LESSON 2 • Listening and Doing
James 1: 19-27

Introduction

Be careful! You are about to step in front of a mirror. Are you ready for what you will see? You are about to study a section of Scripture that tells you how you must study Scripture and what you must do after you study. Are you prepared to listen . . . to do?

Contextual Overview

Sometimes the book of James reads like a collection of proverbial wisdom that is not driven by any organizational structure. While we realize this is probably an incomplete impression, we’ll leave it for better scholars to more astutely explain the structure of James. However, we still wish to make some commentary on the placement of James’ thoughts in verses 19-27.
In the first part of chapter 1, James has written about trials and temptations and about perseverance through humility and wisdom. He concludes the first section, “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” In the next verses 19-27, James continues with these themes. He continues to promote humility and describes how we can act wisely, how we might become a kind of firstfruits of all God has created.

Outline

I. Being quick to listen (vv.19-21)
II. Listening is doing (vv.22-25)
III. Worshipping purely (vv.26, 27)

Textual Review

I. Being quick to listen (vv.19-21)

“The tribute was once paid to a great linguist that he could be silent in seven different languages.” --William Barclay

If we are already familiar with many of the Proverbs and with James chapter 3, then we know how intimately wisdom is tied with how we speak. We know that being slow to speak and quick to listen is one way we can gain more wisdom. Those of us who are already pretty wise, or have a right to become angry; or who claim “righteous indignation”?
Indeed, James may be writing to this very issue of righteous indignation. There may be times when we know more than others, when we get angry about the abuses and sins of others. Still, James says “man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” If we are to live righteously, we cannot be tempted to be self-righteous.
James tells us to rid ourselves of all moral filth, so that we might live righteously not tempted to be self-righteous, knowing when to speak and when to listen. William Barclay notes in his commentary the word for filthiness, ruparia, is a derivative of rupos, which can mean wax in the ear. Just as wax in the ear can prevent us from hearing, moral filth can prevent us from listening to God and to his word, which can save us.

II. Listening is doing (vv.22-25)

Merely listening to the word is not enough. James writes that if we do not do what the word says, we are only deceiving ourselves. Then James makes the analogy that not doing what the Scriptures say is like forgetting what you look like after looking into the mirror. This analogy is quite intriguing. Although we are unsure how significant it is to understand the analogy perfectly, we believe it is worth some effort to tease out its meaning. We cannot offer any definitive interpretations, but we did have some fruitful discussion and would like to suggest a possible connection: between the intensity of looking into the mirror/the Word and between the action that follows looking into the mirror/the Word. For example, if there were dirt on your face, or your hair were disheveled, would you fix it? Would you fix what the Word has shown you must?
Then James says that anyone who listens to the Word, the perfect law, and does what it says will be blessed. Perhaps one of the most immediate blessings is that by doing what the Word says, we will remember it , and be better prepared to listen to it more.

III. Worshipping purely (vv.26, 27)

James begins this subsection by reminding us to keep our tongues in check, addressing any temptations we may have to boast that we are religious. He says if we don’t keep a tight rein on our tongue, our religion is worthless. Next James describes pure and faultless religion. 
Alexander MacLaren writes in his commentary on James that it is important to understand James’s use of the word religion as worship. The nuance is significant because it directs our thinking to the expression of our religion. Rather than boasting about our religiosity in word or by show through fancy buildings and elaborate ceremonies, James says pure worship is an expression of the heart. Barclay writes, “What James is saying is, ‘The finest ritual and the finest liturgy you can offer to God is the service of the poor and personal purity.’”
As we read the last words of verse 27, we hear how this subsection echoes the thoughts of the previous two paragraphs. James tells us to be slow to speak, to keep ourselves pure, to persevere under trial, and to do what the Word says. 






Conclusion

James 1:19-27 is a challenging text. Its calling is high, and it may be very hard to do what James asks. This passage is also a hopeful one, full of promise. If we can have the humility to listen and to study the Word intently, to do what it says and to reach out to others, then we can be saved, blessed, and worship purely and faultlessly. 

Discussion 

1. When do you have the most difficulty listening?
2. How do you keep yourself from being polluted by the world?
3. Do you really find freedom through the perfect law?
4. Is it ever appropriate to be angry? Is there an appropriate expression of anger?
5. How do you see the difference between studying God’s word and doing what it says in your life?
6. Why did James choose the widows and the orphans?
7. How are you challenged by verses 26 and 27?
8. What do you think we are actually supposed to do?
9. What does the analogy of looking into the mirror mean to you?

References

Barclay, William. The Letters of James and Peter. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1976. Revised Edition.

Davids, Peter H. The Epistle of James. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1982.

MacLaren, Alexander. Expositions of Holy Scripture: Hebrews Chaps. VII to End of Epistle of James. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1978.




Rhonda Foutch lives in Little Rock, AR and has been a member at Pleasant Valley for 5 years.

James Benge has been a member of Pleasant Valley for three years. He teaches Bible class in the youth group.