The Ministry of The Ministry of the Wordthe Word

James 1:19-28James 1:19-28© John Stevenson, 2009

Do not think that I came to abolish Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 come to abolish but to fulfill. 18

For truly I say to you, until heaven For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the and earth pass away, not the

smallest letter or stroke shall pass smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is from the Law until all is

accomplished. (Matthew 5:17‑18).accomplished. (Matthew 5:17‑18).

James 1:19-20James 1:19-20This you know, my beloved

brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

:Iste

{Wste

“You know” (NAS)

“Therefore” (KJV)

James 1:19-20James 1:19-20This you know, my beloved

brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

How does this connect to the How does this connect to the previous verses?previous verses?

Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger

SinVerses 15-16

GodVersus 17-18

What we are able to accomplish

What God is able to accomplish

Brought forth sin. Brought us forth by the word of truth.

The result is death. The Result is life.

Therefore…Therefore…Because anger does

not bring forth the righteousness of God.

James 1:19-20James 1:19-20This you know, my beloved

brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

How are these same ideas How are these same ideas seen in the Old Testament?seen in the Old Testament?

Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;considered wise;

When he closes his lips, he is counted When he closes his lips, he is counted prudent (Proverbs 17:28).prudent (Proverbs 17:28).

He who is slow to anger has great He who is slow to anger has great understanding,understanding,

But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly. But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly. (Proverbs 14:29).(Proverbs 14:29).

He who is slow to anger is better than the He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,mighty,

And he who rules his spirit, than he who And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city. (Proverbs 16:32).captures a city. (Proverbs 16:32).

Be Quick…

Be Slow…

To hear

To speak

To anger

Present Tense:Present Tense: “ “Let each man Let each man continuecontinue to be...” to be...”

James 1:19-20James 1:19-20This you know, my beloved

brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

What is the difference What is the difference between having no anger between having no anger

versus being slow to anger?versus being slow to anger?

James 1:19-20James 1:19-20This you know, my beloved

brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

avndro.j

James 1:21James 1:21Therefore, putting aside all

filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

He brought us forth He brought us forth by the word of truth by the word of truth

(James 1:18)(James 1:18)

Receive the Receive the word implanted word implanted (James 1:21)(James 1:21)

James 1:22James 1:22But prove yourselves doers of

the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

James 1:23-24James 1:23-24For if anyone is a hearer of the

word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

Root word: katanoe,w

James 1:25James 1:25But one who looks intently at the

perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.

paraku,ptw“Stoop sideways”

But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in… (Luke 24:12)

Therefore let it be known to Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, proclaimed to you, 3939 and and

through Him everyone who through Him everyone who believes is freed from all believes is freed from all

things, from which you could things, from which you could not be freed through the Law not be freed through the Law

of Moses (Acts 13:38-39).of Moses (Acts 13:38-39).

For what the Law could not For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the do, weak as it was through the

flesh, God did: sending His flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of own Son in the likeness of

sinful flesh and as an offering sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, the flesh, 44 in order that the in order that the

requirement of the Law might requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. but according to the Spirit.

(Romans 8:3-4).(Romans 8:3-4).

““But this is the covenant But this is the covenant which I will make with which I will make with

the house of Israel after the house of Israel after those days,” declares those days,” declares

the LORD, “I will put My the LORD, “I will put My law within them, and on law within them, and on their heart I will write it; their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and I will be their God, and they shall be My and they shall be My people.” (Jeremiah people.” (Jeremiah

31:33).31:33).

““And they shall not teach And they shall not teach again, each man his again, each man his

neighbor and each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all LORD,’ for they shall all

know Me, from the least of know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them to the greatest of

them,” declares the LORD, them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their “for I will forgive their

iniquity, and their sin I will iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” remember no more.”

(Jeremiah 31:34).(Jeremiah 31:34).

Hearer OnlyHe contemplates the

word (Greek). There is no fault in the way he

looks, but he then goes and forgets.

Hearer and DoerHe looks intently at the word. He bends over it

and studies it.

He immediately forgets.

He becomes an effectual doer.

He deludes himself. He is blessed in what he does.

He does not bridle his tongue.

He is slow to speak.

Hearer OnlyHe is quick to anger

and has not put aside all filthiness and

wickedness.

Hearer and DoerHe visits orphans and

widows and keeps himself unstained from

the world.

His religion is worthless.

His religion is pure and undefiled.

Unbeliever. True believer.

James 1:26James 1:26If anyone thinks himself to be

religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

James 1:27James 1:27This is pure and undefiled

religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

• How do you treat others?How do you treat others?

• How do you keep yourself?How do you keep yourself?