3 You make your request but you do not get it, because your request has been wrongly made, desiring the thing only so that you may make use of it for your pleasure.
And we are certain that if we make any request to him which is right in his eyes, he will give ear to us:
And he gives us all our requests, because we keep his laws and do the things which are pleasing in his eyes.
Then they will be crying to the Lord for help, but he will not give them an answer: yes, he will keep his face veiled from them at that time, because their acts have been evil.
What is the cause of wars and fighting among you? is it not in your desires which are at war in your bodies?
And another time he said to the disciples, There was a certain man of great wealth who had a servant; and it was said to him that this servant was wasting his goods. And he sent for him and said, What is this which is said about you? give me an account of all you have done, for you will no longer be the manager of my property.
And not long after, the younger son got together everything which was his and took a journey into a far-away country, and there all his money went in foolish living.
But Jesus made answer and said, You have no idea what you are requesting. Are you able to take of the cup which I am about to take?
And it came about that as they would not give ear to his voice, so I would not give ear to their voice, says the Lord of armies:
And as for you, make no prayers for this people, send up no cry or prayer for them: for I will not give ear to their cry in the time of their trouble.
So the Lord has said, I will send evil on them, which they will not be able to get away from; and they will send up a cry for help to me, but I will not give ear to them.
And when your hands are stretched out to me, my eyes will be turned away from you: even though you go on making prayers, I will not give ear: your hands are full of blood. Be washed, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes; let there be an end of sinning;
The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much more when they give it with an evil purpose!
He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor, will himself get no answer to his cry for help.
Then I will give no answer to their cries; searching for me early, they will not see me:
I said in my heart, The Lord will not give ear to me: But truly God's ear has been open; he has give attention 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,