Receiving The Word
(James 1:19–22)
Introduction: John MacArthur mentions that James gives three tests of a true believer her in chapter 1…
The first was his response to trials (1:2-12).
The second was his response to temptation (1:13-18).
The third is his response to the truth revealed in the Word of God (1:19-27).
In 1:19-27, James focuses on two major truths relating to that evidence. First, saving faith is marked by a proper reception of Scripture as the Word of God (vv. 19-21). Second, it is marked by a proper reaction to the word, reflected in an obedient life.
Whenever you see a “therefore” or a “wherefore” in the scripture, you look to see what it is “there for.”
Marvin Vincent in his Word Studies in the New Testament says of this word “wherefore”…
The King James Version follows the reading hooste. But the correct reading is iste, “ye know,” and so the English Revised Version (1885). Others render it as imperative, “know ye,” as calling attention to what follows.
I believe that the word “wherefore” in verse 19 really has the idea of “knowing this,” or as the New American Standard renders it, “This you know.” So James is saying, “Knowing this” (the truth highlighted in verse 18) … “let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” As John MacArthur states, it “refers back to the truths just expressed.”
Albert Barnes wrote…
The connection is this: “since God is the only source of good; since he tempts no man; and since by his mere sovereign goodness, without any claim on our part, we have had the high honor conferred on us of being made the first-fruits of his creatures, we ought to be ready to hear his voice, to subdue all our evil passions, and to bring our souls to entire practical obedience.” The necessity of obedience, or the doctrine that the gospel is not only to be learned but practiced, is pursued at length in this and the following chapter. The particular statement here (James 1:19-21) is, that religion requires us to be meek and docile; to lay aside all irritability against the truth, and all pride of opinion, and all corruption of heart, and to receive meekly the engrafted word.
I. In Talking About Receiving God’s Word, James Mentioned The Issue Of Attentiveness
(James 1:19)
A. Notice The Audience To Whom He Speaks…
(James 1:19) Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
1. He Is Addressing Those Who Are “Beloved”
beloved – Greek 27. agapetos, ag-ap-ay-tos'; from G25; beloved:--(dearly, well) beloved, dear.
This word has the idea of the little loved ones.
John MacArthur wrote…
By addressing his readers as my beloved brethren James clearly indicates his deep compassion and concern for them. Like every wise Christian teacher, he is not simply trying to convince their minds in a purely intellectual way but also is trying to reach their hearts. His affection for them is equally as strong as his obligation to them. Few things can make a teacher’s work more effective than a genuine love for those being taught.
2. He Is Addressing Those Who Are “Brethren”
brethren – Greek 80. adelphos, ad-el-fos'; from G1 (as a connective particle) and delphus (the womb); a brother (lit. or fig.) near or remote [much like H1]:--brother. According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, it means “from the same womb.”
Wiersbe said…
James sent his letter to Christian Jews. At least nineteen times he addressed them as “brethren,” indicating not only “brothers in the flesh” (fellow Jews), but also “brothers in the Lord.”
B. Notice The Admonition That He Shares
(James 1:19) Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
1. James Says That We Should Be Prepared To Receive The Word – To Be A Good Listener
MacArthur said that being “swift to hear” means…
Be a careful listener, making sure that we pay attention in order to get the message right. … James’ appeal is for believers to seize every opportunity to increase their exposure to Scripture, to take advantage of every privileged occasion to read God’s Word or to hear it faithfully preached or taught.
I heard about someone who said that they really enjoyed my preaching and could sit and listen to it for hours, but they only came on Sunday mornings. They were not as swift to hear as they thought they were.
John Phillips said…
The art of listening is one that we all need to acquire. The Lord Jesus often used this expression: “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” The words are His alone in the Bible. … He used the expression seven times while on earth (Luke 8:8; Matthew 11:15; 13:19, 43; Mark 4:23; 7:16; Luke 14:35 – in chronological order) and eight times from heaven (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22; 13:9). Most of us are poor listeners. God speaks, however, to those who have ears to hear.
Have you ever heard the old adage, “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt”? That has its foundation in Biblical reasoning…
(Proverbs 17:28) Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
(Proverbs 29:20) Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
Consider Job’s statement to Zophar…
(Job 13:5) O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
As John Phillips’ paraphrased it…
In effect, Job said to him, “If you would keep your mouth shut, somebody might make a mistake a think you were wise!”
2. James Says That We Should Be Patient To Respond To The Word – To Be A Good Learner
speak – Greek 2980. laleo, lal-eh'-o; a prol. form of an otherwise obsol. verb; to talk, i.e. utter words:--preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter.
A. T. Robertson said that this phrase “slow to speak” means, “slow to begin speaking, not slow while speaking.”
Barnes said…
The ancients have some sayings on this subject which are well worthy of our attention. “Men have two ears, and but one tongue, that they should hear more than they speak.” “The ears are always open, ever ready to receive instruction; but the tongue is surrounded with a double row of teeth, to hedge it in, and to keep it within proper bounds.”
John MacArthur said…
The believer who willingly receives the Word with submission must be slow to speak. That characteristic is a companion of the first. You cannot listen carefully while you are talking, or even while you are thinking about what to say. Many discussions are fruitless for the simple reason that all parties are paying more attention to what they want to say than to what others are saying.
In this context, therefore, it seems that slow to speak includes the idea of being careful not to be thinking about one’s own thoughts and ideas while someone else is trying to express God’s. We cannot really hear God’s Word when our minds are on our own thoughts. We need to keep silent inside as well as outside.
The primary idea here, however, is that, when the appropriate time to speak does come, what is said should be carefully thought out. When we speak for the Lord, we should have the gravest concern that what we say not only is true but is spoken in a way that both edifies those who hear and honors the Lord in who behalf we speak.
II. In Talking About Receiving God’s Word, James Mentioned The Issue Of Anger
(James 1:19b–20)
(James 1:19-20) Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: {20} For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
A. Let’s Consider The Concept Of Wrath
A. T. Robertson said…
Slow to anger bradus eis orgeen. … Probably means that slowness to speak up when angry will tend to curb the anger.
But more specifically, I think…
1. This Wrath Refers To An Indignant Anger
The Thayer’s Greek Lexicon offers this definition of “wrath”…
NT:3709 orgeen (from orga – to teem), denoting an internal motion, especially that of plants and fruits swelling with juice. Used in Greek writings from Hesiod down (to refer to) “the natural disposition, temper, character; movement or agitation of soul, impulse, desire, any violent emotion,” but especially anger. In Biblical Greek anger, indignation, vengeance, wrath … (it has the idea of being indignant). (It can refer to) anger exhibited in punishing.
indignant – means angry or annoyed at the apparent unfairness or unreasonableness of something.
Barnes said…
[Slow to wrath] That is, we are to govern and restrain our temper; we are not to give indulgence to excited and angry passions. … The particular point here is, however, not that we should be slow to wrath as a general habit of mind, which is indeed most true, but in reference particularly to the reception of the truth. We should lay aside all anger and wrath, and should come to the investigation of truth with a calm mind, and an imperturbed spirit. A state of wrath or anger is always unfavorable to the investigation of truth. Such an investigation demands a calm spirit, and he whose mind is excited and enraged is not in a condition to see the value of truth, or to weigh the evidence for it.
2. This Wrath Refers To An Inner Anger
John MacArthur said…
Anger is a very natural emotion that is an all but automatic response – even for believers who are not spiritually prepared – to anything or anyone that harms or displeases them. Orgē (anger) does not refer to an explosive outburst of temper but to an inner, deep resentment that seethes and smolders, often unnoticed by others. It is therefore an anger that only the Lord and the believer know about. Therefore, it is a special danger, in that it can be privately harbored.
In this context, James seems to be speaking particularly about anger at a truth in the Word that displeases, that confronts sin or conflicts with a cherished personal belief or standard of behavior. It refers to a disposition hostile to scriptural truth when it does not correspond to one’s own convictions, manifested – even if only inwardly – against those who faithfully teach the Word.
B. Let’s Consider The Caution About Anger
(James 1:20) For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
1. This Implicates Us Personally
A. T. Robertson explained the word “man” in verse 20 by saying…
The wrath of man orgee andros. Here aneer (as opposed to gunee woman), not anthroopos of James 1:19 (which is inclusive of both man and woman).
man – Greek 435. aner, an'-ayr; a prim. word [comp. G444]; a man (prop. as an individual male):--fellow, husband, man, sir.
It could probably be rendered “the wrath of (a) man.”
2. This Impacts Us Productively
Barnes says…
[For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God] (It) does not produce in the life that righteousness which God requires. Its tendency is not to incline us to keep the law, but to break it; not to induce us to embrace the truth, but the opposite. The meaning of this passage is not that our wrath will make God either more or less righteous; but that its tendency is not to produce that upright course of life, and love of truth, which God requires. A man is never sure of doing right under the influence of excited feelings; he may do that which is in the highest sense wrong, and which he will regret all his life. The particular meaning of this passage is, that wrath in the mind of man will not have any tendency to make him righteous. It is only that candid state of mind which will lead him to embrace the truth which can be hoped to have such an effect.
Bud Lowry and Elbert Johnson who got so infuriated at the word…
But then there are others who heard the word and “received” the word with meekness.
(Acts 17:10-11) And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. {11} These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Wiersbe said…
Meekness is the opposite of “wrath” in James 1:19-20. When you receive the Word with meekness, you accept it, do not argue with it, and honor it as the Word of God. You do not try to twist it to conform it to your thinking.
Thomas Manton said…
Before we come to the Word, there must be preparation. Many come to hear, but they do not consider the weight and importance of the duty.
James begins now to talk about the preparation in receiving the word.
III. In Talking About Receiving God’s Word, James Mentioned The Issue Of Attitude
(James 1:21)
(James 1:21) Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Barnes says of the word “wherefore”…
[Wherefore] In view of the fact that God has begotten us for his own service; in view of the fact that excited feeling tends only to wrong, let us lay aside all that is evil, and submit ourselves wholly to the influence of truth.
A. The Right Attitude Involves Removing The Wickedness
(James 1:21) Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.