TRAITS OF OBEDIENCE

1:17-27
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nei-ther shadow that is cast by turning. (Compare 1 Samuel 15:29, Psalm 33:11, and Romans 11:29.) 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth (See 1 Corinthians 4:15.), that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (Revelation 14:4.)
19 You know this, my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: (Compare Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, Proverbs 10:19, 16:32.) 20 for the wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God. (Compare Ephesians 4:26, and Proverbs 29:22.) 21 Wherefore, putting away all filthiness and ex cesses of depravity, receive with meekness the implanted word (Compare Acts 17:11, and Romans 6:17-18.), which is able to save your souls. (See Acts 13:26, 20:32; and Hebrews 2:3.) 22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. (Compare Luke 6:47-49.) 23 For, if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking in a mirror at the face he was born with, who goes away, and immediately for-gets what kind of man he was. (Compare 2 Peter 1:9.) 25 But he that looks into the perfect law of liberty (See 2:12.), and con-tinues, not being a hearer that forgets but a doer that works, this man shall be blessed in his doing. (Compare 2:26.) 26 If any man thinks himself to be religious, and does not bridle his tongue, this man's religion is vain. 27 Pure and undefiled religion be-fore our God and Father is this--to care for the fatherless and widows in their afflictions--to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (See 1 John 3:17-18.)

COMMENTS:
The consistency which characterizes God, especially in the gifts He gives, is the foundation of the Christian's confidence. God invariably does what he promises. Among these promises, James says, is the fact that we have been "brought forth by the word of the truth" to be "a kind of firstfruits of his creatures," that is, an offering unto God. The Word of truth, or the message of the Gospel, is the means by which God "begets" us. Through it we come to Christ (John 6:44-45); through it we have our souls "purified" (1 Peter 1:22-25); and by it we are built up and sustained (Acts 20:32). We are not saved by some mystical "experience" apart from the Word.
Therefore, beginning in verse 19, James reminds his hearers that they "know this." But confirmation is always appropriate, in view of the fact that some hear, then forget. A properly reverent spirit will help us to be "swift to hear, slow to speak." Besides this, we are to be "slow to wrath," a trait which guards us from sins so often committed under the influence of quick anger.
Verse 21 shows that a certain kind of preparation needs to be made for "rec eiving...the implanted word." A mind filled with "filthiness" and "depravity" is too "natural," or "carnal," to discern the value of the Word (compare 1 Corinthians 2:12-3:1). With these things cleared away by repentance, we will be better equipped to display the "meekness" by which we are to receive the saving Word. After we have received it, the reception is to be validated by doing what is said, not merely hearing it. In Jesus' parable of the sower, every soil "heard" the Word, but only one brought it to the fruitbearing stage (see Matthew 13:18-23). This section of James prepares us for the reception of his arguments on another subject in 2:14ff.
The "hearer" that is not a "doer" is compared by James to "a man looking in a mirror at the face he was born with," and forgetting later what he looked like. Can the Christian be so forgetful? If he does not take the truth seriously, he will surely be distracted from his spiritual goals, and his distraction will be counted for forgetfulness. He will be like the virgin who "forgets her ornaments," or the bride who "forgets her attire" (Jeremiah 2:32). Unlikely as this might seem, God said that Israel, though intimately connected with God, had forgotten Him "days without number." The solution to this problem is "looking into the perfect law of liberty, and CONTINUING." A man who does this, both hearing and doing, will be blessed. However, those who forsake the study and application of the word are encouraging this forgetfulness, and must eventually suffer the consequences.
Verse 26 may be considered a prologue of Chapter 3:1-12 on the subject of the tongue and its evils, and this topic will be discussed later in this series of lessons. However, it is tied to verse 27 here to identify some traits of "pure and undefiled religion." The English word "religion" is defined, in one sense: "Anything done or followed with reverence and devotion." The Greek word yreskeia (THRES-KEIA) means simply "religious worship, or discipline." So, James writes that if our religion is to be legitimate, and sincere, it must involve at least three traits, the binding of the tongue, benevolent works, and personal righteousness. The undisciplined mouth invalidates our religion (Compare Ecclesiastes 5:1-7.). Secondly, the care we have of the "fatherless and widows" must be personal, individual, loving, and efficient to the need (see 2:15-16). [Though the Law of Moses commanded kind treatment of the widows and the fatherless, Israel had a chronic shortcoming regarding this obligation in the years of their decline. The prophets warned them regarding this failure repeatedly Isaiah 1:17, Ezekiel 22:7, etc.] Thirdly, we must be unworldly in our conduct (See 1 John 2:15-17). More on this in Chapter 4.

QUESTIONS:

1. In view of the trait of God mentioned in verse 17, can we place confidence in His promises? ____________________
2. What means does God use to save us, according to verse 18? _____________
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3. What three instructions are given in verse 19 to "every man?" ____________ _____________________________________________________
4. Is there, in your judgment, less sin resulting from slow anger than quick anger? ______________Why do you think this is so?_____________________
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5. What preparations are to be made for "receiving with meekness the implanted word?"__________________________________________________
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6. What does the hearer who is not a doer do to himself? _________________
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7. To what is he compared? ______________________________________
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8. What sort of man will be "blessed in his doing?" _____________________
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9. Whose religion is vain, according to verse 26? _______________________
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10.What two things characterize "pure and undefiled religion?"_____________
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