Study it in the app“But the one who looks intently into the perfect law, the law of freedom, and remains in it, becoming not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be happy in his doing.”
James: don't just listen; whoever looks and does not act forgets what they looked likeThe Word of GodBe doers of the word, and not hearers onlyObedience
Butδὲthe one who looks intentlyὁ παρακύψαςintoεἰςthe perfectτέλειονlaw,νόμονthe lawτὸνof freedom,τῆς ἐλευθερίαςandκαὶremains in it,παραμείναςbecomingγενόμενοςnotοὐκa forgetfulἐπιλησμονῆςhearerἀκροατὴςbutἀλλὰa doerποιητὴςof the work,ἔργουthis oneοὗτοςwill beἔσταιhappyμακάριοςinἐνhis doing.τῇ ποιήσει αὐτοῦ
look intently
Gaze closely, wanting to understand.
Where else “parakypsas” appearsperfect
Whole, lacking nothing.
Where else “teleion” appearslaw
The instructions God gave Israel through Moses; also, the whole of Scripture.
Where else “nomon” appearsfreedom
Freedom: not being subject as a slave.
Where else “eleutherias” appearspersevere
To hold on to something, keep at it.
Where else “parameinas” appearsbecome
To turn into something new, different from before.
Where else “genomenos” appearsforgetfulness
Forgetfulness; "a hearer of forgetfulness", a forgetful hearer.
Where else “epilēsmonēs” appearshearer
Hearer: someone who listens.
Where else “akroatēs” appearsdoer
One who puts the word or the law into practice.
Where else “poiētēs” appearsdeed
What someone does, their conduct.
Where else “ergou” appearsbe
To be: says who or what something is.
Where else “estai” appearsblessed, happy
Blessed: truly happy, in the condition God blesses. It is the "happy" or "blessed" of the Psalms.
Where else “makarios” appearsdoing
Doing, action: what one does.
Where else “poiēsei” appears24for he looked at himself and has gone away and at once forgot what kind of man he was.
25 · This verse (above)
26If anyone thinks he is religious while not bridling his tongue but deceiving his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
1. What it says
What does James say the testing of faith produces, and what should someone do who lacks wisdom (v. 2-5)?
2. What it means
James says it is not enough to hear the word; we must do it (v. 22-25). Why does he use the image of a mirror?
3. How I live it
James speaks of being quick to hear and slow to speak (v. 19). In what conversation today could you listen more?
