Wednesday, 14 August 2019

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:3

James just said, “…you do not have because you do not ask.” Now, implying that the person has asked, he continues with, “You ask and do not receive.” He is developing his words from one thing to the next in order to show how all things must be in accord with the will of God.… Read the rest

Tuesday, 13 August 2019

You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. James 4:2

James turns to a literary technique known as an anaphora to reveal what is going on inside man. This is a technique which consists of repeating various words or sets of words, particularly at the beginning of each sequence of clauses, in order to produce emphasis.… Read the rest

Monday, 12 August 2019

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? James 4:1

James has been contrasting that which is heavenly wisdom from that which is earthly and reflects no true wisdom at all. He has shown what the results of the two are as well.… Read the rest

Sunday, 11 August 2019

Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:18

In the previous verse, James described “the wisdom that is from above.” In his list, he said that it is “full of mercy and good fruits.” Now he takes that concept to discuss one of those fruits, beginning with, “Now the fruit of righteousness.”

This is a term found first in the book of Proverbs.… Read the rest

Saturday, 10 August 2019

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. James 3:17

The previous verse spoke of confusion and every evil thing being present when one is envious and/or self-seeking.… Read the rest