James 1:13-27 ASV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:23

But if any man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer ,.... The Arabic version here again reads, "a hearer of the law", and so some copies; not hearing, but practice, is the main thing; not theory, but action: hence, says R. Simeon, not the word, or the searching into it, and the explanation of it, is the root, or principal thing, אלא המעשה , "but the work" F16 Pirke Abot, c. 1. sect. 17. : and if a man is only a preacher, or a hearer, and not a doer, he is like unto a man... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:24

For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way ,.... He takes a slight glance of himself, and departs: and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was ; he forgets either his spots, blemishes, and imperfections; or his comeliness and beauty; the features of his face, be they comely or not: so a bare hearer of the word, who is not concerned to practise what he hears, while he is hearing, he observes some things amiss in himself, and some excellencies in Christ; but, when the discourse... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:25

But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty ,.... By which is meant, not the moral law, but the Gospel; for only of that is the apostle speaking in the context: this is no other than the word of truth, with which God begets men of his own will; and is the ingrafted word which is able to save, and of which men should be doers, as well as hearers, James 1:18 , and this is compared to a glass by the Apostle Paul, 2 Corinthians 3:18 , and the word here used for looking into it is the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:26

If any man among you seem to be religious ,.... By his preaching, or praying, and hearing, and other external duties of religion, he is constant in the observance of; and who, upon the account of these things, "thinks himself to be a religious man", as the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions render it; or is thought to be so by others: and bridleth not his tongue ; but boasts of his works, and speaks ill of his brethren; backbites them, and hurts their names and characters, by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:27

Pure religion and undefiled ,.... That which is sincere and genuine, and free from adulteration and hypocrisy: before God and the Father ; or in the sight of God the Father of Christ, and all his people; that which is approved of by him, who is the searcher of hearts, and the trier of the reins of men, "is this": not that the apostle is giving a full definition of true religion; only he mentions some of the effects of it, by which it is known, and without which it cannot be true and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 1:13

Let no man say - Lest the former sentiment should be misapplied, as the word temptation has two grand meanings, solicitation to sin, and trial from providential situation or circumstances, James, taking up the word in the former sense, after having used it in the latter, says: Let no man say, when he is tempted, (solicited to sin), I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he (thus) any man. Thus the author has explained and guarded his meaning. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 1:14

But every man is tempted - Successfully solicited to sin, when he is drawn away of his own lust - when, giving way to the evil propensity of his own heart, he does that to which he is solicited by the enemy of his soul. Among the rabbins we find some fine sayings on this subject. In Midrash hanaalam, fol. 20, and Yalcut Rubeni, fol. 17, it is said: "This is the custom of evil concupiscence, הרע יצר yetser hara : To-day it saith, Do this; to-morrow, Worship an idol. The man goes and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 1:15

When lust hath conceived - When the evil propensity works unchecked, it bringeth forth sin - the evil act between the parties is perpetrated. And sin, when it is finished - When this breach of the law of God and of innocence has been a sufficient time completed, it bringeth forth death - the spurious offspring is the fruit of the criminal connection, and the evidence of that death or punishment due to the transgressors. Any person acquainted with the import of the verbs συλλαμβανειν,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 1:16

Do not err - By supposing that God is the author of sin, or that he impels any man to commit it. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above - Whatever is good is from God; whatever is evil is from man himself. As from the sun, which is the father or fountain of light, all light comes; so from God, who is the infinite Fountain, Father, and Source of good, all good comes. And whatever can be called good, or pure, or light, or excellence of any kind, must necessarily spring from him, as he is the only source of all goodness and perfection. With whom is no variableness - The... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:24

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:25

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:26

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:27

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 1:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 1:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 1:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 1:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 1:17

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