James 4:12-15 WEB

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 4:15

15. Literally, "instead of your saying," &c. This refers to "ye that say" (James 4:13). we shall live—The best manuscripts read, "We shall both live and do," &c. The boasters spoke as if life, action, and the particular kind of action were in their power, whereas all three depend entirely on the will of the Lord. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 4:11-12

B. Self-exaltation 4:11-12Having dealt with the source of interpersonal and inner personal conflicts that believers in particular and all people generally experience, James dealt next with a different aspect of the same problem. He did so to motivate his readers further to forsake the philosophy of the world that puts self first. Criticizing others is dangerous not only because it is a form of selfishness but also because the critic exalts himself even over God when he or she criticizes. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 4:12

James was speaking of judging other people without divine authorization to do so. Obviously God has delegated the responsibility of judging some civil acts to human governments, some church conduct to elders, and the behavior of children to their parents. Likewise Christians who are walking by the Spirit who observe other Christians overtaken by some fault should seek to restore them, not ignore them (Galatians 6:1).Criticizing our equals is a common sport, but it is inappropriate for mere... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 4:13

James confronted his audience as the Old Testament prophets did. He began, "Come now" (cf. Isaiah 1:18; et al.). The person in James’ illustration was probably a travelling Jewish merchant, ". . . the materialist core of the contemporary bourgeois prosperity." [Note: Adamson, p. 178.] Jewish merchants were common in the culture of James’ day, and undoubtedly some of them were Christian Jews. The man’s plans were not wrong in themselves. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 4:13-16

1. The self-centered person 4:13-16 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 4:13-17

C. Self-reliance 4:13-17As in the previous chapters, James began with the exposition of a practical problem and moved on to its larger contextual problem, that is, its context in life. He already identified the source of interpersonal and inner personal conflicts as self-centeredness and explained that criticism places the critic in a seat that only God should occupy. Now he pictured a self-centered person living his or her life. He did this to enable his readers to see the root of this problem... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 4:14

The problem is what the merchant did not consider: his complete dependence on God (cf. Luke 12:18-20; John 15:5)."To what extent is your life directed by the knowledge that Christ is coming back? Much of our thinking and behavior is shaped by what we can see of present circumstances or past events. Yet Scripture speaks forcefully of Christ’s return as a fact that should be directing how we live now. Christians are to be motivated by the certainty of this future event." [Note: Stulac, p. 156.] read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 4:15

The merchant should have made his planning in conscious dependence on God recognizing His sovereign control over all of life (cf. Acts 18:21; 1 Corinthians 4:19; 1 Corinthians 16:7; Philippians 2:19; Philippians 2:24). The Latin phrase, deo volente ("God willing," abbreviated D.V.) remains in use even today among some Christians."A study of the use of this conditional clause ["If the Lord wills . . ."] in the NT makes it clear that we are not to repeat it mechanically in connection with every... read more

John Darby