Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - James 2:21
James 2:21. Was not, &c. As if he had said, Take an instance of this in the most celebrated of all the patriarchs, our father Abraham. Was not he justified by works Did not his works manifest the truth and liveliness of his faith; when In consequence of the full persuasion he had of a divine command to do it; he offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Intending, in obedience to what he apprehended to be the will of God, actually to have slain him, and to have trusted in God to... read more
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 2:21
Was not Abraham our father - Our progenitor, our ancestor; using the word “father,” as frequently occurs in the Bible, to denote a remote ancestor. Compare the notes at Matthew 1:1. A reference to his case would have great weight with those who were Jews by birth, and probably most of those to whom this Epistle was addressed were of this character. See the Introduction.Justified by works - That is, in the sense in which James is maintaining that a man professing religion is to be justified by... read more