Spurgeon's notes on JAMES

This was probably written by that apostle who has been surnamed The Just, who presided over the council at Jerusalem. His epistle is practical rather than doctrinal. Alford remarks,—"The brother of him who opened his teaching with the Sermon on the Mount, seems to have deeply imbibed the words and maxims of it, as the law of Christian morals."

James 1:2-4

temptations or trials

And patience will be a crown of honor to you; therefore, viewing trial as an opportunity for proving your graces, you may rejoice in it.

James 1:5-18

All our good is from God, but all our evil is from ourselves and Satan; let us always impute things to their true causes.

James 1:27

These are the best externals of worship—the rubrics of the only divine ritual. The more of daily prayers at sick beds, and offertories received by orphans, the better. Can we not, as a family, remember the orphans today and help to support them?

 

James 2:3, 4

The man is more than his clothes. A saint in vile clothing is not vile, neither is a wicked man honorable because of his goodly apparel.

James 2:5

There can therefore be no reason for preferring the rich to the poor, since they are rarely the Lord's chosen.

James 2:6, 7

Most of the persecution against the gospel has been stirred up by the great: the church has, therefore, no excuse for flattering them.

James 2:8, 9

You fail to act as Christians should do if you despise the poor. Whatever else you may do that is right and good, you ought not to err in this matter.

James 2:13

Mercy reigns in our salvation, let it reign in our conduct to others. To us it is not sweet to take vengeance, but to grant forgiveness.

James 2:18, 19

So that they have a more practical faith than those who say they believe and yet live in sin without qualms of conscience.

James 2:23, 24

Faith alone justifies, but not a faith which is alone and without works.

James 2:25

In any and every case suitable works attend upon saving faith, and it is idle to claim to be saved by faith, unless our lives are holy.

 

James 3

We are generally too fond of talking, and are not always careful as to what we say; let us hear attentively what the Scriptures have to say of unholy tongues.

James 3:1

masters or teachers

James 3:1

Men are too ready to set up for teachers and censors, but if they knew the increased responsibility of the position they would prefer to be learners.

James 3:2

and this should make us slow to assume leadership

James 3:3-5

It walks through the earth, attacking the best of men, and even daring to assail Heaven itself.

James 3:3-5

If it be fire from Heaven it brings a Pentecost; if fire from Hell it makes a Pandemonium.

James 3:6

not a nation, or a city of sin, but a whole world of evil

Stella says an unruly tongue is worse than the fire of Hell, for. that torments only the wicked; but this afflicts all, both bad and good.

James 3:7, 8

God alone can subdue it, and teach it to be silent, or to speak to his glory. This lion cannot be bound even by a Samson, but the Lord can transform it to a lamb.

James 3:9, 10

Inconsistent language is monstrous. Our speech should be all of a piece, and altogether holiness unto the Lord. Is it so?

James 3:13

Holiness, meekness, and gentleness in conversation are the best signs of a really instructed mind. God alone by his Holy Spirit can give us this wisdom.

James 3:14-18

Old Thomas Adams has wittily said: "It is a singular member. God has given man two ears; one to hear instructions of human knowledge, the other to hearken to his divine precepts. Two eyes, that with the one he might see to his own way, with the other pity and commiserate his distressed brethren. Two hands, that with the one he might work for his own living, with the other relieve his brother's wants. Two feet, one to walk on common days to his ordinary labor, the other, on sacred days to frequent the congregation of saints. But among all, he has given him but one tongue; which may instruct him to hear twice so much as he speaks; and to walk and work twice as much as he talks."

 

James 4:1

Quarrels certainly do not come from Heaven. If we always acted under the rule of grace, love would create perfect peace at home and abroad.

James 4:2

Praying is better than fighting. If God will give us what we ask, why need we fight for it?

James 4:3

If any say that they have prayed and not received, it is clear that their motive was selfish, and therefore God would not gratify them.

James 4:4

You adulterers and adulteresses who give to worldly things the love which is due to Christ alone

James 4:4

How can you then love worldliness, and make earthly treasures your grand pursuit?

James 4:6

The testimony of Scripture concerning man's nature is manifestly true. We are by nature selfish and envious; but grace will enable us to conquer our inbred sins, if we humbly own them, and ask for help to overcome them.

James 4:7

He is a coward, assail him boldly and he will quit the field.

James 4:9

Voluntarily sorrow for sin, or you will have to suffer for it eternally. Mourn at the cross, or you will weep before the throne.

James 4:11

The man who is severe upon his brother sets himself up to be a better judge than God. He would have those punished whom God has not punished; and thus he sits in judgment upon God, as though he were wiser than the Judge of all the earth.

James 4:13, 14

To count on life as if we had a lease of it is madness. If it be wrong to boast of tomorrow, what folly must it be to be plotting and planning for a great while to come? It is our duty and privilege to live by the day.

James 4:15

This should be your general mode of speech. The mere use of the letters D. V. is an evasion of the rule: to live hour by hour, as those who will soon give an account, is the true mode of living.

Lest any should say, "We know all this, for we are fully persuaded that unless God lets us live we can do nothing," James adds, "Do you know so well? then you are all the more bound to do well, for knowledge involves responsibility."

 

James 5:1

The ungodly rich live only for this world as brutes do, and therefore the time shall come, when, like whipped or wounded beasts, they will howl in dismay. Those who by oppression cause the poor to weep shall themselves weep eternally.

James 5:2, 3

Goods ill gotten and greedily hoarded have Heaven's curse upon them. Such treasure is only accumulated wrath. Who would wish to increase a heap which shall cause his own flesh to burn?

James 5:4

Covetousness is capable of any and every baseness, and will enrich itself even from the earnings of the poor. The Lord of Hosts is the Guardian of the needy, and he will avenge their wrongs.

James 5:5-8

The great ones who wickedly persecute the righteous will soon be reckoned with, and the poor despised child of God shall speedily have his reward.

James 5:9

Wrongs will so soon be righted that we may well bear with them a little longer.

James 5:12

Our word is our bond; and anything beyond it is forbidden. Let us shun swearing of all kinds.

James 5:13-15

Use the means and pray. Medicine and supplication should go together. We send for the doctor and his draughts, why not send for the elders and their prayers?

James 5:16-18

This is not confession to a priest, but mutual acknowledgment of any wrong done to each other.

James 5:16-18

There are saints on earth whose prayers are equally prevalent. Why should we not be like them?