be = become. hearers . Greek. akroates. Only here, verses: James 1:23 , James 1:25 .Romans 2:13 . deceiving . Greek. paralogizomai, to deceive by false reasoning. Only here and Colossians 2:4 . read more
unto = to. beholding . Greek. katanoeo. Genitive rendered "consider. " App-133 . his natural face . Literally the face (James 1:11 ) of his birth (Greek. genesis. Only here, James 3:6 , and Matthew 1:1 ). glass = mirror. Greek. esoptron. Only here and 1 Corinthians 13:12 read more
beholdeth = beheld. See James 1:23 . goeth, &c . = departed. forgetteth = forgot. read more
Whoso = he that. looketh . Literally stooped down (to look). Greek. parakupto . App-133 . See John 20:5 . the perfect, &c . = the perfect law, that of liberty. perfect . App-125 . continueth = continued. Greek. parameno. See 1 Corinthians 16:6 . he . The texts omit. forgetful hearer = hearer of forgetfulness. App-17 . forgetful . Greek. epilesmone. Only here. the . Omit. this man = this one. deed = doing. Greek. poiesis. Only here. read more
man = one. among you . The texts omit. seem = thinks himself. Compare James 4:5 . religious . Greek. threskos. Only here in N.T., and nowhere found in Classical Greek. It means a careful follower of the observances connected with his belief. bridleth . Greek. chalinagogeo. Only here and James 3:2 . deceiveth . Greek. apatao. See Ephesians 5:6 . religion . Greek. threskeia. See Acts 26:5 . vain . Greek. mataios. See Acts 14:15 . read more
undefiled . Greek. amiantos. See Hebrews 7:26 . before . App-104 . visit . App-133 . Compare Matthew 26:36 , Matthew 26:43 . Personal interest and sympathy are enjoined. Compare Micah 6:8 . fatherless . Greek. orphanos. Only here and John 14:18 . affliction . See Acts 7:10 . unspotted . Greek. aspilos. See 1 Timothy 6:14 . world . App-129 . read more
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves.This is exactly the teaching of Paul in Romans 2:13; and taken together with what James would write in the second chapter, it is clear enough that this epistle was written for the purpose of correcting the abuse of Paul's teaching regarding justification by faith. By this reference, James almost says, "My teaching is exactly what the apostle Paul really taught." "Not the hearers of the law, but the doers of the law... read more
For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror:Hearer of the word ... The expression "the word," as used in New Testament times, is always a designation of the Christian gospel.The hearers who do not do are here compared to a man who glances at himself in a mirror and then goes away without making any move to cleanse his face. He just forgets all about what he might have seen, going on exactly as he was before. read more
... for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.As Lenski said, "This is the same picture that is drawn by Jesus in a different way in Matthew 13:4,19. The little birds just carried away the good seed."[54] Those who hear God's word and then simply forget to do anything about it are the persons meant. read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - James 1:19-27
1:19-2:26 PUTTING BELIEF INTO PRACTICEThe Bible and everyday life (1:19-27)A tendency in human nature is for people to become ill-tempered, especially in times of difficulty or stress. Christians must not excuse their ill-temper by claiming that they are defending God’s honour. Such attitudes have no place in the Christian life. They must be replaced by new attitudes that arise from studying God’s Word and putting its teachings into practice (19-21).Christians must not merely read God’s Word,... read more