Do not forget that the Apostle James is writing to those in the church. Verses one through six– Wealth does not equate to sin. Ill-gained, exploited wealth does. In verses 1-6 God is addressing the rich within the church who have been corrupted by their riches, causing the people themselves to become one with the lustful, […]

Verses one through ten– These verses deal with a person’s relationship with Almighty God. How one approaches them determines whether the Biblical God will be one’s master or will one be one’s own master. According to Matthew 7:13,14, God looses that battle almost every time. And note that Matthew is addressing God’s church. Servanthood is a choice on […]

Verses thirteen through eighteen– Who is the wise, knowledgeable man? Who is the man “to whom God looks” when He wants His Word spoken with faith and power? It is the man who handles His Truth/Word and works out his salvation with fear and trembling (Isa. 66:2/Phil. 2:12). Such a man will speak in the manner is which he lives–with […]

Verses five through twelve– In extremely dry areas people are asked not to throw cigarette buts out car windows and to be very careful with barbecue coals. Thousands of square miles of land, hundreds of homes and many lives have been lost to flames caused by the careless treatment of the smallest sources of flame. Many years ago I was […]

Verses three and four–My earliest memories of travel involved horses and wagons. Having grown up riding and handling horses, the Lord’s Words concerning the use of bits rings familiar. In verse 3 He notes that men place bits in the mouths of horses by which they force the animals to obey them and go in the direction […]

No part of the human anatomy does more damage than the tongue. This is especially true when it is being used to spread false “Truths” about the Lord, His will and way. Chapter three speaks to this issue. The subject was introduced in 1:26 where He warns the more religious among us that they must bridle (control) their tongues, […]

Verses ten and eleven: Here the Lord, referencing His Words recorded in Mark 10:17-22, makes clear the fact that to break one of the Ten Commandments is to break all of them, making one a “worker of iniquity” (Gk.-Lawlessness). Jesus declared that He would reject Lawless people, including church people, at Judgment (Mat. 7:23). These are they who believe that “The […]

Verse eight: In  this posting we will reach back to 1:27 where we are told that pure, undefiled religion involves such things as helping fatherless children and widows “who are widows indeed” (1 Tim. 5:16). These are widows in the true church who have no one else on whom they can depend. The point I want […]

Note: The end of 1:26 and verse 27 will be addressed later at which point the subjects (the tongue and helping the brethren) will be discussed in greater detail. Verses one through seven: Note in verse 1 that we are to operate in (live by–Rom. 1:17) the same faith as Jesus Christ (“the faith OF our Lord Jesus Christ”). […]

Verse twenty-six: Four Words stand out in this verse and must be highlighted: “any,” “among you” and “seems.” It is important that we do not forget that the Apostle James, under the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit, is writing to and about people in the Church of God–the only name by which God’s true church is called and known by Him. All […]