James 1:19-27

James 1:19-Daniel : . “ Be sure of it” ( cf. mg.) , he goes on, and turns to ask what conduct right views of God should produce. Humility and self-control, firstly, then purity, gentleness, and teachableness, with unsparing honesty that turns every creed into a code of action. “ Quick to hear” not only God’ s warning, but both sides of a human quarrel, “ slow to speak” angry words, the peril of which James expounds in ch. 3 , such conduct will be free from that “ human wrath which can never help forward God’ s ideal of Right.” “ Filthiness” or “ baseness”— the word was often used of counterfeit coin (but cf. also Revelation 22:11)— is coupled with a “ rank growth of malice,” lit. “ overflow” : there is an allusion to the Lord’ s reminder that speech is “ the overflow of the heart.” “ The implanted word” ( cf. Matthew 13:21) can “ save” the whole self” : it is the phrase which in ordinary parlance means “ to save lives.”— The teaching on Hearers and Doers comes from the lips of Jesus ( Matthew 7:24 ff.): cf. also Romans 2:13. The “ natural face,” the features of “ birth,” contrasted implicitly with the unchanging and eternal Ideal, may be studied” (the word of Luke 12:24— it does not imply a mere glance) in the more or less polished metal mirror ( 1 Corinthians 13:12), but memory refuses to preserve the picture after the man goes away. To print the image of the Ideal on our souls we must “ look right down into” it ( Luke 24:12, John 20:5; John 20:11, 1 Peter 1:12) and “ stay by” it, so as to transform the momentary hearing into permanent working. The Law that is Liberty ( James 2:12) is called “ perfect” or “ mature” because it works by the complete coincidence of man’ s will with God’ s—“ Our wills are ours, to make them Thine.” Romans 8:2 might be an intended comment. The passionate love of the pious Jew for the Law ( cf. Psalms 19:7; Psalms 119:97) colours this estimate of its ideal. A final foil is provided by the self-deceived “ worshipper,” punctilious in external religion, but cruel, foul, or frivolous of tongue ( cf. James 3:2 ; James 3:9; Matthew 12:36). Such “ worship” is “ futile,” for it never reaches the Throne. For God is Father, and He only receives the worship of love towards His needy children, and of purity from the world’ s selfishness (see 1 John 4:20). “ Visit” is a strong word ( cf. Luke 16:8, etc.). The depreciation of external religion as an end is very striking from the Ups of one so noted for his love of it as a means of grace.