James 1

      12-15. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation. He that endures and continues faithful shall have the crown. 13. Let no man say . . . I am tempted by God. Some men when they fall try to throw the blame on God, as if God had tempted them. It is impossible that God be tempted of sin, nor does he ever tempt men to sin, but: 14. But every man is tempted when he suffers his own lusts to lead and entice him. There can be no temptation unless something within us causes a sinful desire. 15. When lust hath conceived. The course of sin is described as that of a birth. The sinful desire is the conception; the sinful deed the birth; moral and eternal death the final result.

      16-18. Do not err. Either about the source of sin or of all good gifts. 17. Every good gift, etc. All gifts that truly bless us are God's gifts. Father of lights. God, the Creator of every light of the material world, and the source of all moral light. No variableness, etc. God is unchangeable, always the same, nor does he cast a shadow of turning like the sun. The allusion is to the constantly changing shadows of objects in the sunlight caused by the movement, not of the sun, but of the earth. 18. Of his own will begat he us. Not in caprice, but our birth as children of God was due to his eternal will. Kind of first fruits. The early converts are often called first fruits of the gospel.

      19-25. Wherefore . . . be swift to hear. Let each saint hear and learn, but be careful not to speak rashly, and especially in anger. 20. For the wrath of man. An angry man will show forth something very different from God's righteousness. 21. Lay aside all filthiness. Every impurity of life. Naughtiness. "Overflowing" of wickedness in the Revision. Wrath would cause such an overflow. The engrafted word. The word of God planted in your hearts. 22. Be ye doers. He who is only a hearer deceiveth himself. See Matt. 7:21-23 . 23, 24. If any be a hearer . . . not a doer. The point of the comparison is this: Like a man who looks in the glass and soon forgets the impression, so the impression of the word on such a man is soon forgotten. The word must be impressed by the doing of it. 25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty. The gospel, which sets men free. He who looks into it, is impressed by it, and obeys it shall be blessed in the doing.

      26, 27. If any . . . seemeth to be religious. He who professes religion and yet does not control his tongue is deceived. Unless he has grace enough to rule the unruly member, he has not enough for salvation. 27. Pure religion and undefiled. Combining pure hearts and pure outward lives. This genuine religion has two elements: (1) Kind and loving deeds, exemplified especially in helping the helpless, such as widows and orphans, and (2) living pure, unsullied lives, unstained by the sins prevalent in this sinful world.