James 1:19-20

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:19-27

Deeds, not words. 1. The right spirit for the Christian is the receptive ; ready to hear, and to receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is to be as the seed falling on the good ground (comp. Matthew 13:3 , etc). A heathen philosopher has noted that man has two ears and only one mouth ; showing that he should be more ready to hear than to speak. 2. A receptive spirit is not alone sufficient. Action must follow. Holy Scripture is a mirror, in which a man may see... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:19-27

The law of the new life. "Ye know this, my beloved brethren;" viz. that ye have been begotten again by God. But now, from this vantage-ground, he presses the necessity of a consistent life. They have espoused, by God's grace, a new ideal of character and conduct; let their whole life show forth its power. This is the topic of the whole passage, and it divides itself very naturally into the related subjects of—meekness, self-knowledge, and practical religion (see Punchard, in Bishop... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:20

Gives the reason why men should be slow to wrath. Because man's wrath does not work God's righteousness δικαιοσύνην θεοῦ ), the righteousness which God demands and requires. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 1:19

Wherefore, my beloved brethren - The connection is this: “since God is the only source of good; since he tempts no man; and since by his mere sovereign goodness, without any claim on our part, we have had the high honor conferred on us of being made the first-fruits of his creatures, we ought to be ready to hear his voice, to subdue all our evil passions, and to bring our souls to entire practical obedience.” The necessity of obedience, or the doctrine that the gospel is not only to be learned... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 1:20

For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God - Does not produce in the life that righteousness which God requires. Its tendency is not to incline us to keep the law, but to break it; not to induce us to embrace the truth, but the opposite. The meaning of this passage is not that our wrath will make God either more or less righteous; but that its tendency is not to produce that upright course of life, and love of truth, which God requires. A man is never sure of doing right under... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - James 1:19-20

James 1:19-20. Wherefore As if he had said, Since you are regenerated, and that by the word of God, therefore let every man be swift to hear That word; let him be willing and desirous to receive instruction from it, and therefore diligent in embracing all opportunities of hearing it; slow to speak To deliver his opinion in matters of faith, that he does not yet well understand. Persons half instructed frequently have a high opinion of their own knowledge in religious matters, are very... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - James 1:19-27

1:19-2:26 PUTTING BELIEF INTO PRACTICEThe Bible and everyday life (1:19-27)A tendency in human nature is for people to become ill-tempered, especially in times of difficulty or stress. Christians must not excuse their ill-temper by claiming that they are defending God’s honour. Such attitudes have no place in the Christian life. They must be replaced by new attitudes that arise from studying God’s Word and putting its teachings into practice (19-21).Christians must not merely read God’s Word,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - James 1:19

swift . Greek. tachus. Only here, but the adverb occurs frequently. speak . App-121 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - James 1:20

righteousness . App-191 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 1:19

Ye know this, my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:The Christian who would strive for perfection has a real problem with his tongue, a subject James would give fuller treatment later in the epistle. The admonition to be "slow to wrath" was given by Paul thus, "Let not the sun go down upon your wrath" (Ephesians 4:26), the same being also condemned by him in a number of other passages: 2 Corinthians 12:20; Galatians 5:20; Colossians 3:8; Ephesians... read more

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