitive to the style in which James writes at this point
Righteousness is a theologically pack word all throughout the bible. And we will unpack that word some in chapter two.
But what James is saying here is that the anger of man does not produce the righteous life God desires.
The anger of man
The anger of man is an anger that is selfish, prideful, wicked and conceited.
The anger of man is an anger that exalts self over all
One is a sinful, selfish, prideful, anger
while the anger of God is a righteous anger.
So James warns against the anger of man which does not produce the righteous life God desires -
an
NIV paraphrases the phrase “the righteousness of God” with “the righteous life God desires”
When you don’t get your way
The anger of man does not recognize Christ on the throne, rather the anger of man bows down to self.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter of James A. Hasty Speech and Anger Do Not Please God (1:19–20)
Does James intend to prohibit all anger of any kind—even what we sometimes called “righteous anger”? Probably not. James falls into the wisdom genre at this point. And wisdom sayings are notorious for the use of apparently absolute assertions in order to make a general, “proverbial” point. Qualification of that general truth is often found in other biblical contexts. So we can assume that James intends us to read his warning as a general truth that applies in most cases: human anger is not usually pleasing to God, leading as it does to all kinds of sins. That it can never be pleasing to God would be an interpretation that is insensitive to the style in which James writes at this point
Does James intend to prohibit all anger of any kind—even what we sometimes called “righteous anger”? Probably not. James falls into the wisdom genre at this point. And wisdom sayings are notorious for the use of apparently absolute assertions in order to make a general, “proverbial” point. Qualification of that general truth is often found in other biblical contexts. So we can assume that James intends us to read his warning as a general truth that applies in most cases: human anger is not usually pleasing to God, leading as it does to all kinds of sins. That it can never be pleasing to God would be an interpretation that is insensitive to the style in which James writes at this point
Does James intend to prohibit all anger of any kind—even what we sometimes called “righteous anger”? Probably not. James falls into the wisdom genre at this point. And wisdom sayings are notorious for the use of apparently absolute assertions in order to make a general, “proverbial” point. Qualification of that general truth is often found in other biblical contexts. So we can assume that James intends us to read his warning as a general truth that applies in most cases: human anger is not usually pleasing to God, leading as it does to all kinds of sins. That it can never be pleasing to God would be an interpretation that is insensitive to the style in which James writes at this point
When that thing rises up in you quickly and it causes your jaw to clench and your
The anger of man is internally selfish, it lashes out when self is offended.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter of James A. Hasty Speech and Anger Do Not Please God (1:19–20)
God’s righteousness is one of the great theological themes of the OT. The starting point for the theme is the use of the language to describe an attribute of God: his moral purity and especially his reliability and faithfulness in carrying out all that he has promised.
God’s righteousness is one of the great theological themes of the OT. The starting point for the theme is the use of the language to describe an attribute of God: his moral purity and especially his reliability and faithfulness in carrying out all that he has promised.
When the kingship of self is violated the anger of man steps forward to defend its crown.
The righteous life God desires is a life of submission, not exaltation.
The righteous life God desires is a life that bows to the kingship of Christ not the kingship of self.
The righteous life God desires is a life that lived in line with who you are.
And James tells them in verse 18 that they are first fruits of the new creation brought fourth by the word of truth.
So, as new creations in Christ, how are they to live? They are to live the righteous life that God desires
Which means
being quick to hear
slow to speak
and slow to anger - for the anger of man does not produce the righteous life God desires
So now that James has introduced this important topic of being quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger, he continues his train of thought from verse 18
Look with me at v. 21
21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
The therefore connects us back to what James was saying in verse 18
since you have been brought forth by the word of truth,
There is a r
since you are the first fruits of the new creation,
Therefore James says to put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness…
James describes filthiness and wickedness like a coat or a robe you wear.
Before Christ we put on rampant wickedness, this is abundance or overflowing malice and evil in our lives, we put on wickedness like a robe.
The word “put away” means to remove or take off and is mostly associated with taking off a garment or robe.
When we engage in filthiness and wickedness, we wear these acts like garments.
They not only identify what we do, but they identify who we are.
You’re clothing identifies you as a perosn
Sports
Business (Coke and Pepsi)
Bride
So James is saying, that as new creations, as first fruits, as those who have been brought forth by the word of truth.
But now, as new creations, as first fruits, as those who have been brought forth by the word of truth.
We must take these garments off, remove them, put them away, no longer wear them.
But instead,James says we are to “receive or accept the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”
James wants his people to be identified, not as those who practice moral filthiness and wickedness, but as men and women who receive with humility the implanted word.
James is not as concerned about switching immoral behavior for moral behavior.
In practice, James is saying that:
James is far more concerned that we receive the planted word of God, which is able to save your souls.
James knows the power of the word of God, that when planted, will produce a new way of living, a new kind of behavior.
our speech should be speech that sounds like the bible rather than sounding like culture in which we live.
Our political views should be far more biblical than republican or democratic.
As a new creation in Christ, take off the old clothes of wickedness and filth, and receive the implanted word of God, for that will not only be able to save your souls, but also produce new clothing, new behaviors.
Our moral and ethical standards should be lined up with the scriptures rather than our culture, or 1950’s America.
Our entire lives,
belief from practice
from friendships to careers,
From family to hobbies,
knowledge from action
From controversial issues like social justice to alcohol,
the spiritual from the physical
Or from resting and relaxing to working and building.
Everything should be received from and grown out of the implanted word
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 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. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 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.
This is what i love about James, he is not ok with people receiving the word of God in name only.
He is not ok with Sunday morning Christians, sideline Christians, when i’m not hunting and fishing or doing sports christians.
Hearing and Doing
Hearing and Doing
He is not ok with cultural christianity or a lackadaisical faith
To be a follower of Christ is to not only to hear and agree with the truth of the gospel, but it is to live out the truth of the gospel.
to receive Christ and his word is to be holistically changed.
And to think any other way is to be deceived.
Look with me at 1.22
from the way you think, to the way you act.
For those who just hear the word, and are not doers of the word, they are deceived.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
The scriptures demand that our faith be put into action.
James wants the hands of the Christians to have some calluses, he wants the shoes of the Christian life to be worn .
However, sports take priority
The idea of just being a hearer of the word is repulsive to James.
James wants to call out those people who like the idea of following Christ more than actually following him.
for they are deceived.
The Christian faith is not only a truth to be affirmed, but a life to be lived.
The true Christian life gets dirt under the fingernails and blisters on the feet.
The true Christian life is a life that works, that does, that holistically follows Christ.
We cannot be satisfied with nominal christianity.
A nominal faith is someone who comes to church on Sundays, listens to Christian radio, and affirms the truth of the gospel.
yet, the life lived is not one of allegiance to Christ.
They hear the word, they know theology, they may even read through the bible in a year, but the word has little or no affect on their lives.
This is why James says, that we are to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only.
Their marriages are not conformed to biblical principles.
Their habits in life follow no biblical liturgy
They do not aspire toward godliness nor do they seek wisdom.
When trials come, they have not learned to be steadfast in their faith, they live as doubled-minded and are unstable in all their ways.
They affirm the truth of God’s word, but the word of truth has does not affirm them.
They are not doers of the word.
The Christian life is not something that we receive then put on the shelf so that we might admire its beauty.
Its not a relic that we are to treasure and keep safe.
Example
New floors in my house
a couple years ago I installed new oak flooring in my house.
and for months I was so concerned about the floors getting scratched
I didn’t want the kids playing with any toys that might be dropped and gouge the flooring
I didn’t want anything dragged on the floor
And every time I saw a scuff or scratch I would get frustrated.
And during this time Mandee constantly had to remind me, “they’re floors, they’re ment to be walked on”
This is what they are designed for. flooring is not meant to be protected, its meant to be walked on.
Or think about it like this
You finally get your dream car.
you read and memorize the owners manual, learning every detail and fact about the car.
constantly reading reviews about how great it is
comparing the horsepower and torque with other cars
James does not allow us to ponder the idea or implications of being brought forth by the word of truth
washing it, waxing it, cleaning it, making sure it always looked good.
And you invite James over to see your new ride
James: How does it handle in the snow?
You: I don’t know, i don’t drive it in the snow, I don’t want it getting any sort of corrosion.
He doesn’t have time for theological theories concerning the new creation
James: How does sound when you get after it when the light turns green?
You: I don’t personally know, but I can tell you what other people say. But i’ve never personally heard what it sounds like.
James: How fast have you gotten it up to? what the leather smell like? what kind of gas milage do you get?
You: I don’t know, I’ve never actually driven the car.
There are many who claim to follow Christ who have never actually driven the car.
They are more interested in the idea of the faith than they are actually experiencing it.
Rather, James says, “get in the car and drive. And this is what it looks like”
Be quick to hear
Be slow to speak
Be slow to anger
Put off all filthiness and rampant wickedness
And receive the Word, and be a doer of the word.
If we are men and women made in the image of God, created to do good works to the glory of Christ, and we don’t actually do those good works, if we are not a doer of the word, than we have forgotten who we are.
That like mother who neglects all her motherly duties so she can try and relive the glory days of highschool - I would say to her, “you have forgotten who you are”
Its the student that goes to college to become a doctor, and instead of studying spends all his time play video games. “I would say to this student, “you have forgotten who you are”
I often tell my kids, you are Lammott, so act like a Lammott. Don’t forget who you are.
And as Christians, we are doers of the word of God, if we become hearers only, we have forgotten who we are.
Look with me at vv. 23-25
filthiness is speaking of moral uncleaness
23 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. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 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.
James says that only hearing the word and not doing the word its like a man looking into a mirror. seeing what he looks like then forgetting his image when he walks away.
The hearer forgets who he is, he forgets that he was made for good works, that he was made in the image of God.
So James says, “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. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.”
So when someone hears the word of God, its like looking into a mirror. The man looks intently at his natural face
Why does James say the “man who looks intently at his natural face” instead of just looking at his face?
What is James trying to tell us?
The word James uses is the greek word genesis
So it could be read, “he is like a man who looks intently at his genesis face in the mirror”
So what is a genesis face?
James is once again taking us back to the early chapters of genesis when Adam and Eve were created
gen 1 26-27
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
God created us in his own image, and Adam and Eve, before the fall, were the model of what is to image God.
As image bearers they were to take dominion of the whole earth, working and doing all that God gave them to do.
So when James says, we look into the mirror, which is the word of God, we see our genesis face, a clear picture of how we are to live, and who we were created to be.
Yet, the one who only hears the word, looks and sees his genesis face, and what? Look at v. 24
24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
He forgets what he was like, he forgets what he saw.
He forgets what the image of God is supposed to be and do.
He forgets that he is the first fruits of the new creation, he forgets he is to live like the second Adam, and the Adam who did not fall into sin.
His life is supposed to reflect who he is.
If you are a new creation in Christ, you are to live like a new creation in Christ.
And this is how the doers of the word live
look at v.25
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 doer is the one who looks into the mirror, which is the perfect law, the law of liberty, this is the word of God from Genesis to Revelation, and perseveres
He lives the way the bible calls him to live.
His life is formed around the teachings of scripture
He lives his life in full allegiance to Jesus Christ.
He lives this way:
at home
at work
during the holidays
after a long week
on vacation.
No matter what happens, the faithful Christian does not forget what the word of God says.
The faithful Christian is a doer of the word, not a hearer only who forgets.
James then wants to add on one more thing, it is important to be a doer of the word, not a doer of self made religion.
Many people are very active doing lots of things for God, yet God finds not pleasure in these acts.
The pharisee are perfect examples
They were very busy doing lots of things for God, yet they did not allow themselves to be changed by the word of God.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
So James does not want us to act like pharisee’s thinking we can just do religious acts and God will be pleased.
Look at vv26-27
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 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.
James is saying that if you think you are doing great things for God, but cannot even control your tongue, you are deceived, and your religion is worthless.
James is casting a net here and no one can escape.
He’s saying hey, if you’re a hearer only and not a doer, you are deceived. And you need to be a doer of the word.
He then says, if you are a doer, but you cannot even control your tongue, you are deceived. And maybe you should hear or listen to the word more.
He then gives us what true religion looks like in verse 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.”
What does this mean?
love your neighbor as yourself - even if you neighbor is unable to offer you anything.
And love God with all your heart soul mind and strength.
love God so much that you want to be like him.
Love God so much that you want to think like him, feel like him, and act like him.
For when you love Christ, you’ll keep his commandments.
For the love you have for God, and the love he has for you will make you not want to be stained by the world.
To love God is to desire to take off the robes of filthiness and wickedness.
And receive the word of God, the word that is able to save your souls.
Church,
Do not forget who you are - you are loved. You are a child of God made in his image. Do not forget who you are
Do not be hearers only church, do not leave here this morning forgetting what you look like. Be doers of the word.
Let the word of God get into your bones. Let it grow in you and let it produce the righteous life God desires.
May we be a church, a people who are known for not being hearers only, but doers of the word of God.
take off the robes of filthiness and rampant wickedness, and receive the implanted word of God.
Lets pray.
my fear is that many even in this room are more interested in hearing the word than being doers of the word of God.
I think many struggle by thinking that to love God is a sentiment where Jesus says its an action - if you love me you will keep my commands.
I think many of you when you leave church on Sunday, you forget who you are, you forget your genesis face. You forget that you are made in the image of God.
Pauls says in
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Church, we serve a
21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter of James B. Obedience to the Word Is the Mark of Genuine Christianity (1:21–27)
The theme of this paragraph is obvious: those who have experienced the new birth by means of God’s word (v. 18) must “accept” that word (v. 21) by doing it (vv. 22–27).
The theme of this paragraph is obvious: those who have experienced the new creation by means of God’s word (v.1`8) must “accept” that word by doing it.
Because the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
NIV paraphrases the phrase “the righteousness of God” with “the righteous life God desires”
Does James intend to prohibit all anger of any kind—even what we sometimes called “righteous anger”? Probably not. James falls into the wisdom genre at this point. And wisdom sayings are notorious for the use of apparently absolute assertions in order to make a general, “proverbial” point. Qualification of that general truth is often found in other biblical contexts. So we can assume that James intends us to read his warning as a general truth that applies in most cases: human anger is not usually pleasing to God, leading as it does to all kinds of sins. That it can never be pleasing to God would be an interpretation that is insensitive to the style in which James writes at this point
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 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. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 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.
James 1 22-25
The Bridled Tongue
The Bridled Tongue
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.