Transition
Vs. 19-27 The discussion now shifts from the endurance of trial to the practical application of the word to our daily lives. The connecting link is the matter of being children of God, a point introduced in V. 17 and now carried though V. 19.
Act Like Children of God
V. 19 “Wherefore” — since you are born from above as children of God, act like your new father, see note on V. 18.
“Swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” -the first mention of a problem James is to deal with at length.
Some of his readers were guilty of bitter envy, evil speaking, malicious cursing, and violent contentions, 3:1, 2, 8-10, 14-16; 4:1-3, 11. Some were quick to speak, quick to wrath and slow to hear the other’s views.
“Wrath” —from ORGA which is “the settled purpose of wrath“ as opposed to the sudden outburst of temper (Bullinger’s Lexicon). ORGA describes the attitude of God towards the habitually wicked, John 3:36; Rom. 1:18; 2:5; Rev. 6:17 etc.
V. 20 “Wrath of man” — that anger which originates in the human heart.
“Worketh not the righteousness of God”
—God is just and fair in His wrath. When He acts upon it, the results are right. Man, however, is usually angry with others for wrong reasons. Accordingly when he acts, justice is not the result, cf, Prov. 14:17, 29; 15:18.
V. 21 “Lay apart”—as if our sins were dirty clothing that should be removed. Note the same metaphor in Col. 3:8; Eph. 4:22; I Peter 2:1.
“All filthiness” — the Jews were very concerned about ritual, physical and moral defilement, cf. John 18:28; Matt. 12:2; Mark 7:2, 3; “Wherever Jews settled they brought with them a contempt for paganism, its crude worship of numberless gods, its cruelty, its immorality” (Grazzel, p. 141).
But there are other things which defile a man: “evil thoughts covetousness . . . deceit .. . an evil eye .. pride, foolishness . . . enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, factions . . . all these evil things come from within and defile a man” (Mark 7:21-23 A.V.; Gal. 5:20 RSV). This is filthiness in its broader sense, a point the Christian Jews were in danger of overlooking to their own eternal disaster.
“Receive with meekness” — cf. Isa. 66: 2; James 3:13. We have been reborn into the family of God not through any work or merit of our own. The grace of God has effectively acted on our behalf. There is no room then for self-assertive speech, temper and pride, but only for a child-like reception of and dedication to the word of truth which is able to save our lives.
Be Ye Doers Of The Word
V. 22 “Be doers of the word” — note the sequence of thought: we are begotten by the word (V. 18), receive the word with meekness (V. 21), be doers of the word (V. 22). Compare Christ’s emphasis on doing in Matt. 7:21, 23, 24, 26; Luke 6:45, 46; John 15:10, 14, 21 etc.
“Not hearers only” — cf. Ezek. 33:3032.
“Deceiving yourselves” — cf. V. 26; Heb. 3:12-14,
Vs. 23, 24 “Like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror” –all have had the experience. We look into a mirror for some several minutes yet upon going away completely forget the details of the countenance we have seen.
The word of God is a spiritual mirror into which we may look and see our moral image perfectly reflected. Upon reading or hearing the word, we receive reproof, correction and instruction for our lives. But if we go our way not acting upon what we have seen, we are like the person examining himself in the mirror and forgetting what he looks like.
V. 25 “The perfect law” not the law of Moses, for it was a covenant unto death (Rom. 7:9-11) but the ordinances of God in a general sense. Psa. 19:7; Matt. 11:13. These statutes are the light which gives guidance to our steps and by which we can escape the bondage of death.
“Of liberty” — God’s truth restricts the flesh but provides liberty from our bondage to sin and death, cf. John 8:32-36; Rom. 7:23, 24; 8:15; Heb 2:14, 15.
“The work” — the natural flow of thought would say “but a doer of the word.” But James substitutes “work” emphasizing the practical nature of the doing he has in mind.
“Blessed in his deed” — the phrasing of the point suggests blessings in this life are in mind, cf. I Tim. 4:8; 6:6; Phil. 4:7; Mark 10:29, 30.
The Kind Of Doing Intended
V. 26 “If any man” – James wants no mistake made about the kind of work he has in mind. It is not the ritual observance of ceremony that is the object of his exhortation, but his emphasis is on a living discipline of the heart and tongue and actions of a man.
“Seem to be religious” — is “thinks he is religious” (RSV). This person enjoys to hear the word expounded, is thrilled by a description of the glories to come, is awed by the power of divine judgment and because of this feels he is a religious man.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One