Be afflicted . Greek. talaiporeo. Only here. Compare James 5:1 .Romans 7:24 . laughter . Greek. gelos. Only here. be turned . See Acts 2:20 . heaviness . Greek. katepheia. Only here. It means casting down the eyes. Compare Luke 18:13 . read more
Humble yourselves . Greek. tapeinoo. See 2 Corinthians 11:7 . LORD . App-98 . A (B according to texts). lift . . . up . Greek. hupsoo. See John 12:32 . read more
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.This stern warning to the unregenerated is an appeal for them to consider the wretched and miserable state of the lost. Some unsaved persons may indeed laugh; but let them recognize their separation from God, and their laughter will be replaced with weeping and mourning.How perfectly James follows the teachings of the Master, who said, "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted"... read more
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you.This is an appeal for the unconverted to forsake the human pride, which more than any other impediment restrains men from obeying the word of the Lord; and, like most of this passage, it also has its abiding relevance for Christians themselves. Jesus said, "Whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted" (Matthew 23:12), in the light of which Gibson saw here "a further parallel with our Lord's teachings."[23] In the sight of... read more
James 4:9. Be afflicted, and mourn,— We may and ought to rejoice in the Lord, that is, in the consciousness of his favour, and in the prospect of the happiness which is promised in the gospel; but in pride and envy, voluptuousness, or covetousness, we may not rejoice. The having been guilty of such things ought to humble us, and make us mourn. This is the apostle's advice in this place; and it seems to have been given with a particular regard to the vices condemned, James 4:3, &c. See also... read more
James 4:10. Humble yourselves, &c.— "In this manner lay yourselves at the foot of God with the lowest prostration and self-abasement, as offenders against his sacred Majesty, and with an affecting conviction that he knows your hearts and principally looks at them, and observes all the secret workings of corruption, on the one hand, and of contrite sorrow, on the other, that pass within them; and he will revive your drooping souls with a sense of his pardoning and recovering grace; will... read more
9. Be afflicted—literally, "Endure misery," that is, mourn over your wretchedness through sin. Repent with deep sorrow instead of your present laughter. A blessed mourning. Contrast Isaiah 22:12; Isaiah 22:13; Luke 6:25. James does not add here, as in Luke 6:25- :, "howl," where he foretells the doom of the impenitent at the coming destruction of Jerusalem. heaviness—literally, "falling of the countenance," casting down of the eyes. read more
10. in the sight of the Lord—as continually in the presence of Him who alone is worthy to be exalted: recognizing His presence in all your ways, the truest incentive to humility. The tree, to grow upwards, must strike its roots deep downwards; so man, to be exalted, must have his mind deep-rooted in humility. In 1 Peter 5:6, it is, Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, namely, in His dealings of Providence: a distinct thought from that here. lift you up—in part in this world, fully in... read more
A. Interpersonal and Inner Personal Tensions 4:1-10"James 4 continues the same topic of strife, and addresses now not only the teachers of James 3:14 but also the rest of the brotherhood who are in similar sin: strife springs from within (James 4:1-3) and is fostered by worldliness; love of the world and love of God cannot coexist (James 4:4-6); Christians must resist the devil and draw near to God (James 4:7-10)." [Note: Adamson, p. 165.] read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - James 4:1-12
Worldliness and its results (4:1-12)Continuing his teaching on the evil results of worldly attitudes, James explains why fights and quarrels occur. Selfish ambition fights against the more spiritual motives. Some Christians are constantly looking for more power, increased possessions and higher status. Because they want the wrong things, they do not pray. If they pray, they find their prayers refused, and so try to do things their own way (4:1-3). This is worldliness, and it is opposed to the... read more