Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

4:1 In contrast to those who make peace, quarrels and fights are caused by the passions or self-centered desires ("hedonism" comes from Gk. hēdonē, "passions") that are causing these people to make war against each other in the church. This is extremely violent language for dissension, and some even think it should be taken literally of people killing each other (v. 2), though it is best to view this as a metaphor for the devastating effect of unrestrained hostility.

4:2 This verse consists of several short statements; there was no punctuation in ancient Greek, and various translations connect the statements in different ways. The ESV punctuation works well when comparing this verse to 3:13-18: people desire and covet (Gk. zēloō, cf. zēlos, "jealousy," 3:14), which leads to the terrible wars and infighting in the church. You do not have, because you do not ask is a reminder that believers should ask God for what they seek rather than fighting each other. Prayerlessness results in failure to receive many of God's blessings. James does not imply that God wills to grant sinful, selfish desires (4:3), but bringing requests before God can have a purifying influence on one's desires.

4:3 you ask wrongly. Not all prayers are pleasing to God, only those consistent with his will as revealed in Scripture (cf. 1 John 5:14-15 and notes). Rather than seeking to honor God and advance his kingdom purposes, such prayers seek only to gratify self-centered passions (Gk. hēdonē, see note on v. 1) or desires. James is not saying all pleasure is wrong (cf. Gen. 1:31; Ps. 16:11; 84:1-4, 10-12; 1 Tim. 6:17), only pleasure that does not have the glory of God as the goal (1 Cor. 10:31).

4:4 Adulterous people recalls OT prophets who used this language to describe Israel's unfaithfulness to God (e.g., Jer. 2:20; 3:6-10; Hos. 1:2). Such people have chosen friendship with the world by imitating worldly ways of thinking and worldly activities, making them enemies of God. It will always be impossible to satisfy the expectations of unbelievers, whose hearts are set on this world (1 John 2:15-16; 5:19), and at the same time please God (Gal. 1:10; 2 Tim. 3:12; 1 John 3:13). Cf. also Matt. 6:24; James often alludes to the teaching of Jesus (see chart), which is not surprising if he was Jesus' earthly brother.

4:5 He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us. God created mankind with a "spirit," and he deeply desires that our spirits worship him (cf. John 4:23-24). Some interpreters believe the verse speaks of human jealousy ("The spirit that he has made to live in us envies intensely"). But the idea of divine jealousy fits the context best, since the surrounding verses (James 4:4, 6, 7, 8) deal with man's relationship with God. Scripture says. See further the note on 3:14 regarding references to a "jealous God."

4:6 God's grace will be extended to those who are humble before him; cf. Prov. 3:34 (cf. also James 4:10; 1 Pet. 5:5). God opposes means he resists and sends judgment, for the proud have chosen the praise and the methods of the world and are acting as God's enemies (James 4:4).

4:7-8a The only way to resist the devil is by also submitting and drawing near to God (cf. 1 Cor. 10:13). Satan will be defeated and will have to flee, as indeed he did from Christ (Luke 4:13).

4:8b-9 Cleanse and purify are OT terms for ritual purity (e.g., the priests at the bronze basin, Ex. 30:18) and ethical purity. Laughter shows how casually James's readers were treating their sin. The only proper reaction to God's impending judgment is to be wretched and mourn and weep, as is seen often in the OT (e.g., Isa. 15:2; 22:4; Jer. 6:26).

4:10 Returning to the theme emphasized in v. 6, it is the humble whom God will exalt (cf. Matt. 23:12 par.; Luke 1:52; 14:11; 18:14; 1 Pet. 5:6). But as long as people exalt themselves, God will not exalt them.

4:11 James restates the basic problem behind the issues discussed in 3:1-4:10: the misuse of the tongue to speak evil or to slander others. Speaking ill of others is the result of all the arrogant boasting (3:5), jealousy (vv. 14, 16), self-centered desires (4:1, 3), and pride (v. 6) that James is warning against. Such slanderous conduct is decried in both the OT (Lev. 19:16; Ps. 50:20; Jer. 6:28) and NT (Rom. 1:30; 2 Cor. 12:20; 1 Pet. 2:1). judges the law. The "law" likely refers to these OT laws against slander, particularly Lev. 19:16, which leads to 19:18, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," which James calls "the royal law" (James 2:8). Yet it also includes in a broader sense Jesus' kingdom laws regarding love for neighbor (Matt. 22:39) and for one another (John 13:34-35; 15:12, 17). Those who inappropriately judge others (Matt. 7:1-5; Rom. 2:1; 1 Cor. 4:5) break God's law and show contempt for God.

4:12 When a person begins to "judge the law," he is usurping the place of the one lawgiver and judge. God alone gave the law, and he alone is judge of all (Ps. 9:19; Isa. 2:4; Joel 3:12). to save and to destroy. Possibly an implicit message to the divisive boasters, warning them of future judgment.