James Chapter 4 Part 1

 

James Chapter 4 Part 1

Warning Against Worldliness

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Jas 4:1

From whence come... Questions 16-17. Next, Jas. 4:4.

wars and fightings... About this time in Judea the Jews made many insurrections against the Romans under the pretense of defending their religion and procuring their way of life. Many factions among the Jews also fought violently, massacring and plundering one another. In some provinces Jews killed many heathens and brought destruction upon themselves. These wars were undertaken through a spirit of covetousness and zeal, trying to convert the heathen and destroy idolatry. Quarrels; these are between people in the church, not internal conflict in individual people. “Quarrels” speaks of the conflict in general; “conflicts” of its specific manifestations. Discord in the church is not by God’s design (John 13:34-35, 17-21; 2 Cor. 12:20; Phil. 1:27), but results from the mix of tares (false believers), and wheat (truly redeemed people), that make up the church.

Remember from previous lessons that the church at this time was dominant Jewish, the gentiles were just starting to come into the church.

of your lusts... Or could be translated “pleasures”. The Greek word (from which the English word “hedonism” derives), always has a negative connotation in the New Testament. The passionate desire for worldly pleasures that mark unbelievers (1:14; Eph. 2:3; 2Tim. 3:4; Jude 18), are the internal source of the external conflict in the church (1:14-15).

in your members... Not church members, but bodily members. James, like Paul, uses “members” to speak of sinful, fallen human nature (Rom. 6:19; 7:5, 23). Unbelievers (who are in view here), fight (unsuccessfully), against the evil desires they cannot control.

The strongest statement someone can make is usually in the form of a question. It gets us to thinking about figuring out what the problem is. James is speaking to them about the “fightings” being caused, because of the worldliness they still have in their lives and their walks.

If we are dead in Christ, there should be no reason to fight the brethren.

Submit with Contrition

Fights, quarrels, lust, hate, envy, pride, and sin are words that stain this portion of James’ letter like inkblots. In stark contrast with the closing words of Jas. 3:1-18, “peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness,” Jas. 4:1-17 opens with “fights and quarrels.” James confronted this despicable behavior with valor. Furthermore he gave clear advice on how to quell the storms that are so detrimental to spiritual growth and maturity. A believer must turn hatred into humility, judgment into justice, and boasting into belief.

Turn hatred into humility

The appearance of conflict among the followers of Jesus stirred James to intense indignation. The severity of his tone in this section is accented by the absence of the words “my brothers,” which James used so frequently in other parts of the letter. He revealed the cause of conflict, outlined the consequences of conflict, and proposed a cure for conflict.

Cause Of Conflict

Characteristically, James introduced this new section with a rhetorical question, What causes fights and quarrels among you? Where do “fights” (lit., “state of war,” polemoi) and “quarrels” (lit., individual disputes or “battles,” machai) come from? James answered his own question: from your desires that battle within you. Conflict comes out of (ek) inner sensual lusts or pleasures (hēdonōn; cf. Jas. 4:3). Hedonism, the playboy philosophy that makes pleasure mankind’s chief end, still wages battles in people’s hearts.

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Jas 4:2

ye kill, and... Here meaning murder, is the ultimate result of thwarted desires. James had in mind actual murder and the gamut of sins (hate, anger, bitterness), leading up to it. The picture is of unbelievers so driven by their uncontrollable evil desires that they will fight to the death to fulfill them.

ye ask not... True joy, peace, happiness, meaning, hope, and fulfillment in life, come only from God. Unbelievers however, are unwilling to ask for them on His terms, they refuse to submit to God or acknowledge their dependence on Him.

James is speaking here, supposedly to believers in Christ. It is unbelievable that Christians would be this caught up in the flesh. Lust is of the flesh, and not of God. It seems they want things so badly that are not their own, that they even kill to get them.

The real truth here, is these people may profess Christianity, but they really are not Christians. They have not crucified the flesh and its lust. He gives them the secret in the last few words of the verse. Christians, do not fight to get the things you want, pray for them instead.

If they are good for you, the Lord will give them to you. The answer is prayer. They do not have these things, because they have not asked in prayer.

War is the fruit of illicit wants. Lust brings about murder. Covetousness results in the frustration of not obtaining the hotly pursued desires. It all leads to the “quarrels” and “fights,” that “battle” against people, mentioned in Jas. 4:1. The last part of Jas. 4:2, You do not have, because you do not ask God, is best taken with what follows. James did not contend that the reason lust was not gratified was because people failed to ask God to fill those desires. He simply revealed the clear source of conflict deep in covetous human hearts.

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Jas 4:3

Ye ask, and... Twelve reasons for unanswered prayer:

1. Lusts (Jas. 4:1, 4:2, 4:3, 4:5; John 8:44)

2. Murders (Jas. 4:2)

3. Covetousness (Jas. 4:2)

4. Fighting and war (Jas. 4:2)

5. Asking amiss to satisfy lusts (Jas. 4:3)

6. Adulteries (Jas. 4:4)

7. Friendship

8. Pride (Jas. 4:6)

9. Rebellion against God (Jas. 4:7)

10. Backsliding and sin (Jas. 4:8)

11. Double mindedness or doubt (Jas. 4:8)

12. Misuse of the tongue (Jas. 4:11-12)

This passage should never be taken by the Christian as an excuse for unanswered prayer. By so doing he automatically classes himself as lustful, murderous, covetous, adulterous, worldly, proud, sinful, and blasphemous. Is it any wonder that God does not answer the prayers of such people? Would you? No man can ask amiss if he is in Christ and asks according to the promises (John 15:7; Mar. 11:22-24; Heb. 11:6; Jas. 1:5-8). The reason Christian prayers are not answered is unbelief.

ye ask amiss... This refers to acting in an evil manner, motivated by personal gratification and selfish desire. Unbelievers seek things for their own pleasures, not for the honor and glory of God.

Sometimes we, like these Christians, pray for things that would not be for our own good, or the good of those around us. God will not answer a prayer to fill our greed. He will, however, answer a prayer for our needs.

Consequence Of Conflict

The correct way for Christians to have their legitimate needs met is by asking God. One reason a believer does not receive what he asks for is that he asks with wrong motives (lit., “evilly” or “amiss,” kakōs). The verb ask is in the middle voice, meaning, “ask for yourself.” The purpose clause that follows further clarifies, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. “Spend” could be translated “squander.” “Pleasures” is again the Greek word hēdonais (cf. Jas. 4:1). God will never provide for “hedonistic squandering”!

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Jas 4:4

Ye adulterers and... Questions 18-19. Next, Jas. 4:12.

adulteresses, know ye... A metaphorical description of spiritual unfaithfulness (Mat. 12:39; 16:4; Mark 8:38). It would have been especially familiar to James’ Jewish readers, since the Old Testament often describes unfaithful Israel as a spiritual harlot. James has in view professing Christians, outwardly associated with the church, but holding a deep affection for the evil world system.

the friendship of... The Greek word describes love in the sense of a strong emotional attachment. Those with a deep and intimate longing for the things of the world give evidence that they are not redeemed (1Jhn. 2:15-17).

The Christian must:

1. Be free from the cares of the world (Mat. 13:22; Luke 21:34-36)

2. Not gain the world at the expense of his soul (Mat. 16:26)

3. Not offend others as the world does (Mat. 18:7)

4. Not be of it (John 15:19; 17:14, 17:16)

5. Not love his life in the world (John 12:25)

6. Be delivered from the world (Gal. 1:4)

7. Be crucified to the world (Gal. 6:14)

8. Shine as a light in the world (Phlp. 2:15)

9. Deny its lusts; live godly in it (Tit. 2:12)

10. Be unspotted from the world (Jas. 1:27)

11. Not be friends with the world (Jas. 4:4)

12. Escape the pollution and corruption of the world (2Pet. 1:4; 2:20)

13. Not love the world, neither the things that are in the world (1Jhn. 2:15-17)

14. Be like Christ in the world (1Jhn. 4:17)

15. Overcome the world (1Jhn. 5:4-5)

16. Be chosen out of it (John 15:19; 17:6)

17. Be not conformed to it (Rom. 12:2)

18. Be dead to its ways (Col. 2:20)

enemy of God... The necessary corollary to friendship with the world. The sobering truth that unbelievers are God’s enemies is taught throughout Scripture.

As Israel was a spiritual adulteress, unfaithful to God, so the church is a spiritual adulteress when she is the unfaithful bride of Christ. (Hos. 2:5, 19, 20; Mat. 12:39). One cannot be both a lover of God and a lover of the world.

Adultery is one of the worst sins a Christian could commit, because it is a sin of the body. The Christian, filled with the Holy Spirit, would be involving the Holy Spirit in the sin. A person, who is still involved in adultery, is not a friend of God. They have chosen the way of the flesh.

The flesh, or the spirit, rules over our will. If the flesh rules over your will, you are of the flesh.

Instead of the customary “my brothers,” James bristled with you adulterous people. Again he asked a pointed question: Don’t you know that friendship (philia) with the world (cf. “world” in Jas. 1:27) is hatred toward God? Then he added, Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes (lit., “is constituted”) an enemy of God. The consequence is worse than ending up empty-handed; a rebellious Christian who has an illegitimate relationship with the world is at enmity with God!

Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? Jas 4:5

the scripture saith... The quote that follows in not found as such in the Old Testament; it is a composite of general Old Testament teaching. This difficult phrase is best understood by seeing the “spirit” as a reference not to the Holy Spirit, but to the human spirit, and translating the phrase in the negative sense of “lusts to envy”.

James’ point is that an unbelieving person’s spirit (inner person), is bent on evil (Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Prov. 21:10; Ecc. 9:3; Jer. 17:9; Mark 7:21-23). Those who think otherwise defy the biblical diagnosis of fallen human nature; and those who live in worldly lusts give evidence that their faith is not genuine (Rom. 8: 5-11; 1 Cor. 2:14).

The spirit that... There is no exact scripture quoted by James here. He must refer to the basic thought of several passages, as Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Num. 11:29; Prov. 21:10. That the spirit of man is designed to lust to envy, or that the Holy Spirit who dwells in the Christian lusts to envy, is contrary to all teaching of Scripture.

God will not share you with any other. You are either 100% His or you are not His at all. To lust with envy would not be Godly. We must choose today whom we will serve. Is it God, or the fleshly lust, that we serve?

2Cor. 11:2 “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ.”

If we are God’s we will not lust with envy.

Although many believe that (verse 5), refers to the positive ministry of the indwelling Holy Spirit, yearning jealously over the believer, the tenor (of verses 4 and 5), is negative, speaking of man’s envy. The good work of God begins at verse 6 (in contrast to 4 and 5), as the conjunction indicates.

“But He giveth more grace” is literally “greater grace” (Greek meizona). God gives grace that is greater than the world’s attraction of (verse 4), and the inner lust of (verse 5; Romans 5:20), and so can withstand both.

Cure For Conflict

This is one of the most difficult verses to translate in the entire letter. A very literal translation would be, “Or think you that vainly the Scripture says to envy yearns the spirit which was made to dwell in you, but He gives great grace.” Is the “spirit” the Holy Spirit or the human spirit? Is the spirit to be taken as the subject of the verb “yearns” or as its object? Is “envy” to be seen as “unrighteous desire” or as “righteous jealousy”? Numerous translations are possible: (a) “The Spirit who indwells you jealously yearns [for you] and He gives more grace.” (b) “He [God] yearns jealously for the Holy Spirit which indwells you and He gives more grace.” (c) “The [human] spirit which indwells you yearns to envy, but He [God] gives more grace.” The NIV favors the latter idea: Or do you think… that the spirit He caused to live in us tends toward envy, but “He gives us more grace?” (Jas. 4:6)

Not only is the translation of the sentence a problem, but also the apparent indication that it is a part of Scripture poses difficulties. James’ question, typically rhetorical, “or do you think Scripture says without reason” (kenōs, lit., “vainly”), introduces the section. The ambiguous sentence that follows is not a direct quotation of any passage in Scripture. Rather than assume that James quoted some other sacred book, or some unknown Greek translation of the Old Testament, or that he simply referred to the general sense of Scripture, it seems more reasonable to assume that he focused on the quotation in Jas. 4:6, a statement clearly taken from Prov. 3:34 : “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (also quoted in 1Pet. 5:5).

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Jas 4:6

giveth grace unto... Quoted from Prov. 3:34. The only ray of hope in man’s spiritual darkness is the sovereign grace of God, which alone can rescue man from his propensity to lust for evil things. That God gives “greater grace” shows that His grace is greater than the power of sin, the flesh, the world, and Satan (Rom. 5:20).

The Old Testament quote (from Prov. 3:34; 1Pet. 5:5), reveals who obtains God’s grace, the humble, not the proud enemies of God. The word “humble” does not define a special class of Christians, but encompasses all believers (Isa. 57:15; 66:2; Mat. 18:3-4).

When we humble ourselves before God, we are in a place to receive from Him.

1Pet. 5:6 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”

We are saved by the grace of God, and we have nothing to be proud about. Salvation for us is a free gift. His grace is sufficient for me.

Wherefore he saith,... The exhortations that follow logically result from the conditions (in verses 1-6). “Resist the devil”: Do not submit to, fear, or flee from Satan, but stand against him (1Pet. 5:8-10). Satan cannot lead into sin against one’s will.

We must draweth nigh, God will not be unmoved; His welcoming response is always near (Deut. 4:7; Lam. 3:57; Luke 15:20).

Our hands and hearts before God, The cleansing of one’s life must involve both outwards deeds and inner thoughts (Psm. 24:3-4).

Whatever questions remain unresolved about Jas. 4:5, there is no question about the clear truth of Jas. 4:6. God opposes the proud. The word “opposes,” or “resists,” is antitassetai, a military term meaning “to battle against.” To the humble, however, God gives grace. Whether a believer is called to resist his human spirit which tends toward envy or to rejoice in the Holy Spirit who jealously yearns for each believer’s edification, the call is to shun pride and to submit humbly to God’s authority. The cure for conflict is a humble spirit which is rewarded by God’s unmerited favor. James continues by showing in Jas. 4:7-12 how humility is related to peaceful justice.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Jas 4:7

Submit yourselves therefore... Ten Commands for Backsliders

1. Submit yourselves to God (Jas. 4:7)

2. Resist the devil (Jas. 4:7)

3. Draw nigh to God (Jas. 4:8)

4. Cleanse your hands, you sinners (Jas. 4:8)

5. Purify your hearts, you doubters (Jas. 4:8)

6. Be afflicted, mourn, and weep (Jas. 4:9)

7. Let your laughter be turned to mourning (Jas. 4:9)

8. Let your joy be turned to heaviness (Jas. 4:9)

9. Humble yourself before God (Jas. 4:10)

10. Speak not evil of one another (Jas. 4:11)

Literally “to line up under.” The word was used of soldiers under the authority of their commander. In the New Testament, it describes Jesus’ submission to His parents’ authority (Luke 2:51), submission to human government (Rom. 13:1), the church’s submission to Christ (Eph. 5:24), and servants’ submission to their masters (Tit. 2:9; 1Pet. 2:18).

James used the word to describe a willing, conscious submission to God’s authority as sovereign ruler of the universe. A truly humble person will give his allegiance to God, obey His commands, and follow His leadership (Mat. 10:38).

Resist the devil,... The flip side of the first command, “Resist” literally means “take your stand against.” All people are either under the lordship of Christ or the lordship of Satan (John 8:44; Eph. 2:2; 1Jhn. 3:8; 5:19); there is no middle ground. Those who transfer their allegiance from Satan to God will find that Satan “will flee from” them; he is a defeated foe.

he will flee... Four promises to backsliders:

1. God gives more grace to the humble

2. The devil will flee from you

3. God will draw nigh to you

4. God shall lift you up

This is just saying that it is within the willpower of every man to resist the devil and the temptations that he puts before him. We have been given the power of attorney to use the name of Jesus to defeat the devil. The temptations that the devil brings before us are really temptations of the flesh. The temptation will leave, if we say no to it.

God will not over-rule our will. He gives us the power to choose. We must decide right, or wrong, for ourselves. The minute you emphatically say no to the devil and his temptations, he will go on to someone else and leave you alone.

Flee means leave in a hurry. A heart and will controlled by God will have no difficulty in saying no to the devil and his temptations.

There are no unconditional promises or covenants in Scripture. One must obey the ten commands of the note above to receive the promises.

Turn judgment into justice

Apparently the Jewish believers to whom James wrote tended not only to conflict and jealousy but also to condemnation and judgment. Justice, not judgment, is what God requires. Upright, righteous relationships are essential to spiritual growth. Pointed advice for justice is given, the clear advantage of justice is revealed, and the divine author of justice is named.

Advice For Justice

In Jas. 4:7-9 a whole series of commands (10 aorist imperatives) are given which, if followed, contribute to harmony and holiness. James called for commitment (Jas. 4:7), cleansing (Jas. 4:8), and contrition (Jas. 4:9).

Like a magnet, the call for commitment has both positive and negative poles: submit… to God and resist the devil. “Submit” is a military term “to be subordinated” or “to render obedience.” “Resist” (antistēte) means “take a stand against.” Take a stand against the devil, and he will flee.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Jas 4:8

Draw nigh to... Pursue an intimate love relationship with God (Phil. 3:10). The concept of drawing near to God was associated originally with the Levitical priests, but eventually came to describe anyone’s approach to God. Salvation involves more than submitting to God and resisting the devil; the redeemed heart longs for communion with God (Psm. 27:8; 42:1-2; 63:1-2; 84:2; 143:6; Mat. 22:37).

Cleanse your hands,... Cleansing the hands was a symbol of innocence and purity (Mat. 27:24). The Old Testament priests had to ceremonially wash their hands before approaching God (Exo. 30:19-21), and sinners (a term used only for unbelievers), who would approach Him must recognize and confess their sin.

and purify your... Greek: hagnizo, to make pure (Jas. 4:8; John 11:55; Acts 21:24, 21:26; 24:18; 1Pet. 1:22; 1Jhn. 3:3). Here it means to separate from the world and consecrate to God, renouncing all sin. Cleansing the hands symbolizes external behavior; this phrase refers to the inner thoughts, motives, and desires of the heart.

ye double minded... Double-mindedness refers to doubting God (Jas. 1:6-8). To be double minded means you cannot make up your mind just what you want to do. We see from the following verse, that we cannot ride the fence. We must decide who we will serve, God or man.

Luke 16:13 “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

Cleansing of the hands means the work you put your hands to must be clean, as well as your heart being pure, stayed upon God. When we make a step toward God, we will find that He has been there to help us all along. He just wanted us to reach out to Him.

On the other hand draw near to God and He will come near in response. To draw near to God, however, demands His cleansing. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Both “wash” and “purify” are verbs that refer to ceremonial cleansing, a figure that spoke eloquently to Jewish converts. The need for cleansing is clear from the way James addressed his readers, “you sinners” and “you double-minded” (dipsychoi; cf. Jas. 1:8).