James 4:14-15

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - James 4:15

For what is your life? it is a vapour. We frequently meet with three beautiful comparisons in holy writ. "Remember that my life is but wind....As a cloud is consumed, and passeth away; so he that shall go down to hell, shall not come up." (Job vii. 7, 9.) "Man is like to vanity, his days pass away like a shadow." (Psalm cxliii. 4.) Similar expressions also frequently occur in profane authors. Nemo tam Divos habuit faventes Crastinum ut possit sibi polliceri. Seneca. With reason then did our... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - James 4:11-17

11-17 Our lips must be governed by the law of kindness, as well as truth and justice. Christians are brethren. 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. 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 of the Lord. "Go to now," is a call to any one to consider his conduct as being... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - James 4:1-99

James 4 THE LAST NOTE struck, as we closed chapter 3 was that of peace. The first note of chapter 4 is the exact opposite, that of war. What lay behind the peace was the purity that is the first mark of the wisdom that is from above. So now we discover that what lies behind the wars and fightings, which are so common among the professed people of God, is the impure lust of the human heart, the lust connected with that wisdom which is earthly, sensual, devilish. You will notice that the... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - James 4:13-17

Trust in God's providence essential: v. 13. Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain, v. 14. whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away. v. 15. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live and do this or that. v. 16. But now ye rejoice in your boastings, All such rejoicing is evil.... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - James 4:4-17

VIII. SIXTH ADMONITIONEXHORTATION TO REPENTANCE ADDRESSED TO THE JEWISH CHRISTIANS AND THE JEWS IN REFERENCE TO THEIR BEING ON THE WAY TO APOSTASY. THEY ARE ADDRESSED AS (RELIGIOUS) ADULTERERS AND ADULTERESSES, AS APOSTATES. THEIR FRIENDSHIP OF THE WORLD, WHICH IS THE CAUSE OF THEIR IMPENDING APOSTASY, THEY WERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AS ENMITY OF GOD, TO REPENT OF IT AND TO RETURN FROM THEIR WORLDLY RUNNING AND WANDERING TO THE QUIETNESS OF A CONDUCT MARKED BY HUMILITY AND RESIGNATION TO THE DIVINE... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - James 4:11-17

“If the Lord Will” James 4:11-17 When we speak evil of another, we usurp the functions of the only lawgiver and judge. If that other is endeavoring to model his life by the law, to speak evil of him is to question not his action alone, but the law he is trying to observe. Let us turn the light in upon ourselves and be merciless in self-criticism, while merciful to all others. When you see another doing wrong, always ask yourself whether the same evil is not hiding in your own character. Do... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - James 4:1-17

The writer now dealt with the effect of faith on character. Everything depends on desire. To attempt to satisfy a natural desire without reference to God is futile, and issues in internal conflict and outward warfare and strife. The writer inquired, "Doth the Spirit which He made to dwell in us long unto envying?" It is self-evident that the Spirit of God does not create desire which issues in envying. The divine corrective of such a condition is, first, that God "giveth more grace . . . to... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - James 4:14

THE SHORTNESS OF LIFE‘For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.’ James 4:14 To this question we must expect many different answers. But however different may be the various answers, in one sense the same answer must come from all. From the man of wealth in his grand house, and from the beggar asking at his door for bread; from the successful merchant in his counting-house, and from the ruined bankrupt in his prison; from the lady of... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - James 4:11-17

He Now Reminds Them That They Need To See Life In Terms Of The Last Day (James 4:11 to James 5:12 ). From this point on until James 5:12 there will be an emphasis on judgment, and on seeing life in the light of it. The passage parallels James 1:9-12, with its references to judgment, to the rich and poor and to the frailty of the rich. It proceeds in four stages: o First he gives a warning against judging others in view of the fact that it is God and not them Who is Lawgiver and Judge. They... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - James 4:12-17

Christians Need To Face Up To The Frailty Of Their Lives (James 4:12-17 ). The contrast between man in his inability to act as judge in contrast with the great Judge Himself, now leads up to the question of the frailty of life and the need to recognise that our lives are at God’s disposal. For men should recognise, especially those who are running round with the aim of building up wealth, that not only must they not judge each other, but that they are unable even to judge how long they will... read more

Group of Brands