But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God sets Himself against proud ones, but gives grace to humble ones." Truth to Learn Humility before God is a key to having a fulfilling relationship with Him. Behind the Words The word translated “more” is meidzona, which is the comparative form...
James 4:5 – A Jealous Spirit
Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? Truth to Learn Seeking things instead of God makes Him Jealous. Behind the Words “Vain” is from the word kenōs, meaning “with no purpose” The word translated “dwells” is katoikēsen. Some Biblical...
James 4:4 – The World, or God?
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Truth to Learn Buying into the world system, its values, ideals, and desires is a sure way to...
James 4:3 – Unanswered Prayers
You ask and do not receive, because you ask badly, that you may squander it on your pleasures. Truth to Learn Selfish prayers usually go unanswered, and when they are answered the way we want, we usually regret it later. Behind the Words The word “ask” is translated from aiteō,...
James 4:2 – Fighting from Desire
You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and are not able to obtain. You fight and battle. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. Truth to Learn Our own selfish desire to have is the reason why we fight. Behind the Words The word...
James 4:1 – Roots of Conflict
Where do wars and controversy come from among you? Do they not come from your passions warring in your members? Truth to Learn Fighting and quarreling result from our own selfish desire for gratification. Behind the Words The opening word of this verse is pothen, which is an interrogative adverb....
James 3:18 – Sow in Peace
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who are making peace. Truth to Learn Those who teach with earthly wisdom reap a harvest of contention and discord. Those who humbly teach through the Spirit of God reap a harvest of peaceful righteousness. Behind the Words “Fruit”...
James 3:17 – Heavenly Wisdom
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and unpretentious. Truth to Learn Heavenly wisdom is “others” focused, not “self” focused. Behind the Words “First” is from the Greek word proton, meaning “first in importance, order, or...
James 3:16 – Worthless Deeds
For where bitter zeal and self-seeking exist, there are confusion and every worthless deed. Truth to Learn The motivation of a teacher in a church will have a profound effect on the spiritual value of the works of the church. Behind the Words The word translated “confusion” is the Greek...
James 3:15 – Not Worldly Wise
This is not the wisdom descending from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. Truth to Learn The wisdom possessed by some teachers in our churches today is earthly wisdom. Unlike godly wisdom, it has no heavenly source. Behind the Words The word translated “descending” is katerchomai, which is made up...
James 3:14 – Just the Truth
But if you have bitter zeal and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. Truth to Learn Strong, bitter feelings towards others and loud, boastful proclamations are not marks of a good teacher. Behind the Words The words translated “bitter zeal” are dzelos pikros. The...
James 3:13 – Wise Teacher
Who is wise and knowledgeable among you? Let him show his works by his good behavior, in meekness of wisdom. Truth to Learn Many who desire to be teachers don’t qualify. But it’s not due to lack of knowledge or understanding. Behind the Words “Wise” is translated from the Greek...
James 3:12 – Olives and Figs?
My brothers, is a fig tree is able to produce olives, or a grapevine figs? So neither can a sprint yield both salt water and fresh water. Truth to Learn Just like a fruit tree or a fountain of water, our tongue should only produce a single kind of fruit:...
James 3:11 – Sweet and Bitter?
Does a spring out of the same opening send forth fresh water and bitter? Truth to Learn Not only is it not right that the same mouth should be used for the noble act of praising and also the vile act of cursing, it is unnatural. Behind the Words James...
James 3:10 – It Shouldn’t Happen
Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, it is not fitting for these things to be so. Truth to Learn It is not right that the same mouth should be used for both the noble act of praising and the vile act of cursing. Behind...
James 3:9 – Offending God?
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Truth to Learn When we curse a fellow member of the human race it is offensive to the God who created us. Behind the Words The word...
James 3:8 – Poisonous Tongue
But no man is able to tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Truth to Learn Although men have managed to tame every kind of wild animal, no man can tame the tongue. Behind the Words “No man” is translated from oudeis anthrōpōn, which literally...
James 3:7 – Taming the Beasts
For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and creatures of the sea, is subdued and has been subdued by mankind. Truth to Learn Some things are hard to tame. Hard, but not impossible! Behind the Words The word “kind” is a translation of phusis, which is a...
James 3:6 – The Inflaming Tongue
And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. So the tongue is set among our members defiling the whole body, and inflaming the course of nature; and it is inflamed by hell. Truth to Learn Our tongue, like an out of control fire, is the source of much...
James 3:5 – The Kindling Tongue
Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! Truth to Learn Our tongue may be small, but it can get us into big trouble if we don’t control it. Behind the Words “Even so” is translated from...
James 3:4 – Mighty Little Rudder
Look also at ships, being so large and being driven by hard winds, they are directed by a very small rudder wherever the helmsman determines. Truth to Learn Like the rudder of a ship, the tongue may be small but it can exert great influence, either good or bad. Behind...
James 3:3 – Bridling Power
Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Truth to Learn A small thing like a horse’s bridle wields great influence over the entire body of the horse. Likewise, our tongue, though small, has great power both for good and...
James 3:2 – Perfectly Bridled
For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Truth to Learn One sign of a mature Christian is the words he or she uses. Behind the Words “Stumble” is translated from ptaiō,...
James 3:1 – Responsible Teaching
My brothers, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we will receive greater judgment. Truth to Learn Within the church, teaching carries a great responsibility and a greater judgment (good or bad) for those who teach. Behind the Words The Greek word translated “let … become” is ginomai,...
James 2:26 – Faith, Dead or Alive?
For just as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is also dead. Truth to Learn If works of faithful obedience to God are not regularly demonstrated in our walk, then we need to determine if we were ever really saved in the first...
James 2:25 – Gentile Faith Works
And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? Truth to Learn Even heathen people perform works of faith, once they believe God’s truth and are converted. Behind the Words “In the same way”...
James 2:24 – Works Prove Faith
You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Truth to Learn Your works of obedience confirm that your faith is real and alive. Behind the Words The opening word of this verse in the Greek text is a form of horaō, which literally...
James 2:23 – Reckoned and Called
And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called friend of God. Truth to Learn If you believe God’s word, your works will declare it. Behind the Words Back in verse eight of this chapter, we looked...
James 2:22 – Working, Walking Faith
You see that faith worked together with his works, and out of the works faith was perfected. Truth to Learn When we undergo trials in our Christian walk, our obedient works provide evidence of our faith. Behind the Words “See” is translated from the Greek word blepō, which literally refers to...
James 2:21 – Faithful Obedience
Abraham our father – was he not justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Truth to Learn It is our works of obedience to God which demonstrate that our saving faith is genuine. Behind the Words “Father” is translated from the Greek word patēr, which...
James 2:20 – A Fool Without Works
But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is useless? Truth to Learn God calls all true believers to do good works. Behind the Words “Want” (“will” in some translations) is translated from thelō, which refers to the will of man (the determined will). It...