Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

“He is One who gave the whole law; therefore, they who violate His will in one point, violate it all [BENGEL]. The law and its Author alike have a complete unity. adultery . . .”

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

“Summing up of the previous reasonings. speak--referring back to Jas 1:19, 26; the fuller discussion of the topic is given Jas 3:5-12.”

For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

“The converse of, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Mt 5:7). Translate, "The judgment (which is coming on all of us) shall be without mercy to him who hath showed no mercy."”

What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

“"Believing and doing are blood relatives" [RUTHERFORD]. What doth it profit--literally, "What is the profit?"”

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

“The Greek is, "But if," &c.: the "But" taking up the argument against such a one as "said he had faith, and yet had not works," which are its fruits.”

If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that?

“Just retribution: kind professions unaccompanied with corresponding acts, as they are of no "profit" to the needy object of them, so are of no profit to the professor himself.”

So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.

“English Version, if retained, must not be understood to mean that faith can exist "alone" (that is, severed from works), but thus: Even so presumed faith, if it have not works, is dead, being by itself "alone," that is, severed from works of charity; just…”

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

“"Show" does not mean here to prove to me, but exhibit to me. Faith is unseen save by God. To show faith to man, works in some form or other are needed: we are justified judicially by God (Ro 8:33); meritoriously, by Christ (Isa 53:11)…”

You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

“But unless thy faith goes farther than an assent to this truth, "the evil spirits (literally, 'demons': 'devil' is the term restricted to Satan, their head) believe" so far in common with thee, "and (so far from being saved by such a faith) shudder (so…”

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

“In Jas 2:23, James, like Paul, recognizes the Scripture truth, that it was his faith that was counted to Abraham for righteousness in his justification before God.”

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

“ALFORD explains, "Received its realization, was entirely exemplified and filled up." So Paul, Php 2:12, "Work out your own salvation": the salvation was already in germ theirs in their free justification through faith.”

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.

“Plainly, then, James must mean by works the same thing as Paul means by faith, only that he speaks of faith at its manifested development, whereas Paul speaks of it in its germ.”

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?

“But as an example of free grace justifying men through an operative, as opposed to a mere verbal faith, none could be more suitable than a saved "harlot."”

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

“Faith is a spiritual thing: works are material. Hence we might expect faith to answer to the spirit, works to the body.”

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

“The idea that faith (so called) without works (Jas 2:14-26) was all that is required, prompted "many" to set up as "teachers," as has been the case in all ages of the Church.”

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal.

“Behold--The best authorities read, "but if," that is, Now whensoever (in the case) of horses (such is the emphatic position of "horses" in the Greek) we put the bits (so literally, "the customary bits") into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about…”

The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body.

“While a man inflames others, he passes out of his own power, being consumed in the flame himself. of hell--that is, of the devil. Greek, "Gehenna"; found here only and in Mt 5:22.”

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,

“The dative in the Greek may imply, "Hath suffered itself to be brought into tame subjection TO the nature of men." So it shall be in the millennial world; even now man, by gentle firmness, may tame the inferior animal, and even elevate its nature.”

With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.

“God--The oldest authorities read, "Lord." "Him who is Lord and Father." The uncommonness of the application of "Lord" to the Father, doubtless caused the change in modern texts to "God" (Jas 1:27).”

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

“So in a fable, a man with the same breath blows hot and cold. "Life and death are in the power of the tongue" (compare Ps 62:4). brethren--an appeal to their consciences by their brotherhood in Christ.”

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

“All wish to appear "wise": few are so. show--"by works," and not merely by profession, referring to Jas 2:18. out of a good conversation his works--by general "good conduct" manifested in particular "works."”

Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

“Earthly is what is IN the earth; earthy, what is of the earth. sensual--literally, "animal-like": the wisdom of the "natural" (the same Greek) man, not born again of God; "not having the Spirit" (Jude 19).”

Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.

“There the results were present; here, future. fruit . . . sown--Compare Ps 97:11; Isa 61:3, "trees of righteousness." Anticipatory, that is, the seed whose "fruit," namely, "righteousness," shall be ultimately reaped, is now "sown in peace."”

You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask.

“Not probably in the case of professing Christians of that day in a literal sense, but "kill and envy" (as the Greek for "desire to have" should be translated), that is, harass and oppress through envy [DRUSIUS].”

And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.

“Contrast Jas 1:5 with Mt 6:31, 32. If ye prayed aright, all your proper wants would be supplied; the improper cravings which produce "wars and fightings" would then cease. Even believers' prayers are often best answered when their desires are most opposed.”