So God will give to us all that we need. Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? The humble character of a living faith. Ye lust, and because ye have not what ye lust after ( james 4:1 james 4:2), ye envy your neighbor who has, and so the spirit of envy leads you on to "fight." 4:11-17 Our lips must be governed by the law of kindness, as well as truth and justice. James says ‘Hello’. But you cannot get them. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. It must, however, be noted that a slightly varied punctuation of the verse will give quite another sense to its questioning. .âA difficulty presents itself in this verseâwhether the application be general, or a particular comment on the words preceding. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/ebc/james-4.html. He wrote to encourage them to live asChristians should, i… James 4:6 Commentary; James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. The sense is familiar to us from many passages in the Old Testament, in which God speaks of Israel in a similar manner, e.g., Psalms 73:27; Isaiah 54:5; Jeremiah 2:2; Ezekiel 16 passim; Ezekiel 23:37-43; Hosea 2:2. (16) But now . I am a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. And thus it is that omission is at times worse than commission; and more souls are in jeopardy for things left undone than for things done. Stop doing wrong things. And if God be just, so also is He jealous (Exodus 20:5). Ye adulterers and adulteresses — Who have broken your faith with God, your rightful spouse. Suppose ye that the Scripture speaketh in vain? Renunciation of the world, in the Christian promise, is not forsaking it when tired and clogged with its delights, but the earliest severance from it; to break this vow, or not to have made it, is to belong to the foes of God, and not merely to be out of covenant with Him. You are giving yourself authority to decide what the Law says. 4. James 4:10, KJV: "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." We must be sorry about the wrong things that we have done. But the apostolic condemnation is in no way meant to condone a vicious life, and leave it unalarmed and self-contented; for boldness in rebuke thereof we have the example of John the Baptist. Be clean in the way that you live. 5 With good reason, the Bible says to us: âGod has caused his Spirit to live in us. 3:34. In this way the cumulative force of St. Jamesâs remarks is best preserved. Jesus prepares the way for us to approach God the King. James 4. for âlusteth to envy,â or enviously, would imply evil and not good. Used by Permission. Whence are wars, and whence fightings among you? You don’t get what you want because you don’t ask God. Read commentary on this popular Bible verse and understand the real meaning behind God's Word using John Gill's Exposition of the Bible. People use this word to introduce someone to a king. # 4:9 Some people fight and argue. Friendship with God. The marginal note to the second of the above paragraphs gives envy as an alternative reading for âkillâ: but this is an error. . 4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? . Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13.). Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you. But you do not have these things because you do not ask God for them. The reply is obvious; Ye ask not in the true sense; when ye do ask ye receive not, because God is too loving, even in His anger. James 4:8 so clean sin out of … .âGod waiteth to be gracious (Isaiah 30:18). The text is another proof of the personality of Satan; no amount of figures of speech could otherwise interpret it. The lust of the eye and the pride of life are at the root of all the wrong-doing. We will stay there for a year. "Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers". 13 Some of you say, âToday or tomorrow we will go to a certain city. James 4 is included in this fourth subdivision. 1905. If we say bad things about God's word or about his people, we are being like the Devil. Alas! Don't You Know the Choice to Be Made? Let the foolish laughter at sin, which was âas the crackling of thornsâ before the avenging fire (Ecclesiastes 7:6), be turned to mourning; banish the joyous smile for the face cast down to heaviness, and so await the blessedness of those that mourn (Matt. (9) Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep.âFor wretchedness, sorrow, and tears are the three steps of the homeward way to peace and God. English Standard Version Update. Occasions of well-doing lie in the abject at our doors, and the pleadings of pity in our very hearts. in shameful contrast to this we read of many an evil-hearted prayer offered up to the Lord our Righteousness; invocations of saints for help in unholy deeds; of angels, for acts rather befitting devils of the pit; and can hardly have the conscience to reproach the heathen for supplicating their gods in no worse a manner for no better cause. If we only want to make ourselves happy, God will not hear us. James 4 Commentary, One of over 110 Bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is one of the most respected interdenominational commentaries ever written. . It is because of the troubles in your thoughts. In those days, servants were not free. To what extent is your life directed by the knowledge that Christ is coming back? (Comp. You choose to be friends with people who are against God. E. Verse 5 is very ambiguous because. When you do that, you are not obeying the Law. Is it objected (James 4:3) that prayer is made but not answered? The thought of annihilation meets us with awful suggestiveness, yet let us leave the mystery for awhile in happier thoughtâ, (13) Ye that say . Font Size. 2. But who shall come âinto the tabernacle of God, or rest upon His holy hillâ (Psalms 15:1), except the man âof uncorrupt lifeâ? James 4 Commentary, One of over 110 Bible commentaries freely available, this commentary provides notes on all 66 books of the Bible, and contain more than 7,000 pages of material But he — God, giveth more grace — To all those who, while they shun those tempers, sincerely and earnestly pray for it. So, you yourselves become enemies of God. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. Copyright StatementThese files are public domain.Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Amplified So be subject to God. God resisteth the proud . Many a man of quiet Christian life will thank God by-and-by, when he knows even as he is known (1 Corinthians 13:12), that not a few of his prayers were unanswered, or at least that they were not granted in the way which he had desired. 9 Be sorry about your sins and weep. English Standard Version Update. 17 So, you know the right thing that you ought to do. Study the bible online using commentary on James 4 and more! (6) But he giveth more graceâi.e., because of this very presence of the Holy Ghost within us. You speak as if you have the power to make it happen. (7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Matthew 10:28.) . And defensible or not as this translation may be, at least it escapes some of the difficulties of the foregoing. Hearken to the echo of his Masterâs words. (4) Ye adulterers and adulteresses.âThe phrase may seem to flow naturally after the former ones, but the Received text, from which our version was made, is wrong. Heinrich Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Only he can decide to save people or to destroy them. 2 You want things, but you don’t get them. âLet us not weakly slide into the treason: Whosoever therefore will be (or, wills to be) a friend of the world is the enemy of God.âThe choice is open; here is no iron fate, no dread necessity: but the wrong determination of the soul constitutes it henceforth as an ally of Satan. Isaiah 4:1 is joined to Isaiah 3 in most versions of the Bible, because it is further prophecy of the ruin of the chosen people. You want to do bad things that you think will make you happy. Song of Songs: The Beautiful Woman behind the Veil - by Sarah Ruth. (17) Therefore . 12 God is the one who gave his Law to people. We must do good things. 15 So, what you ought to say is, âIf the Lord agrees and we are still alive, then we will do this or that.â 16 But instead, you talk about what you have decided to do. Our Authorised version does not allow of this apparent reference to the Spirit of God indwelling His human temples (1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19, et seq.) The Scriptural referent is uncertain. We must listen to God. As a result, we will be able to do the things … James 4. Isaiah: God controls the Nations - by Norman Hillyer. You fight and war. View the entire commentary. .âThe Apostle would reason next with the worldly; not merely those abandoned to pleasure, but any and all absorbed in the quest of gain or advancement. . . Only he has the authority to judge whether people have done what is right. . The word for âboastingsâ is the same as that translated âthe pride of lifeâ in 1 John 2:16âi.e., its braggart boastfulness, not the innocent gladness of living. v, 4), even the promised comfort of God. James 4:4 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] James 4:4, NIV: "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God?Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." . âWoe unto you, when all men speak well of youâ (Luke 6:26), for the world, as our Lord has taught us, must âlove its ownâ (John 15:19). Sinful desires and affections stop prayer, and the working of our desires toward God. You do not have, because you do not ask. Lust, envy, strife, and murder:âlike the tale of human passion in all ages, the dreadful end draws on. James wrote to help them. Email. You cannot love sin and love God at the same time. 2 My brothers, 1 w show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, x the Lord of glory. The good reason why not is given in the graceful interjection âbrothers.â Omit the conjunction in the next phrase, and read as follows:â. The Sin of Partiality. Your life is like a cloud which appears for a short time and then it quickly goes away. . There cannot be a passive condition to the faith of Christ: âhe that is not with Me is against Meâ (Matthew 12:30). If you speak against another believer, you are really speaking against God's Law. instead of saying, âIf the Lord willâ. It is wrong to speak like that. You just want to use these things to make yourselves happy. The original is represented a little more closely, thus: Today and tomorrow we will go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade and get gain. Sinful desires and affections stop prayer, and the working of our desires toward God. . Warning Against Worldliness. Wordly and fleshly lusts are distempers, which will not allow content or satisfaction. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 4:1-10 Since all wars and fightings come from the corruptions of our own hearts, it is right to mortify those lusts that war in the members. He wants very much to keep us for himself.â 6 But God will be very kind to us and he will help us. . . 4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Go to, To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use our convenient, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Commentary Critical and Explanatory - Unabridged, Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible, Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures. We will buy and sell things, and we will become rich.â If you say things like that, listen to me. A large number of the Christians had left *Jerusalem and had goneto live in other countries. It is related to the improper use of the tongue as in chapter 3. And in proof of real conversion there must be the outward lamentation, as well as the inward contrition. But if you know that and you do not do the right thing, then you have done a wrong thing. Do you know why that happens? Then we can receive God’s *grace. Warning Against Worldliness. He that speaketh evil . We receive God’s *grace. In fact, it is a thing of the past, not of time, but completed action on the part of GodââIf the Lord have willed it, we shall both live and do this or that.â Such is far, be it noted, from Fatalism, in even its best form, as under the teaching of Islam. You do not have, because you do not ask. You lust and do not have. ... Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible. âThe Devil,â says the strange old book called The Shepherd of Hermas, âcan tight, but he cannot conquer; if, therefore, thou dost withstand him, he will flee from thee, beaten and ashamed.â. Do not be happy but be very upset. a parallel scripture, Romans 14:4. Safety is only to be found in our Lordâs own manner of petition, âNot my will, but Thine be doneâ (Luke 22:42). We have the law of God, which is a rule to all; let us not presume to set up our own notions and opinions as a rule to those about us, and let us be careful that we be not condemned … 3 Even when you do ask God, you do not receive anything. James 4:10 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] James 4:10, NIV: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." But he has made us into his friends (Ephesians 2:13-19). If you judge another believer, then you are judging the law too. But he is kind to people who do not feel important.â 7 So, obey God's authority. At the end of what has been considered the second portion of this Epistle, there is a last series of rebukes. Like the father of the prodigal son (Luke 15), He beholds us while we are âyet a great way off,â and runs, as it were, to hasten our return. The Jerome Biblical Commentary outlines these verses as (1) root causes of conflict (James 4:1-6) and (2) remedies (James 4:7-10) (p. 374). .âPunctuate thus: He that speaketh evil of his brother, judgeth his brother; speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law. 1:1 James is the brother of Jesus, but he describes himself as a servant of Jesus Christ. It should be, ye adulteresses! James 4:10, NASB: "Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you." . James 4. James 4:4. . 1 This letter is from me, James. We used to be God’s enemies (James 4:4). See also Note on 2 Corinthians 12:7. âGod,â says Thomas à Kempis, âprotects the humble and delivers him; He loves and consoles him; He inclines Himself towards the humble man, He bestows on him exceeding grace, and after his humiliation He lifts him up to glory; He reveals his secrets to the humble, and sweetly draws and leads him to Himself.â, (11) Speak not evil . Is it not this, that your passions 1 are y at war within you? (But) resist the devil.âThe hardest advice of all, to a man reliant on himself, is submission to any, more especially to the Unknown. They come from the selfish desires that make war inside you. Where do wars and fights come from among you? So God will give to us all that we need. Wordly and fleshly lusts are distempers, which will not allow content or satisfaction. (See Wordsworth.) âGod is the Lord and husband of every soul that is His;â and in her revolt from Him, and love for sin, her acts are those of an adulterous woman. Probably both ideas are correct. easyenglish.bibleBooks > EasyEnglish Bible >. (12) There is one lawgiver . Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?âi.e., the state of being an enemy to God, not one of simpler enmity with Him. . 4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? 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