James 1:16-17, Luke 11:9-13, Luke 1:28-31, Romans 8:28-35 NLT

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:12-18

Temptation and its history. We are carried back by the first word to our Lord's pronouncement of the Beatitudes in the sermon on the mount. And here, as there, we are confronted with paradox. The words of the earlier Beatitudes had doubtless come with a shock of astonishment to many, who listened for statements that should accord with their carnal life. "Blessed are"—the proud, the strong, the conquering? Nay; but "the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, the merciful ones." So now.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:13-18

The genesis of sin. 1. Four stages are described. 2. God is not tempted with evil, and he doth not temps to evil. "Ascribe it not to the Father of lights , but to the prince of darkness. But ascribe all good, from the smallest spark to the greatest beam, from the least good giving to the best and most perfect gift of all, to him, the Father of lights'. If there can be no change with the Father of lights, no "shadow east by turning," what folly to suppose that the works of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:16

Do not err ; better, be act deceived ; μὴ πλανᾶσθε . The same formula is also found in 1 Corinthians 6:9 ; 1 Corinthians 15:1-58 :83; Galatians 6:7 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:16-17

All good is from God. The exhortation of James 1:16 introduces additional confirmation of the truth that God cannot tempt men to sin. He is the Author of all good. He not only abhors evil, but from him come those gracious influences which destroy it. Three shades of thought appear in the argument of James 1:17 . I. CONSIDER HIS GIFTS . Each of these is "perfect" in its matter, and " good " in the manner of its bestowal. While raw sins ( James 1:14 ) and ripe sins ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:16-18

The connection of thought with what goes before appears to be this. God cannot be the author of temptation, which thus leads to sin and death, because all good and perfect gifts, and these only, come from him. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:17

Every good gift , etc. The words form a hexameter verse, though this is probably accidental, and no sign that they are a quotation. δόσις and δώρημα should be distinguished. "Every kind of gift that is good, and every one that is perfect in its kind" (Dean Scott). δόσις and δῶρον occur together in the LXX . in Proverbs 21:14 . They are expressly distinguished by Philo, who says that the latter involves the idea of magnitude and fullness, which is wanting to the former... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:17

"The Father of the lights:" a sermon to children. Light is one of the most wonderful things in the world. Some heathen nations have been worshippers of fire or of the sun; but we should be thankful that we know better than they. Our souls want a living, loving God; and the sun does not love or live. We worship, not light, but "the Father of the lights." Let us think of some of the lights of which God is the Father. I. SUN - LIGHT . The sun is a great work of God. It is adorned like... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 1:16

Do not err, my beloved brethren - This is said as if there were great danger of error in the point under consideration. The point on which he would guard them, seems to have been in respect to the opinion that God was the author of sin, and that the evils in the world are to be traced to him. There was great danger that they would embrace that opinion, for experience has shown that it is a danger into which men are always prone to fall. Some of the sources of this danger have been already... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift - The difference between good and perfect here, it is not easy to mark accurately. It may be that the former means that which is benevolent in its character and tendency; the latter that which is entire, where there is nothing even apparently wanting to complete it; where it can be regarded as good as a whole and in all its parts. The general sense is, that God is the author of all good. Every thing that is good on the earth we are to trace to him; evil... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - James 1:16-17

James 1:16-17. Do not err, &c. By supposing that God is the author of sin, or that any thing which is sinful in the heart or conduct of man can, with truth, be ascribed to him: as well might darkness and coldness be attributed to the sun. It is indeed a grievous error to ascribe the evil, and not the good, which we receive, to God. No evil, but every good gift Of every kind: whatever is beautiful, excellent, and good in any creature in the universe; all the members and senses of our... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:12-18

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:13-18

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:16

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:16-17

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:16-18

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:17

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:17

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 1:16

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 1:17

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - James 1:16-17

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