JAMES
CHAPTER 1
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God—Resist temptation—Be ye doers of the word—How to recognize pure religion.
[the overall theme is one of persevering through trials (v. 2,12). and that trials are given to humble the individual (v. 9, 21), get them to rely on and trust in God (v. 5, 13, 17), and therefore render them fit for eternal life (v. 12)]
1 JAMES, a servant of
God [He neither calls himself an apostle, nor
does he say that he was the brother of Christ] and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to
the twelve tribes [note this address is to the
House of Israel and not the Gentiles] which
are scattered abroad,
greeting.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
[IV/JST emends this to "many afflictions".
The word "peirasmov", which we translate as temptation, signifies affliction,
persecution, or trial of any kind; and in this sense it is used here,
not intending diabolic suggestion, or what is generally understood by
the word temptation.]
3 Knowing this, that the trying of
your faith [It is afterall our trials that test
our real belief and faith in our religion. It is the trails that prove
us, and it were a man that
stands in such trials that gives proof that his religion is sound, correct
and unwavering. These same trails award as evidence to those around and
to the individual as a testimony and this testimony is afforded to his
own mind induces him to take courage, bear patiently, and persevere.] worketh patience.
4 But let patience have [Continue
faithful, and your patience will be crowned with its full reward;] her perfect
work, [ What is the perfect work - To bring
to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Work is defined as effect
produced by a cause, as interest from money, fruit from tillage. So it
is a reward for services performed.] that
ye may be perfect and
entire, [perfect and entire as God is - it is
thru trials, that we gain the very attributes of God which are defined
in Lecture on Faith #4 - Knowledge, Faith & power, Justice, Judgement,
mercy, truth. So remember what the Savior was required to give in Gethsaeme,
so are we required to sacrifice ] wanting
nothing. [Why will
we want nothing? Because
when we have become as he is we will become joint heirs in his kingdom,
we will hold in joint title all that he has]
5 If any
of you lack wisdom,
[ Wisdom signifies in general knowledge of the best end,
and the best means of attaining it; but in Scripture it also signifies
true religion, or a thorough practical knowledge of God, of
one's self, and of a saviour. If we continue with the same thought as
continued from above - then this message is about getting wisdom in how
to deal with your trail, why you might be going thru this trail and waht
you need to learn from it.] let
him ask
of God, [Why ask
God and not your neighbor? Because
God is the only one who really understands the need for this trial in
your life.] that giveth to
all men liberally, and upbraideth not; [to
mitigate any idea that God is mean, vicious, or capricious, as the unfaithful
one would accuse as in v. 13] and it [
the knowledge that we need at that time, which can be distinguished with
4 principles:
1) INTELLIGENCE, the
object of which is intuitive truths. 2) WISDOM, which is employed in
finding out the best end. 3) PRUDENCE, which regulates the whole conduct
through life. 4) ART, which provides infallible rules to reason by.] shall
be given him. [this may be the most inportant scripture ever uttered
by a prophet, because of the impact that it had on joseph Smith which
lead to the restoration of the gospel upon the earth]
6 But let him ask in faith,
nothing wavering.[To
exhibit irresolution or indecision; vacillate; Not judging otherwise;
having no doubt] For he that wavereth is like a wave
of the sea [in a state of continual agitation;
rising because of hope, then only to sink with despair.] driven with
the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think [let
not your mind be divided with your thoughts and wishes as well as Gods
- but put your mind in submission to the small still voice] that
he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded
man [a fickle or wavering man as opposed to one who is firm ans steadfast;
one who has an eye single to the glory of God and not one eye on the
Glory of God and one eye on the Glory of man] is unstable
in all his ways.
9 Let the brother of low degree [humility,
let those who serve as humble servants, those who may serve in menial
positions on the church] rejoice
in that he is exalted:
11 For the sun is no sooner risen with
a burning heat, [The sun by its genial heat nourishes
and supports all plants and animals; but when it arises with a burning heat,
the atmosphere not being tempered with a sufficiency of moist vapours, the
juices are exhaled from the plants; the earth, for lack of moisture, cannot
afford a sufficient supply; vegetation becomes checked; and the plants soon
wither and die.] but
it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of
the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man
fade away in his ways.
12 Blessed is the
man that endureth temptation:
[IV/JST emends this to "blessed is the man that
resisteth temptation", Also of note since we have been talking of trials
we have trials that we may be perfected, so the man that endures well
his trials, that does not curse God but becomes closer to him thru them
is truely blessed. ] for
when he is tried,
[notice it does not say "IF he will be tried" but when;
overcoming temptation is an essential, fundamental and necessary part
of working out one's salvation] he shall receive the crown of
life, [or eternal life, in this life we are candidates
for another and a better world; those that stand well in their trial shall
receive the eternal life] which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of
God: for God cannot be tempted with evil,
neither tempteth he any man: [compare to trials of Job
- See Job 33 for Elihu's explanation of the purpose of affliction, which
is to humble the individual, agreeing with James' message.]
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth,
that we should be a
kind of firstfruits [An initial and beginning
harvest of souls; saints in whose souls the gospel seed has sprouted,
grown and brought forth fruits of the gospel McConkie pg 250 New Testament
Commentary] of his
creatures.
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and
undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows [a
statement taken directly from the Law of Moses, cf. Exod. 22:22, Deut.
10:18, Deut. 24:19-21, Deut. 27:19. We must make note in our church dealings
that we are correctly integrating the singles, widows, and everyone into
this very family centered church, it is often hard for these groups -
they don't feel as if they fit into our family centered discussions in
Gospel Doctrine, Relief society and priesthood meetin, but the
Lord's has particular concern for their well-being.] in
their affliction, and to
keep himself unspotted from the world.