John Gill

Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

“But let patience have her perfect work,.... Or effect; or be brought unto perfection; which may denote both the sincerity and continuance of it unto the end, with constancy: patience may be said to be perfect, when it appears to be real and sincere, and…”

But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

“But let him ask in faith,.... Not only in the faith of the divine Being that God is; but in the faith of the promises he has made; and in the faith of his power and faithfulness to perform them; and in the faith of…”

That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

“For let not that man think,.... Imagine, conclude, or please himself with such thoughts, that he shall receive anything from the Lord; wisdom, or anything else, he is seeking after; for wanting faith, he has nothing to receive with; faith is the grace, which receives…”

But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.

“But the rich, in that he is made low,.... That is, the rich brother; for there were rich men in the churches in those times, and which James often takes notice of in this epistle.”

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.

“Let no man say when he is tempted,.... Here the apostle uses the word "tempted", in another sense than he did before.”

Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

“Then when lust hath conceived,.... A proposal of pleasure or profit being made, agreeable to lust, or the principle of corrupt nature, sinful man is pleased with it; and instead of resisting and rejecting the motion made, he admits of it, and receives it, and…”

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

“Do not err, my beloved brethren. For to make God the author of sin, or to charge him with being concerned in temptation to sin, is a very great error, a fundamental one, which strikes at the nature and being of God, and at the…”

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift,.... Whether of nature, providence, or grace, and especially the latter; spiritual gifts given along with Christ, or spiritual blessings in him; every such gift is; as the Vulgate Latin version reads, the "best" gift; better than those which…”

for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.

“For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. This is so far from engaging persons to do that which is right and acceptable in the sight of God, that it puts them upon doing that which is evil.”

For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror,

“But if any man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer,.... The Arabic version here again reads, "a hearer of the law", and so some copies; not hearing, but practice, is the main thing; not theory, but action: hence, says R.”

and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

“For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way,.... He takes a slight glance of himself, and departs: and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was; he forgets either his spots, blemishes, and imperfections; or his comeliness and beauty; the features of his face, be…”

Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?

“Of Christ, or Christians; by the which ye are called? and which, as before, may design either unbelieving rich men, whether among Jews, or Gentiles, who blasphemed and cursed the name of Christ, and compelled others to do so likewise; or such who professed the…”

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.

“So speak ye, and so do,.... Both words and actions should be taken care of; it becomes men to observe what they say, and what they do; for both sinful words and works are transgressions of the law, and will be brought to judgment; every…”

Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

“Was not Abraham our father justified by works,.... Not as the causes of his justification, that is denied, Rom 4:2 but as effects of it, showing the truth of his faith, and the reality of his justification: he had both faith and works, and the…”

You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.

“Seest thou how faith wrought with his works,.... Not to justify him before God; for neither faith nor works are ever said in Scripture to justify any man; but his faith being of the right kind, a faith which works by love, it put him…”

And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.

“And the Scripture was fulfilled,.... Gen 15:6 which speaks of Abraham's faith, and the imputation of to him for righteousness; for the above action of Abraham, in offering up his son, was a clear proof of the truth of his faith, there commended: by this…”

As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.

“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified,.... Not as causes procuring his justification, but as effects declaring it; for the best works are imperfect, and cannot be a righteousness justifying in the sight of God, and are unprofitable in this respect…”

In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route?

“Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot,.... See Gill on Heb 11:31 justified by works; this woman was an instance of the grace of God in calling the chief of sinners, and was a true believer; and what she did, she did in faith, Heb…”

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

“For as the body without the spirit is dead,.... This simile is made use of to illustrate what the apostle had asserted in Jas 2:17 that as a body, when the spirit or soul is departed from it, or the breath is gone out of…”

Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!

“Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing,.... Which is not only a contradiction, but unnatural, as well as wicked and sinful: my brethren, these things ought not so to be: in any, and much less in professors of religion: such things are unbecoming…”

Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

“Doth a fountain send forth at the same place,.... "Or hole"; for at divers places, and at different times, as Pliny (m) observes, it may send forth sweet water and bitter: and it is reported (n), there is a lake with the Trogloditae, a people…”

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

“For where envying and strife is,.... Where these are cherished in the heart, and especially where they break out into action, in families, neighbourhoods, states, or churches: there is confusion and every evil work; these occasion disturbances, raise uneasiness, make disquietude, and cause tumults whenever…”

You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.

“Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth,.... This is said of other rich men; for all that is here said is not to be understood of the same individuals, but some things of one, and some of another; some made no use of their…”

See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord.

“Behold, we count them happy which endure,.... Affliction, with courage, constancy, and patience, and hold out to the end; for such shall be saved; theirs is the kingdom of heaven; they are happy now, and will be so hereafter: the Spirit of God, and of…”

Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

“Is any sick among you?.... Which is often the case; the bodies of the saints, as well as others, are liable to a variety of diseases; they are sick, and sometimes nigh unto death, as Epaphroditus was: and then, let him call for the elders…”