3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend `it' in your pleasures.
And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us:
and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.
Then shall they cry unto Jehovah, but he will not answer them; yea, he will hide his face from them at that time, according as they have wrought evil in their doings.
Whence `come' wars and whence `come' fightings among you? `come they' not hence, `even' of your pleasures that war in your members?
And he said also unto the disciples, There was a certain rich man, who had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he was wasting his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, What is this that I hear of thee? render the account of thy stewardship; for thou canst be no longer steward.
And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country; and there he wasted his substance with riotous living.
But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? They say unto him, We are able.
And it is come to pass that, as he cried, and they would not hear, so they shall cry, and I will not hear, said Jehovah of hosts;
Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me because of their trouble.
Therefore thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and they shall cry unto me, but I will not hearken unto them.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: How much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind!
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry, but shall not be heard.
Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me:
If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear: But verily God hath heard; He hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on James 4
Commentary on James 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 4
In this chapter we are directed to consider,
Jam 4:1-10
The former chapter speaks of envying one another, as the great spring of strifes and contentions; this chapter speaks of a lust after worldly things, and a setting too great a value upon worldly pleasures and friendships, as that which carried their divisions to a shameful height.
Jam 4:11-17
In this part of the chapter,