Download James - Part 4 (1.19-26)

James 1:19-26 Bible Notes for Private Study
Opening Prayer
Psalm 119:130 “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”
Heavenly Father, I pray you unfold your word as I read James 1, shining your light so that I understand what it
means and how it applies to my life. Amen.
Intro
James wrapped up the first part of his letter, in verse 18, by describing the
crucial role the word of God has in the salvation of a Christian - God saves us
X1 Value
Absolute Truth
and gives us new birth by the word of truth. James makes this word the focus
God’s map for life, the origin of
of verses 19-26. Specifically, those people who were reborn by the word also truth and our way of knowing
are called to obey it, in order that they may be blessed. Faith expresses itself
Jesus Christ intimately is the
in obedience to God’s word. Listening, speaking, anger and action are all
Bible. We want to present the
addressed, as James broadly describes what it means to be “doers of the
word”. It’s a punchy challenge, but also comes with a wonderful promise –
those who act according to God’s word will “be blessed in their doing” (verse
25). Why be doers of the word? Because it’s God’s Absolute Truth, enabling
us to know Jesus intimately and revealing his will for our lives.
truth of the Bible passionately
in a way that connects with
everyone enabling them to use
it in practical life-changing
ways.
The Passage
19
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger
of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness
and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word
and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and
goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty,
and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
26
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is
worthless.
Commentary
19
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger
of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Verse 19 echoes several proverbs on the misuse of the tongue (Prov 10:19, 11:12, 15:1 17:28) as he instructs
Christians not to speak rashly in anger. And just like a Proverb, it also gives general good advice. On rare
occasions, it is right and good to be angry (there is such a thing as righteous anger), but generally anger does not
please God and often leads to sin.
James gives this instruction and the ones that follow in love, he calls his readers “beloved brothers”. It is
comforting to know that James writes to his fellow Christians and us as family members. Although the words that
follow are hard to hear, they are spoken by one who truly cares.
In verse 20, when Paul uses the phrase “dikaiosynen Theou” (righteousness of God) he is often talking about a
Christian’s righteousness before God - his or her right standing and right relationship with God, given to him or
her as a gift. However, James uses the phrase differently. He isn’t teaching that Christians can earn their right
standing before God by not being angry. He uses the phrase to meaning pleasing to God. Jesus often uses the
phrase in the same way (e.g. Matt 5:20). So James’ basic point is that the anger of man does not generally to
please God.
Question: Do you think your friends/family would describe you as a good listener or as someone who speaks
rashly out of anger? In what situations do you find particularly difficult to hold your tongue?
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word,
which is able to save your souls.
21
Verse 21 follows a familiar pattern to Ephesians 4:22-24, as James says put away filthiness and wickedness and
take up or receive the word instead. The Greek word rhyparia, translated as filthiness, is the same term used in
Zechariah 3:3-4 to describe the garments High Priest Joshua must get rid of before being given a new set of
beautiful clothes. The “put off - put on” dynamic in Christianity was there in the Old Testament too.
James isn’t holding back here. The words “filthiness and… wickedness” strongly communicates how offensive
and detestable sin really is. And this offensive sin is “rampant” throughout the world his readers find themselves
in.
Instead of committing sin and wickedness, Christians are to
John Piper on verse 21
“When you open your Bible, say to God: I trust receive the implanted word with meekness. James’
description of the word implies that word has taken up
you, I submit to you, I need you to help me.
Incline my heart to love your word. Open my eyes residence within the believer. It’s possible that James had
Jerimiah 31:33 in mind when he wrote these words. God has
to see the greatness of what is really there.
Satisfy my soul with the glory of Christ revealed in fulfilled this prophecy, he has put his law within his people, he
all of this book. I bow. I yield to the supreme truth has written it on their hearts, he has implanted his word within
them. He adds the word “meekness” to show that we need to
and value of this book. In all meekness and
lowliness, I look to you. I wait for you. Come to be receptive to the word working in our hearts. This means
me through your word, my Savior and my Lord regularly reminding ourselves of the gospel, of the salvation
and my God and my friend and my highest
that Jesus has won for us, which we could not earn ourselves,
treasure. That would be a meek way of receiving but also submitting to the words of scripture as their authority
the implanted word.”
in life.
Finally, James describes the salvation of our souls in the future tense. This is fairly common in the New
Testament (Rom 5:9, 1Thess 5:9, Phil 2:12, 1 Tim 4:16, Heb 9:28, 1 Pet 1:5 all do the same) and refers to the
Christian’s ultimate deliverance from the power of sin and death when Jesus comes again. This future view of
salvation does not undermine a present justification and blamelessness before God. Paul often describes a
present salvation and a future salvation in the same letter. Both can be true.
Faith Works - Action: Preach the Gospel to yourself, humbling reminding yourself that Jesus had to die for your
sin to save you and it is only by believing in him you might be saved.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word
and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and
goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty,
and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
22
What does it look like for someone to receive the implanted word with
meekness? James answers this question in verse 22. Meek readers of
scripture will do what it says! All other readers of scripture deceive themselves.
They are blinded to the reality of their own religious state. If the word truly is
implanted within a person, if they have been brought forth into salvation by the
word of truth, they will live out that truth by obeying the word of truth too. This doesn’t mean that they never sin
and disobey the word, but their lives are marked by a growing obedience to God’s authority and a sanctification
towards Christ-likeness.
The metaphor of someone who looks in the mirror shows us that hearing the word is vain and pointless unless
you also act out what you hear. Instead Christians should look intently and persevere. In verse 25 the word is
described as “the perfect law” and “the law of liberty”. This can be surprising since Paul taught that Old
Testament Law had no power by itself to save sinful people and so enslaved them (Gal 3:10-4:7, Rom 8:1-5).
Memory Verse
22
“ But be doers of the word,
and not hearers only,
deceiving yourselves.”
However, the law is a law of liberty when it also comes with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy
Spirit – Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the law on our behalf and the Holy Spirit grants the power for truly
changed hearts and new birth. He’s not advocating circumcision and following the ceremonial rites of the Old
Testament law, but he is calling us to believe in Jesus Christ, who has fulfilled all things on our behalf and receive
the Holy Spirit who blesses us with new hearts.
Verse 25 ends with a fantastic promise those who do the word will be blessed in their doing. The nature of this
blessing isn’t clear, but it is sure and true
Question: Are you a humble/meek reader of scripture? Do you believe what you read? And does reading it lead
to action/obedience?
Faith Works - Action: Whatever scriptures you read this week, take some time to ask yourself “What action is
God asking of me in his word?” Then do it!
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is
worthless.
26
James returns to the theme of verse 19, keeping a tight reign on one’s tongue. Just as someone who hears the
word and does not do it deceives themselves, so someone who cannot control their tongue also deceives
themselves. The warning is strong “this person’s religion is worthless”
Faith Works - Action: Pray for the self-control to bridle your tongue
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for your word, that you have implanted within us and by which you have brought us
forth into new life.
Lord, may I receive that word with meekness, turning away from wickedness and wrongdoing, that I might be a
hearer and a doer of the word. Give me also the strength to control my tongue and speak words that honour you.
I pray in moments of anger that I would listen first and not speak rashly.
Father, as we continue to study the book of James as a Church I pray that we would be doers of the word, not
just hearers. May this series change our lives and make us more Christ-like, as we respond with obedience to
the word preached.
Generous God, I ask that as we do the word, the world might see your glory. Father of Lights, bring forth new
Christians by the word of truth in our town who see the word acted out in the lives of Christians around them
Other Reading
Matthew 21:28-46, Romans 8:1-11,
Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ephesians 4:17-32