26 If any one think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, this man's religion is vain.
Set a watch, O Jehovah, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
For he that will love life and see good days, let him cause his tongue to cease from evil and his lips that they speak no guile.
Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile;
For we all often offend. If any one offend not in word, *he* [is] a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body too. Behold, we put the bits in the mouths of the horses, that they may obey us, and we turn round their whole bodies. Behold also the ships, which are so great, and driven by violent winds, are turned about by a very small rudder, wherever the pleasure of the helmsman will. Thus also the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how little a fire, how large a wood it kindles! and the tongue [is] fire, the world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set in our members, the defiler of the whole body, and which sets fire to the course of nature, and is set on fire of hell.
Better is a poor [man] that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
The mouth of a righteous [man] putteth forth wisdom; but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
and filthiness and foolish talking, or jesting, which are not convenient; but rather thanksgiving.
[Let] your word [be] always with grace, seasoned with salt, [so as] to know how ye ought to answer each one.
For if any man reputes himself to be something, being nothing, he deceives himself;
The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright; but the mouth of the foolish poureth out folly.
In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; but he that restraineth his lips doeth wisely.
{To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.} I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked is before me. I was dumb with silence, I held my peace from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
But from those who were conspicuous as being somewhat -- whatsoever they were, it makes no difference to me: God does not accept man's person; for to me those who were conspicuous communicated nothing;
by which also ye are saved, (if ye hold fast the word which I announced to you as the glad tidings,) unless indeed ye have believed in vain.
Let no one deceive himself: if any one thinks himself to be wise among you in this world, let him become foolish, that he may be wise.
Ye say, It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we keep his charge, and that we walk mournfully before Jehovah of hosts?
He feedeth on ashes; a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
He coveteth greedily all the day long; but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the ways of death.
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the ways of death.
Be ye not as a horse, as a mule, which have no understanding: whose trappings must be bit and bridle, for restraint, or they will not come unto thee.
and recognising the grace given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were conspicuous as being pillars, gave to me and Barnabas [the] right hands of fellowship, that *we* [should go] to the nations, and *they* to the circumcision;
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on James 1
Commentary on James 1 Matthew Henry Commentary
An Exposition, With Practical Observations, of
The General Epistle of James
Chapter 1
After the inscription and salutation (v. 1) Christians are taught how to conduct themselves when under the cross. Several graces and duties are recommended; and those who endure their trials and afflictions as the apostle here directs are pronounced blessed and are assured of a glorious reward (v. 2-12). But those sins which bring sufferings, or the weakness and faults men are chargeable with under them, are by no means to be imputed to God, who cannot be the author of sin, but is the author of all good (v. 13-18). All passion, and rash anger, and vile affections, ought to be suppressed. The word of God should be made our chief study: and what we hear and know of it we must take care to practise, otherwise our religion will prove but a vain thing. To this is added an account wherein pure religion consists (v. 19-27).
Jam 1:1
We have here the inscription of this epistle, which consists of three principal parts.
Jam 1:2-12
We now come to consider the matter of this epistle. In this paragraph we have the following things to be observed:-
Jam 1:13-18
Jam 1:19-27
In this part of the chapter we are required,