Being a Doer of the Word

Introduction

We now enter a new section of James. We are learning about our Faith on the Outside. Previously in vv. 2-18 he was reminding us how we ought to respond to trials - in joy realizing God is perfecting us; asking for wisdom - knowing that is the chief thing we lack in a trial; keep the right perspective - whether rich or poor our eternal reward is what matter; remember God’s goodness - the trial is not a way to tempt us to sin but to remember that He is good.

Now our new section is vv. 19-27 where we see that James will be concerned now with not just our response to trials but our response to the Word of God.

The first way that we respond to the Word of God is to be Hearers of the Word. Hearing involves that we are quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to wrath - understanding that our wrath doesn’t work the righteousness of God. So our response to what we hear shouldn’t be anger but:

Now we will see that the proper response to hearing the Word is to be a doer of the Word.

1. The Need for Doing the Word

v. 22

A. The Importance of Doing the Word

This is an important lesson in Scripture.

Romans 2:13 AV

13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Even Jesus Himself taught this:

John 13:17 AV

17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

This was really a core teaching in all of Judaism coming from early on.

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 AV

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

James is confronting the person that is a hearer only. One Rabbi taught, “not the learning is the main thing but the doing.’

They taught it this way:

He who goes but does not carry out [what he learns] - he has at least the reward for t he going.

He who practices but does not go [to study] - he has at least the reward for the doing.

He who both goes and practices - he is truly pious

He who neither goes nor practices - he is truly wicked.

Jesus taught this as well:

Matthew 7:15–17 AV

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

In context hearing and doing applies to what we’ve already learned in James: 1) becoming spiritually mature in vv. 2-4; 2) seeking God’s wisdom in trials; 3) having the right perspective whether rich or poor; 4) avoiding our anger.

The word ‘word of truth’ in v. 18; that was implanted in us in v. 21; must be put into practice.

B. The Deception of Hearing Only

James ends the verse with a clear application that the person who only hears is deceiving themselves.

Paul mentions this same kind of deception

Colossians 2:4 AV

4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

These people are blinded to their true religious state. Maybe they are blinded by their anger in the previous verses thinking that are actually righteous or carrying out God’s righteousness.

Isaiah 44:20 AV

20 He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

In general, they may think they are right with God, but are truly lost.

The person who fails to do the word of God is the person who has not truly accepted God’s word at all.

2. A Helpful Illustration

vv. 23-24

A. The Comparison

v. 23 - like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass.

James is now going to give us a simple comparison of what a hearer and not a doer is like.

He is someone who looks into a mirror first of all.

Mirrors are important! We look in them every morning - in the car on the way to work - at bathroom breaks - and after ever haircut the barber shows us the results in a mirror.

both v. 23 and 24 mention beholding himself. And this has been subject to some difference of interpretation - some thinking that it means ‘stare for a long time.’

But more likely it means ‘observe and move on.’ The point of looking here is incomplete because nothing has been done.

Ezekiel 33:31–32 AV

31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. 32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.

And he beholds himself in the mirror - let’s continue the comparison by understanding that the mirror is the Word of God or the law (v. 25).

Paul relates that looking in the mirror reflects our fallen condition:

1 Corinthians 13:12 AV

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

The comparison here is that a fallen man looks into the word of God and sees his moral condition.

B. The Deceptive Action

v. 24 - beholds himself; goes his way; forgets what manner of man he was.

Well, what does he do about it? He sees his moral failings - maybe he isn’t patient in the trial, hasn’t asked for wisdom, lost perspective in light of his financial situation, and has been self-righteously angry; but still he walks away forgetting his moral condition.

2 Peter 3:11 AV

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

This forgetting what the look like is the self-deception involved here.

The Letter of James B. Obedience to the Word Is the Mark of Genuine Christianity (1:21–27)

To “remember” God, his acts and his teachings, is to contemplate them in such a way that they make a lasting impression on the heart and the mind. The person who “forgets” what he has seen in God’s word is one who reads or listens superficially, not imprinting the message on the soul.

3. The Blessing of Doing the Word

v. 25

Now James comes back to the point in v.22 but with more specifics and the warning turns into a promise of blessing.

A. The Description of the Word

‘The word of truth’ in v. 18; ‘the engrafted word’ of v. 21; ‘the word’ of v. 22 is here called ‘the perfect law of liberty.’

What is the perfect law of liberty? Well I believe Paul describes it,

Galatians 5:13–14 AV

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Ultimately we have it from Jesus as well!

John 13:34–35 AV

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

The law of libery is connected to the engrafted word in v. 21 and thus is the fulfillment of everything Jesus taught and the purpose of what was taught through the Torah as well.

The man that sees himself in the mirror of God’s word is looking into the perfect law of liberty - seeing the fulness of God’s righteous expectations of his life.

B. Looking into the Word

Here we have an interesting phrase where a person is looking into the perfect law of liberty and continuing therein.

The look here is different than the behold in the previous verses. Look means looking into something; bending over and peering in a receptive mode.

Hebrews 12:15 AV

15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Picture an art lover wandering through a museum and looking at each piece of art. Maybe even someone who loves music at an orchestral performance. Or maybe the adult that kneels down to hear what a child is saying.

This person is much different that the one who won’t find maturity or wisdom in his trials, who doesn’t see the temporality of wealth, or who is lead by his own desires and questions God’s goodness, and is easily led to anger.

Not only are the looking and perceiving but they are continuing or persevering in this looking. They see what the Bible says and continue to practice and observe it.

They continue in Jesus’ and Paul’s words of loving one another. They continue in the areas that James has already mentioned. They fall into a trial and they look into the Word for the answer and do it.

C. The Contrast in Responses

Well this person who look is one who is not a forgetful hearer in contrast to the previous example.

The connection of not forgetting God’s word is strong in the OT.

Deuteronomy 4:23 AV

23 Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.

Deuteronomy 6:12 AV

12 Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

Psalm 119:16 AV

16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Historically forgetting was an extreme action. “Whoever forgets a single thing from what he has leaned - Scripture reckons it to him as if he has become liable for his life.”

Those who continue or persevere will not forget. He is a doer.

D. The Promise

Well he is blessed in his deed or act or work. These are doers who act! These are men and women of action and work. James will address this shortly

James 2:17 AV

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

James 3:13 AV

13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

These deeds must be held in light of the perfect law of liberty - deeds of mercy, compassion, and holiness; and in context of the letter involve the poor.

There is a need for solidarity among the Christian community in caring for each other. Christians who follow Jesus interpretation of the perfect law of liberty care for the poor, establish God’s justice, do not lash out in angry violence but are meek.

When we do this, there is a blessing. This simply means God’s favor on a person. The blessing starts here and continues into our heavenly future.

CONCLUSION

James doesn’t want us applying the word to others. He doesn’t want us underlining all the commands in the Bible in blue. He wants us to apply it to ourselves. I ask you what I ask young couples, “Do you want God’s blessing in your life?” If you say yes, then James’ answer is clear: Don’t be a forgetful hearer of the word. Become an effectual doer and you will be blessed by God.