James

The author of the book of James is the half-brother of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Yet never in these verses does he make note of this authority. Rather, only in describing himself as "a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ" does he have the right to speak and be heard. Beginning in verse 2, James writes that we should embrace an attitude of joy in response to various trials. This might seem to contradict how we understand the battle between our flesh and spirit. It also has an odd alignment with how Jesus taught us to pray from Matthew 6:13 and Luke 11:4, "and lead us not into temptation." But James is not a heretic, and he is not teaching a reinterpretation of Christ's words at all. When you read "Consider," "Count," or "Evaluate it all joy," this must be a conscious commitment to understanding temptation/trials as an opportunity. The result of enduring, as a test of our faith, is that we may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Make a conscious commitment to consider trials with JOY, "knowing," because of your faith, you will endure and resist it, and that the results are AMAZING. We do not desire to be led "into" temptation or trials. We desire to face them with faith, knowing that we are joyfully empowered by God to be victorious.

First impressions are what we take in with our eyes to assess what we think of a person before we know anything else about them. James asks, "have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? (v4)" He is not ambiguous. This is not a rhetorical question. "But if you show partiality, you are committing sin. (v9a)" In having things upside down, James points out that it is the rich who oppress you (v6), yet you pay special attention to them. And the poor you debase, yet "did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? (v5)" Even in judgment, James says to act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom (v12), which is freedom from sin by the grace of salvation through Christ Jesus. This inverts mercy with judgment (v13). The word for "triumphs over" in verse 13 literally translated, means "boasts against." Consider this against whom judgment belongs (Isa.33:22, Rom.12:19), and with due context for how we should judge (Jn.7:4, Gal.6:1, 2 Tim.2:25). The progression is important because our consideration of others and mercy's victory over judgment lays the foundation for how our faith is demonstrated by works/deeds (vv17-18). This further lays the foundation for what we will read in the next chapter about the work of the tongue.

Chapter three builds on a foundation of faith from the previous chapter. The strength of faith in the Lord is surely required to manage such a constant force as the one that resides within our mouths. The duality James uses to contrast misuse of the tongue in vv.9-12 is the same that he opens with by first admonishing caution against many using the power of the tongue for good, as a teacher (v1). Even as one who speaks to train others in righteousness to maturity, James knows we are all guilty of failing to speak perfectly at all times (v2a). So then, our first acknowledgment must be of taking control of the words we speak (vv2b-3). A bit in a horse's mouth (v3), a ship's rudder (v4), and a flame (vv5-6) all illustrate how so small a thing can move to large or great effect. Man, having tamed every kind of beast (v7) yet not the tongue, will remind us of how dangerous and deadly we are with the power of words - "the tongue, it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison" (v8). Jesus first spoke this warning in Matthew 12:36 - "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment." Verses 9-12 plainly illustrate that cursing is not to be the use of a mouth that blesses God. As you acknowledge God as the source of our heavenly wisdom (v17a), consider the characteristics of selfish ambition (vv14-16) contrasted with righteousness (vv17-18).

James had just given a series of triple illustrations for keeping control of our tongues; 3:3-5 horse - ship - flame, 11-12 fountain - tree - vine, 15 earthly - natural - demonic. He now transitions to the control that must be exerted over the nature that wars within us, "waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body" (Rom 7:23). Simply put, James says the reason we aren't able to resist our need to argue with others is a problem within ourselves.
Again, using a triple illustration, he says, you lust, you envy, and you do not ask or ask with wrong motives (vv2-3). These represent the affair we have in our hearts with the things of the world, which place us in an adulterous relationship with God. Our conflict with others because of our selfishness is evidence of our enmity with God (v.4). James sets the road map to control this nature in vv7-11, between the bookends of scriptural authority (vv5-6, 11-12). If we believe we are justified in continuing to argue with, or more specifically, to speak slanderously against a fellow Christian, we are doing this in defiance of scripture. We are defying God by taking His place, as "there is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy" (v12a). What better sarcastically rhetorical question to conclude this point would James ask than, "But who are you to judge your neighbor?" (v12b).
The wisdom of the final five verses of this chapter (vv13-17) deserves meditation rather than commentary. Please consider them prayerfully as you seek to have God abide within you by His Word.

Note the similar accusative style in the opening five verses compared to those of the previous chapter. Both condemnations, (of quarreling, conflict, lust, and envy in chapter four, and of faith placed in riches in chapter five), place the offender at odds with the Lord Yahweh. James continues following this literary method to deliver his critical message. In both chapters, verse six cites Proverbs 3:34 in response to the offenses - "Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the humble" (God resists the proud). Both examples are the foundations for his remedies and admonitions as we read "therefore" in verse seven of each chapter. In chapter four, James warned us of running out of time to accomplish the good and right will of the Lord (vv4:15,17). "Therefore," we must draw near to God and humble ourselves in His presence (vv4:8,10). Here in chapter five, James repeats the fleeting nature of time, twice citing the "coming of the Lord" (vv5:7-8), and emphatically warns, "Behold, the Judge is standing right at the door" (v5:9). James desperately appeals for us to look to the prophets' example. In Job, we see the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful (v5:11). Elijah shows us the effectiveness of prayer (v5:16). James finally encourages those who would respond to what must be his greatest concern - those who have strayed from the truth (vv5:19-20). With his last words citing Proverbs 10:12, he sums up his epistle - "Hatred stirs up conflicts, but love covers all offenses."