A Transformed Heart-James 1:19-27

Exegesis and Notes

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Chapter 1)

slow to wrath—(Jam 3:13, 14; 4:5). Slow in becoming heated by debate: another Jewish fault (Ro 2:8), to which much speaking tends. TITTMANN thinks not so much “wrath” is meant, as an indignant feeling of fretfulness under the calamities to which the whole of human life is exposed; this accords with the “divers temptations” in Jam 1:2. Hastiness of temper hinders hearing God’s word; so Naaman, 2 Ki 5:11; Lu 4:28.-The ability to discuss serious matters/ debate without becoming angry. You value the person over your posiiton.

Dr. Dukes

v. 19-James turns to discuss how believers get along with God and with each other. (A transformed heart views God and others differently).

James begins with am emphatic call for the reader’s attention. It could be translated “Know this” or “Listen to this”

“Quick to hear”-An attitude of readiness to listen-We must pay careful attention to God and his leadership through devotional study which includes listening (How much time do you spend trying to hear from God?)

We must listen to others as well to know their needs. Receive from God but also receive from other people in order to receive wisdom, but to also listen for needs. A transformed heart cares for the needs of others.

“Slow to speak”-It is an attitude that gives careful through to what we heart and gives a thoughtful and careful response. *Dr. Robbins says, We seldom regret our silence”.

“Slow to anger”-He doesn’t say, ‘Never get angry”, he says be slow to get angry.

The word “temper” comes from a blacksmith shop. When a piece of metal “loses its temper” it becomes useless. Righteous anger rarely relates to self. Living in anger does not reflect a transformed heart. The world is an angry place in many ways. When our hearts are transformed we can response differently.

V. 20-When we lose control we are not able to hear him. Did you get that. When we are angry, we cannot live the righteousness that God desires. A transformed heart is demonstrated in a way that we do not respond to others in selfish anger. We desire righteousness or being right.

v. 21-Remove all filthiness. This is not just moral adjustments. The reaction to removing all filthiness is to receive the implanted word. (Taking out the trash-there can be a a hint of what was there before. You have to take the container and clean it on the inside. The King James Version translates this to put away all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness. What did you learn at church today. I learned to put away superfluity of naughtiness. The filth of sin is superfluous and unnecessary.

Gentleness-meekness. Meekness means to be teachable. A horse that is broken properly describes this.

Receive-Denotes a sense of urgency. A transformed heart does not come from just behaving better. We must replace it with something. It is not enough to be free of the negative, we must be filled with the positive.

The implanted word-The word is personalized. It becomes implanted in your heart. To implant, to grow in (Robertson) -It is the rooted word. The word must take root in your life. Which is able to save. We are not saved by simply hearing a word. The word of God must take root in our heart. Jesus is the word of God. The Holy Spirit grafts or plants the word in our heart. We receive the word the Holy Spirit provides. Are you receiving anything from the Holy Spirit? It’s more than Bible study. The Spirit puts a word in your heart.

V. 22-James demonstrates how we live this. He tells us to be doers of the words and not merely hearer. Hearing and studying the word are important habits, but they do not mean anything if we do not allow the Spirit to apply the word to our lives. We must live it. This can also address the casual attitude believers bring to worship. If you come to worship only to receive, your hearts will not be transformed. You must be ready to respond on what your receive.

True worship demands a response. It is not simply hearing the word, it is putting into practice what you hear.

Deceive means defraud.

Doing is the acting out with a response. Become doers suggests a progress and a process. We respond but we continue to respond.

Vs. 23-25-James gives an illustration of what it is like to simply receive the word and not responding. It is like looking in a mirror and forgetting what you look like. The looker is like the hearer who looks and is satisfied. You walk away from a mirror and you’re okay. Simply hearing the word and not responding means you are satisfied. A transformed heart comes from intently looking into the perfect law and making the necessary changes and then going back and making more changes. Perfect law of freedom is what is described.

Perfect law of freedom (2 key ideas)

The law is perfect because it reflect God’s nature and purpose.

The law is freedom because the God who acts is the God who provides true freedom. God sets us free in our relationship with him. True freedom is the ability to express who we truly are. Law and freedom seem to contradict each other, but the law allows us to relate to the God who authors our freedom.

v. 26-27-True religion is not ceremonial like church attendance and tithing. True religion is a transformation of the heart that is demonstrated in an outward expression. When our hearts are transformed, we are able to see others as precious children of God who are created in the image of God.

Control your tongue-We do not weaponize our speech.

Visit-means more than to just stop by and see someone. It means to look after and give care to. The picture is the grace that God has given to us. Jesus visited all of humanity to provide what we needed to pay the penalty for our sin. A transformed heart cares like Jesus cares. When our hearts are transformed we respond to others with the love of Christ. We agree to love others the way Christ loved us