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The Epistle of James Chapter 1:1–27
The Writer and the Receivers 1.1. From James, a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings! There are three prominent persons named James in the New Testament, James the son of Zebedee and Salome an elder brother of John, James the son of Alphaeus, called James the less or little. Both of these were among the twelve disciples. Then there was James the “Lord’s brother” (Gal. 1:19) who is generally accepted as the writer of this letter. Although he could claim this half relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ having the same mother, he nevertheless rightly calls himself a slave of God and of Christ. He addresses his letter to Christian Jews who are scattered throughout the world.
The Rewards of Trials 1.2. My brothers and sisters consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials. In calling the Jews to whom he is writing brethren he does so not because they are of the same nationality but part of the greater family of faith that belong to Jesus Christ through redemption. The many different trials that come upon believers and were promised to them by the Lord (John 16: 33) are to be accepted at all times with cheerfulness and with calm delight (Strong). This is completely contrary to human nature and can only be done with the help of the Holy Spirit who is called both Helper and comforter (John 16:7, John 14:26). 1.3. because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. If we put our complete trust in Christ, then we will have that assurance that the testing of our faith accomplishes will work in us that steadfastly constant endurance of character that will take us through all our testing and trials. 1.4. And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.
We should not therefore resent or resist these trials but let them achieve the purpose for which they are meant. The work of grace that is being done in the life of a believer will then go on to perfection lagging behind in nothing. 1.5. But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him. If anyone is short of the wisdom that is needed to know how they should apply themselves in times of testing, then let them ask God who gives graciously and abundantly without finding fault and He will give it. 1.6. But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind Let him however, fulfill the condition of asking in faith without any doubt or hesitation that God will hear will answer and give. If anyone is of an uncertain mind, sways to and fro, he is like a wave that is tossed about by the wind. 1.7. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord Such a person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ said to His disciples that they should ask, seek and knock until they receive (Matthew 7:7). 1.8. since he is a double-minded individual, unstable in all his ways. A man who fluctuates between opinion and purpose is unreliable and unsure in all his ways.
Position of Rich and Poor 1.9. Now the believer of humble means should take pride in his high position. Believers who are in poverty and don’t amount to much in this world are to boast in the fact that they have been lifted to a high position in Christ (Gal. 4:7, Rom. 8: 17). 1.10. but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. The rich man is to glory in that he has been given a deep sense of his true condition (Wesley) in the sight of God that his riches mean nothing to the Lord. He should rather glory in that he has been redeemed by Christ (1 Pet. 1: 18 -19). Their lives are like a flower of the field, and (in common with all other ‘classes’ of people) they will soon pass away. The rich and poor alike are of equal standing in the sight of God. 1.11. For the sun rises with its heat and dries up the meadow; the petal of the flower falls off and its beauty is lost forever. So also the rich person in the midst of his pursuits will wither away. As the sun rises with a scorching heat the beauty of the flower fades and withers and dies; so the rich man will pass away while he is about his business.
Remaining Faithful in Trials 1.12. Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Those who remain faithful during times of trials are supremely blest for when they come through triumphantly they will receive as their reward the crown of life, that is, eternal life. This is the promise the Lord has given to all those who love Him. 1.13. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. The apostle here seems to have had in his mind here that whatever hardships or trials we go through do not be tempted to sin whether by complaining, murmuring, or to the extreme to become an apostate or by yielding to any other sin. No one should say that it is God who is tempting them for it is impossible for God to be tempted with anything evil therefore, He cannot put anything in the way of men to tempt them to do evil. God is not the author of sin it was Satan who tempted Eve with evil and both Adam and Eve gave in (Gen 3). 1.14 - 15. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. It is when a man allows himself to be drawn away from the truth that he is tempted by the lust of the flesh. When this takes a hold it overpowers and produces sin and sin in its turn brings death (Ezek. 18:4). 1 16 - 17. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Do not be led astray by this error that it is God who tempts us for everything that is of beneficial excellence and is wholesome, holy, comes from God. He is the source and fountain of lights, purity and blessings. God never varies in His character. He never changes or fluctuates; He is no shifting shadow (Malachi 3:6). 1.18. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. It was by His own will that He brought us forth into a new birth in Christ (John 1: 12 - 13, Tit. 3: 5) through the message of the gospel (Eph. 1:13).
Hearers and Doers of the Word 1.19. Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. Let every brother and sister in Christ be ready to give a concentrated attention to the Word of God and to think before speaking. Let them know how to control themselves in debate so that they do not lose their temper.
1.20. For human anger does not accomplish God's righteousness. A person’s anger does not accomplish the righteous purpose of God. 1.21. So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls. Therefore, put away all that would morally make impure and abundant wickedness. With a spirit of humility accept the Word that has been planted in your heart for it has the power to save your souls (Rom. 1:16). 1.22. But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves. Do not be deceive it isn’t enough to just listen to the word it has to be acted upon and put into practice. 1.23 - 24. For if anyone hears the word but is not obedient to it, he is like a man who looks at himself in a mirror and studies himself carefully, and then goes off and immediately forgets what he looks like. If anyone just listens to the word without obeying it, they are like someone who takes a look at their face in the mirror and as soon as they have turned away they do not remember what they look like. It is not enough just to read the Bible like you would any book it needs to be studied and meditated upon a portion at a time. 1.25. But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out — he will be blessed in what he does. Those who earnestly look into the perfect word of truth, God’s Word, that sets free (John 8:32) and doesn’t forget what he learns but continues to abide by it and fulfill it will be blessed by God in what they do. 1.26. If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile. If there is anyone who appears to be religious among the brethren and yet is not able to control their tongue, then they deceive themselves and their religion is just a matter of form and worthless (2 Tim. 3: 5) 1.27. Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world. What God the Father deems to be pure and unstained religion is to go and see orphans and widows in their troubles and to relieve them. To keep oneself free from being corrupted by the world (1 John 2: 15 - 17). © Derek Williams 2016 Bible Studies Online UK www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk You may copy, print or distribute our studies freely in any form, just so long as you make no charges. Sign up today for our FREE monthly Bible study magazine “Living Word” Scriptures taken from the NET Bible www.bible.org