Immanuel Lutheran Church, Mankato
Study of James -- Lesson #5
January 30, 2000
James 1:19-27
James 1:19-27 [NKJV]
19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of 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 observing his natural face in a mirror;24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
Verses 19-20: For this reason, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift for the purpose of hearing; slow for the purpose of speaking; (and) slow to anger because (the) wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
"For this reason" … what is "this reason"? It is all the foregoing but especially vv. 17-18. In view of the truth that every good and perfect gift is from the Father of lights, and He is unchanging, and He wants us to be a kind of firstfruits," what next? How do we then face the trials, temptations, troubles of this earthly existence? James writes, "since this is true/for this reason…and continues…
swift to hear…slow to speak…slow to anger ~ how opposite is this from our natural inclinations?
"Swift to hear and slow to speak" is not just a wise rule for dealing with our fellowmen, but also with God. We, like the children of Israel in the wilderness, are often quick to speak our complaints and despair and slow to hear God assure us that He is in control and guiding our lives, or slow to hear His promise that He will provide deliverance, etc.
Swift to hear and slow to speak also applies to our approach with God’s Word. We will want to exercise care that we are swift/eager/diligent in hearing and then slow/careful in speaking with a "thus says the Lord" so that we are certain that He really does say what we are saying.
Anger = a more "settled" or abiding condition of the mind; longer lasting, perhaps with the desire for revenge. Both the sudden emotional outburst of anger as well as the abiding and festering condition of anger are sins and could be included here. James does, however, use the term that could specifically refer to the abiding condition.
One of many reasons for being "slow to anger" is what frequently grows out of anger. cf: James 1:15.
The universality of the human anger and the clarity of God’s view toward it is evident in the number of Proverbs on the subject and what God says about it.
A few samples….
Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools (Ecclesiastes 7:9) ~ In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise (Proverbs 10:19) ~ A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of wicked intentions is hated (Proverbs 14:17) ~ He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city (Proverbs 16:32) ~ He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit (Proverbs 17:27) ~ "…do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the Devil" (Ephesians 4:26-27).
The "Righteousness of God" is a recurring term through the book of Romans. Read Romans 1:16-17; 3:21-22; and 10:3. What is the "Righteousness of God?"
Wrath of man does not produce righteousness of God by any means! James speaks of the "wrath of man" in connection with the "slow to anger" above. However, the "wrath of man" which doesn’t lead to the righteousness of God is only representative of a much broader field. "…The carnal mind is enmity against God…" (Romans 8:7). The whole nature of man is wrath against God. There is nothing in man that can lead to anything good. The wrath of man leads to DESTRUCTION! This will be important for the connection to verse 21.
"Righteous Anger" ~ In view of this passage we have good reason to exercise great care in ever designating as sinner’s anger as a "righteous anger." When Jesus was angry (ex: throwing the money-changers from the temple) we can be confident that His was a sin-free, righteous anger. Our anger is so easily corrupted by non-righteous emotions, desires, etc. that it cannot be righteous. Furthermore, even our best deeds of any sort are tainted by our sinfulness (cf: Isaiah 64:6 ). So apart from faith in Christ which gives us the "righteousness of God" even our "best" anger will be a pile of filthy rags in God’s sight because of the sin that is inherently connected to it; and since we are both Old and New Man throughout the duration of earthly life, a righteous anger in us is not something we can SAFELY claim – not impossible, but we won’t know it for sure.
Verses 21: Therefore, laying aside every filth and abundance of malice, welcome the implanted word with meekness—the (word that is) able to save your souls.
THEREFORE…in view of truth that man’s wrath cannot lead to righteousness what hope is there? "What shall we do?" ( Acts 2:37). THEREFORE…take the two step approach: 1) lay aside; 2) welcome.
LAY ASIDE:
every filth
abundance of malice
WELCOME/RECEIVE …
What? The implanted Word. The Word of God which was already planted in their hearts and had taken root—the Gospel as it had been brought to them and had created faith in their hearts. Does James here suggest that we have an ability to "receive" Christ and the Gospel of our own" NO. Remember, he is writing to BELIEVERS! They already had the Word implanted in their hearts by the Holy Spirit. James’ exhortation is not to receive the Word into your hearts for CONVERSION, but rather, as a believer, welcome It and use It (cf: upcoming verses).
How? WITH MEEKNESS… Meekness is a condition of the mind and heart. A meek heart shows itself in gentle actions. A meek heart is not self-seeking nor self-exerting. In this context, James is speaking about our meekness toward God as we receive His Word. Meekly welcoming His Word is to accept His dealings with us as good and therefore, accepting them without disputing or resisting.
WHY? That Word is able to save your souls!
So, WELCOME God’s promises with joy and meekly submit to His good and gracious will, trusting that even in trials He will accomplish His purpose and give you life (James 1:12).
PARALLEL PASSAGE: " Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (1 Peter 2:1-3)
"The seed which has sprouted in their hearts is supposed to grow into a strong, healthy plant, and therefore it is necessary that they hear and learn the Word, which alone is able to save their souls, day after day, never growing weary of its wonderful truths. This action on the part of the believers requires meekness, gentleness, humility, because the pride of man’s heart, his self-righteousness, and his general disinclination to the way of salvation will always insist upon standing in his way…" [Kretzmann, p. 501]
Verses 22-24: And be doers of the Word and not only hearers—deceiving yourselves. Because if someone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who studies his "birth face"/natural face in a mirror. [A hearer and not a doer is like this man] because he studied himself and then went away (for a time) and immediately he fully forgot of what sort he was.
In addition to laying aside the sin and welcoming the Word, James adds the next part of a child of God’s "faith life," namely, putting the Word into action in his life.
James has now traced our life in Christ: DEAD IN SIN Þ RECOGNITION OF SIN Þ SORROW FOR SIN Þ GODLY REPENTANCE (which includes the sorrow, trust in Christ for forgiveness, and turning away from the sin) Þ FRUITS OF FAITH (sanctification ~ our "Christian life"). What follows is James’ discussion of our Christian life – sanctification.
Being a "doer" and not just a "hearer" of the Word is a truth God expresses throughout Scripture. Ex: Old Testament ~ Ezekiel 33:31-32; Jesus’ own preaching ~ Matthew 7:24-27; Paul ~ Romans 2:13; John ~ 1 John 3:17-18.
The man in the mirror illustration:
A studied look; observation; contemplation NOT just a "quick look"
His natural "birth face" NOT something unknown
Immediately forgot NOT after a long period of time.
Fully forgot NOT just forgetting some minor details
There is no doubt left that the man looking in the mirror acted foolishly—likewise the person who hears God’s Word but doesn’t apply it; put it into action in his life.
"The hearing of the Gospel, of all the preaching which they were blessed with so richly, had become a mere dead custom…the preaching of sin and grace is not to pass through the hearing of the Christian like a dead sound, but the spiritual life which was worked in Christians through the Gospel should find its expression in deed and in truth…: [Kretzmann, p. 501]
Verses 25: But the one who bends over to the goal-reached law of freedom and remains with it, this is not a forgetful hearer but rather is an active doer. He will be blessed/happy in connection with his "doing."
"Law" = GOSPEL
The LAW and GOSPEL are two very different truths of God’s Word
The word "law" can at times refer to the Word of God as a whole and even specifically Gospel. This is especially true in English translations of the Old Testament in which Torah is frequently translated as "law" when it would be more clearly understood if translated as "instruction" i.e. not limited to the doctrine of LAW. Context must decide.
Keep in mind that part of the trials that James’ readers were experiencing were pressures from the Jews and/or "Christians" who wanted to maintain a legalistic/law-based faith. This situation would allow James to make use of "law" for Gospel as a literary device.
James describes this "law" as a GOAL-REACHED law and the law of FREEDOM. This "law" is completed/made perfect/reaches its goal by providing FREEDOM and that is something that the LAW cannot do, only the GOSPEL can.
Romans 10:8 ~ "Christ is the end (the perfection/ the completion/ the reaching of the GOAL) of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."
Romans 8:2 ~ "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."
Galatians 5:13 ~ "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."
Bend over ~ look into this "law" with eagerness and concentration
Remain with it ~ don’t just look and then forget, remain abiding in the Word ( John 8:32).
The result of looking into the Word and abiding in It is being BLESSED/HAPPY to the FULLEST (cf: James 1:15).
"The perfect law or institution of liberty is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it teaches us wherein true liberty consists, namely, in serving our heavenly Father through Christ…it is just because the [believer] realizes the extent and the wonderful richness of his liberty in Christ Jesus that he strives to be a doer of the Word…" [Kretzmann, p. 502].
Verses 26-27: If someone among you supposes (himself) to be religious while he does not guide his tongue with restraint but rather misguides his heart—this is empty religion. Pure and undefiled religion alongside God the Father is this: To look after orphans and widows in connection with their tribulations; to keep himself without blemish from the world.
RELIGIOUS – RELIGION = "worship of God/god especially as it expresses itself in religious service; the externals of service to a god.
"RELIGION" ≠ "TRUTH"
"RELIGIOUS" ≠ "BELIEVER"
Year 2000: "SPIRITUAL" ≠ "BELIEVER"
James highlights the "emptiness" of a mind/mouth religion and not a heart religion. "Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil" (Ecclesiastes 5:1)
If someone wishes to pursue a pure (cleansed) and undefiled (free from contamination) religion let him understand that such a religion is not outward preparations and ceremonial observances. See Micah 6:6-8, etc.
Orphans and widows ~ frequently used in Scripture for those in need ( Deuteronomy 14:29; Job 31:16, 17, 21; Psalm 146:9; Isaiah 1:17,23; etc.)
"Tribulation" = literally: the squeezing pressure of a vise
"Doing" and helping the widows and orphans (who are really representative of ALL who are in any sort of need) as criteria for "true religion" is the same as Jesus’ criteria for judging on the Last Day ( Matthew 25). The deeds are not the basis for which we will inherit the kingdom; rather, they are the evidence that we have already inherited the kingdom.
Keeping guard so that we are not blemished by the world
Why is this so hard/challenging?
Why is this so important?
How do we invite the world to "blemish" us?
--- Pastor Wayne C. Eichstadt