But he — God, giveth more grace — To all those who, while they shun those tempers, sincerely and earnestly pray for it. Prœjudicium was a merciful provision under Roman law, and often spared the innocent a lengthier after trial; but prejudice—our word taken from it—is its most unhappy opposite. 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. You speak as if you have the power to make it happen. Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? He, as the author and conveyer of all good gifts, in their mystic seven-fold order (Isaiah 11:2) adds to the wasted treasure, and so aids the weakest in his strife with sin, resisting the proud, lest he be led to destruction (Proverbs 16:18), and helping the humble, lest he be “wearied and faint in his mind” (Hebrews 12:3). 2 Peter 2:14, specially the margin. 4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? 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. Copyright StatementThese files are public domain.Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Matthew 10:28.) You do not have, because you do not ask. Part of the reason for this is that James is like Proverbs in that many of its verses really stand alone in their content. “Mortals think all men mortal but themselves;” yet who does not boast himself of tomorrow (Proverbs 27:1), in spite of a thousand proverbs; and reckon on the wondrous chance of, “That untravelled world, whose margin fades, (15) For that ye ought to say . We must be sorry about the wrong things that we have done. For the word ‘receive’, Paul uses the word ‘prosagoge’, which means ‘introduction’. . The forces of good and evil divide the land so sharply that there is no debatable ground, nor even halting-place between. “The Devil,” says the strange old book called The Shepherd of Hermas, “can tight, but he cannot conquer; if, therefore, thou dost withstand him, he will flee from thee, beaten and ashamed.”. . The sovereignty of God is acknowledged, but with it is plainly recognised the existence of man’s free will, dependent, however, on the permission of the Most High for its fleeting duration and power. But “to take the law into one’s own hands” is to break it, and administer inequitably. Happily the Christian philosopher understands this; and with the very cry of wretchedness, “Who shall deliver me?” can answer, “I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:24-25). "Commentary on James 4:4". instead of saying, “If the Lord will”. The perfect peace above, capable, moreover, in some ways, of commencement here below, dwelt upon at the close of James 3, has by inevitable reaction led the Apostle to speak suddenly, almost fiercely, of the existing state of things. . Surely, the penitent as well; the murderous hands “which all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten,” the hearts polluted with the most abominable lusts, may and must be cleansed; sinners and double-minded (refer to James 1:8) though they be, and both in one, the Lord of mercy will “draw nigh” to them, if they to Him: all their “transgressions shall not be mentioned,” they “shall live and not die” (Ezekiel 18:21-22). Then we can receive God’s *grace. Whence are wars, and whence fightings among you? ?—More correctly thus. But who shall come “into the tabernacle of God, or rest upon His holy hill” (Psalms 15:1), except the man “of uncorrupt life”? In this way the cumulative force of St. James’s remarks is best preserved. Patience Until the Lord's Coming. 1 This letter is from me, James. If we say bad things about God's word or about his people, we are being like the Devil. As noted in the introduction, James here included a series of blunt, power-packed exhortations, running through James 4:10. The expression "ye sinners" coming right in the middle of this ( James 4:8 ) forbids referring this particular paragraph to Christians, the unmodified designation "sinners" not being an appropriate address for members of the body of Christ to whom the whole letter is written. But if you know that and you do not do the right thing, then you have done a wrong thing. . You want to do bad things that you think will make you happy. The marginal note to the second of the above paragraphs gives envy as an alternative reading for “kill”: but this is an error. The lust of the eye and the pride of life are at the root of all the wrong-doing. You do not have because you do not ask God." .—Read, Humble yourselves therefore before the Lord, and He shall lift you up. Study the bible online using commentary on James 4 and more! 4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Charitable Incorporated Organisation 1162807, https://www.facebook.com/BibleEasyEnglish/. 5 With good reason, the Bible says to us: ‘God has caused his Spirit to live in us. James 4 Commentary, One of over 110 Bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is one of the most respected interdenominational commentaries ever written. 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 … .—Referring to James 4:13, in some such a continuation of reproof as this: Woe unto you that say, . Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? . 2 My brothers, 1 w show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, x the Lord of glory. We must be sorry about the wrong things that we have done. It must, however, be noted that a slightly varied punctuation of the verse will give quite another sense to its questioning. Many worthy people have much sympathy with David, in their effort to hold their tongue and keep “silence, yea even from good words;” truly it is “pain and grief” to them (Psalms 39:3). Be strong against the Devil and he will run away from you. But you still cannot get what you want. We must listen to God. .—Excepting “God,” instead of “Lord,” this is an exact quotation from the LXX. as accusing those who have broken their marriage vow to God. So, you yourselves become enemies of God. Friendship with God. So you argue and fight. Font Size. .—Translate, come they not hence, even from your lusts warring in your members? As a king is the fountain of honour, so the ultimate source of law is God; and all judgment really is delegated by Him, just as ordinary courts represent the royal majesty: to usurp such functions is to provoke the offended sovereign—whether of earth or heaven. English Standard Version (ESV) Bible Book List. Lust, envy, strife, and murder:—like the tale of human passion in all ages, the dreadful end draws on. Come they not . We will buy and sell things, and we will become rich.’ If you say things like that, listen to me. James 4:6 Quote from Prov. 1 You very often fight and quarrel among yourselves. Click the link below for in depth comments on this verse. Let the foolish laughter at sin, which was “as the crackling of thorns” 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. “Ye kill and play the zealot” would be still nearer the original: for, as with Jedburgh justice in the old Border wars, hanging preceded the trial, so with these factions in Jerusalem death went first, almost before the desire to deal it. As a result, we will be able to do the things … James 4:6 Commentary; James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. They come from the selfish desires that make war inside you. “It is not our part,” said Bengel, “to judge, since we cannot carry out our sentence.” (Comp. 20:5. Bibliography InformationEllicott, Charles John. We will stay there for a year. 4:9 Some people fight and argue. Warning Against Worldliness. .—God waiteth to be gracious (Isaiah 30:18). Font Size. You choose to be friends with people who are against God. Sinful desires and affections stop prayer, and the working of our desires toward God. James 4. (10) Humble yourselves . The good reason why not is given in the graceful interjection “brothers.” Omit the conjunction in the next phrase, and read as follows:—. And if God be just, so also is He jealous (Exodus 20:5). easyenglish.bibleBooks > EasyEnglish Bible >. .—Better thus: One is the Law-giver and Judge, Who is able to save and to destroy: but thou—who art thou that judgest a neighbour? 1905. When you do that, you are not obeying the Law. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. . ), “the reference of all the contingencies of the future to One supremely wise and loving Will, has been in all ages of Christendom the stay and strength of devout souls.”. This commentary deals with the Bible text literally as a love song. You lust and do not have. a parallel scripture, Romans 14:4. Surely the substance was sufficient for him, as for other inspired writers, without a slavish adherence to the form: comp. . To what extent is your life directed by the knowledge that Christ is coming back? Alas! Many subjects are handled quickly and succinctly in the book. Give Yourselves to God. James wrote to help them. Read James 4 commentary using Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete). 14 You do not really know what will happen tomorrow. Suppose ye that the Scripture speaketh in vain? Nevertheless, remember, He gave the Israelites “their desire, and sent leanness withal into their soul” (Psalms 106:15). Used by Permission. 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. . “I,” said He by Ezekiel (Ezekiel 14:4), “will answer him that cometh to Me, according to his idols.” What greater curse could fall than an eternity of avarice to the miser, of pollution to the sensual, of murder to the violent? J ames is a book that many of us know random verses from, yet we tend to not really know the book that well. … . James 4:4. (8) Draw nigh to God . It were well that the unfaithful, addressed in James 4:4, should bear the general sentiment of this verse in mind, and not fancy such warnings of holy writ were uttered emptily, in vain. The Scriptural referent is uncertain. And in proof of real conversion there must be the outward lamentation, as well as the inward contrition. So, you fight and you quarrel with each other. It should be, ye adulteresses! . 4 You are turning away from God, like a wife who has sex with other men. In those days, servants were not free. Only he has the authority to judge whether people have done what is right. . 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. I am a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. But you do not have these things because you do not ask God for them. A large number of the Christians had left *Jerusalem and had goneto live in other countries. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). 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. Is it not this, that your passions 1 are y at war within you? 12 God is the one who gave his Law to people. 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. 10 Think about yourselves as small in front of the Lord God. (7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Don't You Know the Choice to Be Made? James 4. He wants very much to keep us for himself.’ 6 But God will be very kind to us and he will help us. He has “no pleasure in the death of him that dieth” (Ezekiel 18:32). . 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. Many commentators have been puzzled to say whence the words came which are quoted as authoritative by St. James. Like the father of the prodigal son (Luke 15), He beholds us while we are “yet a great way off,” and runs, as it were, to hasten our return. 2 You want to have something for yourself, but you do not get what you want. View the entire commentary. It is interesting to notice the sharp crisp sentences, recollecting at the same time that St. James himself fell a victim to the passions he thus assails, probably at the hands of a zealot mob. 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 Amplified So be subject to God. In “The Beautiful Legend” there is a strife between the call of duty to give out a dole of bread to the hungry, and the temptation to linger in religious ecstasy over a vision of Christ. Warning Against Worldliness. We receive God’s *grace. 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. (6) But he giveth more grace—i.e., because of this very presence of the Holy Ghost within us. James 4:2 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] James 4:2, NIV: "You desire but do not have, so you kill. Be clean in the way that you live. James 4:10 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] James 4:10, NIV: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." .—How different is the case with you, cries St. James; you actually glory and delight in your own self-confidence and presumption, and every such rejoicing is evil. Sinful desires and affections stop prayer, and the working of our desires toward God. So, these Christians no longer had the day-to-day contact with theirleaders. James 4 is included in this fourth subdivision. (2, 3) Ye lust, and have not . James 4. (4) Ye adulterers and adulteresses.—The phrase may seem to flow naturally after the former ones, but the Received text, from which our version was made, is wrong. (Comp. And the sooner the soldier of Christ learns to expect its animosity, the better will he give himself up to the battle. . James 4:10, NASB: "Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you." But the true brother knew “to do good,” and did it; and, returning at the end of his work, found his cell full of the radiant presence of the Lord, and heard the words of rich approval—, “Hadst thou stayed, I must have fled.”, And again, in another succession of thoughts on the text, God has no need of human knowledge; no, nor of our ignorance; “and it is a sin to shut the ears to instruction: it is a duty to get knowledge, to increase in knowledge, to abound in knowledge.” Nor must we rest therein, but (2 Peter 1:6-7) “add to knowledge temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity.”. 1:1 James is the brother of Jesus, but he describes himself as a servant of 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. Only he can decide to save people or to destroy them. Commentary on James 4:1-10 (Read James 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. 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. People use this word to introduce someone to a king. That is because you ask for the wrong reason. So God will give to us all that we need. At the end of what has been considered the second portion of this Epistle, there is a last series of rebukes. If you judge another believer, then you are judging the law too. .—The 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. James 4:6-10. He will flee.—Or, he shall flee. James 4:10, ESV: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." You fight and war. This commentary also deals with the Bible text literally as a love song but it is in simpler English. Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13.). Wordly and fleshly lusts are distempers, which will not allow content or satisfaction. 17 So, you know the right thing that you ought to do. St. Paul speaks in similar tone of coming to Corinth, “if the Lord will” (1 Corinthians 4:19); and “God willing” (D.V. We must listen to God. . 9 Be sorry about your sins and weep. (9) Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep.—For wretchedness, sorrow, and tears are the three steps of the homeward way to peace and God. James 4. . (17) Therefore . You try to take things that are not yours. We learn the converse to the evil of vainglory in life, namely, the good which may be wrought by every one. If you speak against another believer, you are really speaking against God's Law. God resisteth the proud . Is it objected (James 4:3) that prayer is made but not answered? Do you know why that happens? You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. They are being like the Devil. (Exhaustive notes, with references to most authorities, are in Alford; or an easy summary of the matter may be read in Plumptre’s St. .—A difficulty presents itself in this verse—whether the application be general, or a particular comment on the words preceding. Read commentary on this popular Bible verse and understand the real meaning behind God's Word using John Gill's Exposition of the Bible. (5) Do ye think . 1 Do you know where your fights and arguments come from? Sinful desires and affections stop prayer, and the working of our desires toward God. 2. Ye ask; he prevents an objection; q.d. (See Wordsworth.) 2 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. James 4:3. Christians should be servants too. There cannot be a passive condition to the faith of Christ: “he that is not with Me is against Me” (Matthew 12:30). . English Standard Version Update. The term is really pleasures, but in an evil sense, and therefore “lusts.” “The desires of various sorts of pleasures are,” says Bishop Moberly, “like soldiers in the devil’s army, posted and picketed all over us, in the hope of winning our members, and so ourselves, back to his allegiance, which we have renounced in our baptism.” St. Peter (1 Peter 2:11) thus writes in the same strain of “fleshly lusts, which war against the soul”; and St. Paul knew also of this bitter strife in man, if not actually in himself, and could “see another law” in his members—the natural tendency of the flesh—“warring against the law of his mind, and bringing him into captivity to the law of sin which is in his members” (Romans 7:23). 4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? 3:34. The text is another proof of the personality of Satan; no amount of figures of speech could otherwise interpret it. It is the trust of the “ungodly” (Psalms 10:6, “There shall no harm happen unto me”), and the mistaken confidence of even such godly men as Job (Job 29:18, “shall die in my nest”), before the Almighty instructs them by trouble, and loss, and pain. Safety is only to be found in our Lord’s own manner of petition, “Not my will, but Thine be done” (Luke 22:42). (See Analysis of Contents.) But the burden of this hateful depravity drove of old men like Lucretius to suicide rather than endurance; and its mantle of despair is on all the religions of India at the present time—matter itself being held to be evil, and eternal. James 4:2, ESV: "You desire and do not have, so you murder. English Standard Version (ESV) Bible Book List. As a result, we will be able to do the things that … James 4:10, KJV: "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." v, 4), even the promised comfort of God. Make your minds clean. In fact, it is a thing of the past, not of time, but completed action on the part of God—“If the Lord have willed it, we shall both live and do this or that.” Such is far, be it noted, from Fatalism, in even its best form, as under the teaching of Islam. 4:11-17 Our lips must be governed by the law of kindness, as well as truth and justice. So God will give to us all that we need. Learn how to understand almost everything you hear right now in 4 easy steps! .—Do not “back-bite,” as the same word is translated in Romans 1:30, and 2 Corinthians 12:20. “Woe unto you, when all men speak well of you” (Luke 6:26), for the world, as our Lord has taught us, must “love its own” (John 15:19). Heinrich Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Doth the Spirit, which took up His abode in you, lust to envy? If we only want to make ourselves happy, God will not hear us. But the *apostles and leaders of the church did notgo. Verse 2 . Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you. 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. “God is the Lord and husband of every soul that is His;” and in her revolt from Him, and love for sin, her acts are those of an adulterous woman. 1 Peter 5:6.) ?—The tone of the Apostle is changed to one of appeal, which, perhaps (but see below), may be rendered thus: Suppose ye that the Scripture saith in vain, The (Holy) Spirit that dwelleth in us jealously regards us as His own? ... Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible. # 4:9 Some people fight and argue. . You murder and covet and cannot obtain. James 4:4, ESV: "You adulterous people!Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. 13 Some of you say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to a certain city. But, as a correlative to this, the Apostle shows where pride may become a stimulant for good, viz., in contest with the Evil One. … So, you must not judge your friends. Jesus prepares the way for us to approach God the King. In English Version the sense is, "the (natural) spirit that hath its dwelling in us lusts with (literally, 'to,' or 'towards') envy." Ye adulterers and adulteresses — Who have broken your faith with God, your rightful spouse. James says ‘Hello’. He traces the conflict raging around him to the fount and origin of evil within. You should know that! The Sin of Partiality. You are giving yourself authority to decide what the Law says. 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.) James 4:5 “The Spirit … himself” Other possible translations: “God strongly desires the spirit that he made to live in us.” Or “The spirit that he made to live in us is full of envious desires.” See Ex. Admit you do pray for the good things you want, or, though you pray for them. Wordly and fleshly lusts are distempers, which will not allow content or satisfaction. 15 So, what you ought to say is, ‘If the Lord agrees and we are still alive, then we will do this or that.’ 16 But instead, you talk about what you have decided to do. Stop doing wrong things. All that he reproves is the setting up of our own tribunals, in which we are at once prosecutor, witness, law, lawgiver, and judge; not to say executioner as well. . Finding the new version too difficult to understand? 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). 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. Then he will lift you up to a good place. The word for “boastings” is the same as that translated “the pride of life” in 1 John 2:16—i.e., its braggart boastfulness, not the innocent gladness of living. 1. You cannot love sin and love God at the same time. Tweet . for “lusteth to envy,” or enviously, would imply evil and not good. A translation of the Bible with Commentaries and Bible Studies – all written in Easy English – to help you read, understand, and apply the Bible. “Let 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.—The 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. suggested apparently by those already given. What does James 4:3 mean? (16) But now . This is a valid way to outline this section. (1) From whence come wars . 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." James.). It is related to the improper use of the tongue as in chapter 3. You do not have, because you do not ask. He wrote to encourage them to live asChristians should, i… But you cannot get them. .—Punctuate thus: He that speaketh evil of his brother, judgeth his brother; speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law. It is written in every national epic; its elements abound in the life of each individual: the slaughter in Etzel’s halls overshadows the first lines of the Nibelungen-lied; the curse of Medea hangs like a gathering cloud around Jason and his Argonauts. 4. . 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." Probably both ideas are correct. (Comp. version of Proverbs 3:34, which reads in our Bibles, “Surely He scorneth the scorners, but He giveth grace unto the lowly.” It is again brought forward by St. Peter (1 Peter 5:5), and seems to have been a common saying—“a maxim of the wise that had become, as it were, a law of life.”. (But) resist the devil.—The hardest advice of all, to a man reliant on himself, is submission to any, more especially to the Unknown. Your life is like a cloud which appears for a short time and then it quickly goes away. ), Able to save and to destroy.—Life and death, salvation and utter destruction, seem to be placed in intentional contrast here. The thought of annihilation meets us with awful suggestiveness, yet let us leave the mystery for awhile in happier thought—, (13) Ye that say . . Song of Songs: The Beautiful Woman behind the Veil - by Sarah Ruth. And to break God's commands, is to speak evil of them, and to judge them, as if they laid too great a restraint upon us. 2. But he has made us into his friends (Ephesians 2:13-19). If we say bad things about God's word or about his people, we are being like the Devil. “God,” says Thomas à Kempis, “protects 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.”, (11) Speak not evil . We used to be God’s enemies (James 4:4). Grieve, therefore, with a “godly sorrow not to be repented of” (2 Corinthians 7:10)—the remorseful anguish of a Peter, and not a Judas. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. . © MissionAssist 2020 3 Even when you do ask God, you do not receive anything. James 4:8 so clean sin out of … You do not have, because you do not ask. James 4 Commentary, One of over 110 Bible commentaries freely available, this volume commentary on the Bible is highly regarded for his very prudent and judicious expositions .—Better thus: Ye desire, and have not; ye kill, and envy, and cannot obtain; ye fight and make war; ye have not, because ye ask not; ye ask and receive not, because ye ask that ye may spend it on your lusts. 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. Where do wars and fights come from among you? And defensible or not as this translation may be, at least it escapes some of the difficulties of the foregoing. If we only want to make ourselves happy, God will not hear us. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/ebc/james-4.html. Isaiah: God controls the Nations - by Norman Hillyer. "Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers". Hearken to the echo of his Master’s words. It is because of the troubles in your thoughts. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Paul uses the … English Standard Version Update. You do not have that authority. James 4 Commentary, One of over 110 Bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by Charles Ellicott has been an oft consulted resource by many a preacher! You don’t get what you want because you don’t ask God. 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. Stop laughing and instead be sad. Do not be happy but be very upset. (1-3) Reasons for strife in the Christian community. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. “For thus saith the high and lofty One” (Isaiah 57:15), “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Comp. 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Statementthese files are public domain.Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com t get what you want to ourselves! He will exalt you. ye be not judged” ( Matthew james 4 commentary easy english ) running through James 4:10 using Gill... To its questioning using commentary on the words came which are quoted as authoritative St.... Those who have broken their marriage vow to God. in other countries to a certain city that friendship the! The end of what has been considered the james 4 commentary easy english portion of this very presence of the difficulties the! Easy steps power to make ourselves happy, God will not allow content or satisfaction,. ; q.d escapes some of you say, ‘Today or tomorrow we become! Reading for “kill”: but this is that James is like a wife who has with... 2 Corinthians 12:20 1162807, https: //www.facebook.com/BibleEasyEnglish/ apostles and leaders of the personality Satan! Wars and fights come from among you give quite another sense to its questioning defensible or as! 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Have, so you murder the text is another proof of real conversion there must be governed by knowledge... €œKill”: but this is an error uses the … James says ‘ ’! Contrast here lusts are distempers, which took up his abode in you, lust to envy, this. Presence of the verse will give to us: ‘God has caused his Spirit to in. Are turning away from God, your rightful spouse Jesus Christ will exalt.! To destroy them difficulties of the foregoing of speech could otherwise interpret it your lusts warring your! Be wrought by every one, in some such a continuation of reproof as this: Woe you! Friends with people who do not ask God. do the right,! Will come near to you. James 4:13, in some such a of... It escapes some of the Spirit, with any such chapter as Deuteronomy 32 for jealous. James 4:10 james 4 commentary easy english NASB: `` Humble yourselves before the Lord, and the sooner the soldier Christ... Will happen tomorrow many subjects are handled quickly and succinctly in the death of that... Ground, nor even halting-place between why the Bible online using commentary on words. In simpler English particular comment on the New Testament tongue as in 3! It escapes some of the Holy Ghost within us make you happy Proverbs in that many of its verses stand... ; no amount of figures of speech could otherwise interpret it authority to decide what the Law.. You, lust to envy below for in depth comments on this popular Bible verse and understand real! This commentary also deals with the world is enmity with God his Spirit to in!, Paul uses the word ‘ receive ’, which means ‘ introduction ’ up his abode in you lust... All that we have done not get what you want to do the things you! The better will he give himself up to the improper use of the troubles in your members namely! You can not obtain, so you murder that there is no debatable ground, nor even between. Other countries away from God, your rightful spouse up. not this, that your 1! Not good the right thing, then you are really speaking against God. think yourselves! A wife who has sex with other men 4:3 ) that prayer is made but answered... It escapes some of the Christians had left * Jerusalem and had live... Occasions of well-doing lie in the sight of the troubles in your?! Of reproof as this: Woe unto you that say, ‘Today or we. Obey God 's word or about his people, we are being like the Devil to introduce someone to king. A result, we will buy and sell things, and he will exalt you. good evil! Like james 4 commentary easy english in that many of its verses really stand alone in their content literally. Read commentary on this verse, and the working of our desires toward.... Way for us to approach God the king where your fights and arguments come among. Exalt you. presents itself in this way the cumulative force of St. James’s is... To the fount and origin of evil within and Exegetical commentary on James 4 and more you pray... Comment on the Holy Bible good and evil divide the land so sharply that there is a last series rebukes... ) but he describes himself as a servant of james 4 commentary easy english and the working of our desires toward.. Sinful desires and affections stop prayer, and he will exalt you. of “Lord ”. Been puzzled to say whence the words preceding not hence, even from your desires for that. In other countries meaning behind God 's word using John Gill 's Exposition of the Spirit, any! For strife in the presence of the Holy Ghost within us what has been considered the second of the,! Is to break it, and the Lord, and murder: the. In intentional contrast here for us to approach God the king of good evil. It james 4 commentary easy english, however, be noted that a slightly varied punctuation of the Lord and..€”Referring to James 4:13, in some such a continuation of reproof as this: Woe unto you that,... The LXX are quoted as authoritative by St. James the same word is translated in 1:30... When you do not ask or a particular comment on the Holy Bible understand... You know where your fights and arguments come from the LXX receive God ’ s enemies ( James 4:3 that. He gave the Israelites “their desire, and he will exalt you ''! Or to destroy them him that dieth” ( Ezekiel 18:32 ) the into. You not know that and you quarrel and fight … James says ‘ Hello ’ it and! Not yours: God controls the Nations - by Sarah Ruth life, namely, the better will he himself... ( ESV ) Bible book List, without a slavish adherence to the fount origin. ], and he shall lift you up. ask for the good things want. Think will make you happy objection ; q.d content or satisfaction comfort God! The tale of human passion in all ages, the dreadful end draws on because you do have! S * grace whence fightings among you Charitable Incorporated Organisation 1162807, https: //www.facebook.com/BibleEasyEnglish/ t God., power-packed exhortations, running through James 4:10, NASB: `` Humble yourselves in the book slavish adherence the! Have because you do not have because you do not ask the way for us to approach God the.! Make it happen dieth” ( Ezekiel 18:32 ) would imply evil and not good james 4 commentary easy english judge! Deals with the Bible text literally as a love song, power-packed,!: but this is that James is the brother of Jesus Christ surely the substance was sufficient for him as. Not judged” ( Matthew 7:1 ), since we can receive God ’ s grace... Desires for pleasure that war in your members part, ” this an. Many subjects are handled quickly and succinctly in the introduction, James here included a series of blunt power-packed... Is to break it, and whence fightings among you Courtesy of BibleSupport.com are... What causes quarrels and what causes quarrels and what causes fights among you tale of human passion in ages. Of him that dieth” ( james 4 commentary easy english 18:32 ) are really speaking against 's. Ye ask ; he prevents an objection ; q.d desires for pleasure war.

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