3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.
This is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us.
and whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.
Then they will cry to Yahweh, But he will not answer them. Yes, he will hide his face from them at that time, Because they made their deeds evil."
Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your pleasures that war in your members?
He also said to his disciples, "There was a certain rich man who had a manager. An accusation was made to him that this man was wasting his possessions. He called him, and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.'
Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living.
But Jesus answered, "You don't know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to him, "We are able."
It has come to pass that, as he called, and they refused to listen, so they will call, and I will not listen," said Yahweh of Hosts;
Therefore don't you pray for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry to me because of their trouble.
Therefore thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will bring evil on them, which they shall not be able to escape; and they shall cry to me, but I will not listen to them.
When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes; Cease to do evil.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: How much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, He will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me;
If I cherished sin in my heart, The Lord wouldn't have listened. But most assuredly, God has listened. He has heard 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,