Book of James

Before we dive into breaking down the book of James, we should cover who James is and who he is writing to. James was one of Jesus’ brothers. To stay as close to the origin I will be referring to Jesus as Yeshua as that is his original name in Hebrew. I will do a deeper dive into how his name got changed as time went on in another post. Now bringing us back to James, he was a bond-servant of God and to the Lord Yeshua. He was writing this book to the 12 tribes of Israel who at this point were dispersed throughout. This book is about faith in works, selfishness, and enduring through trials. I hope you enjoy my breakdown of the book of James.

James 1 - This chapter is about encountering trials and testing of your faith. Know that the testing of your faith produces endurance (eg. remain, discipline, steadfast). Let your endurance have its perfect result so that you lack nothing and can be complete. Those who lack wisdom, ask God, for those who commit to all sincerely and without rebuke, it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without concluding, for concluding is like a wave of the Earth blowing out a fire, controlled by the wind. No man should expect to receive anything from the Lord, and being of both minds is an unstable man in all his ways. In short we cannot ask in faith and conclude that it will be, for this will create an unstable man thinking he knows the outcome and draw him afar from God. The man in humble circumstances is to glory in his high position and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation. Blessed is a man who stands firm (endures) under trial once approved he will receive the crown of life promised by the Lord for those who love him. God does not tempt and can’t be tempted. We are tempted when we draw away and lured by our selfish desires (lust). When lust has conceived it gives birth to sin, and when sin is complete it brings forth death. Every good thing given and perfect gift is from the above Father of lights (with whom there is no change/variation/alteration or trope). Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger for the anger of man does not achieve righteousness of God. Put aside all filthiness and remains of wickedness and in humility receive the word able to save your souls. We must prove ourselves doers of the word and not merely hearers who avoid them. One who intently looks at the perfect law, the law of freedom and remains near it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, that man will be blessed in his doings. If anyone thinks to be devoted and yet does not control his tongue but deceives his own heart, his devotion is worthless. Pure and unblemished devotion in the sight of God is to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

James 2 - Do not make distinctions in how you treat others. Do not treat a rich man better than you would a poor man, treat them both equally. We are to fulfil the royal law according to the Scripture/Torah, “love your neighbor as yourself.” We can keep the whole law and yet become guilty of all if we are wrong on one point. Speak and act as one who will be judged by the law of freedom and not the judge. Judgment will be merciless to those who have shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. Faith without works is dead. Abraham was willing to sacrifice is son Issac on the altar. As a result of his faith working with his works, faith was perfected. The Torah says “Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness” and was a friend of God.

James 3 - Teachers will incur a stricter judgment. We all stumble/fall in many ways. If one does not stumble in what he says he is a perfect man able to control his body. Look at ships, as great as they are, they're swayed by strong winds, yet still directed by a small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So is the tongue, a small part of the body yet it boasts of great things. No one can tame the tongue; it is unstable. With it we bless our Lord and with it we curse men who have been made in the likeness of God. From the same tongue comes both blessing and cursing, but this is not how it should be. Let the wise and understanding show his good deeds. The wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, full of mercy and good fruits and without hypocrisy.

James 4 - The source of conflict and quarrels is the source of your own pleasures. When you ask God for something but do not receive it, it is because you ask with the wrong motives so that it can be done for your own pleasures. God wants the Spirit (breath) that he made dwell in us. God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit to God, stay away from the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Humble yourself in the presence of the Lord and He will uplift you. Do not speak against one another or judge another. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge who is able to save and destroy. If we judge others or speak against the law or judge the law then you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. Do not boast in your own character (arrogance) such boasting is evil. Say “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” To know the right thing to do and not do it is a sin.

James 5 - Greed and selfishness is a sin that we will have to pay for if we do not turn from it. Pay those an honest wage. It was those who were rich and with greed that killed the Messiah when he did not resist/oppose them. Be patient and strengthen our hearts until the Lord of armies comes. Do not speak against or argue with others so that they may be judged and not you. The Judge hears, sees and knows all. Remember those that suffered and the patience of the prophets and the endurance of Job. Do not swear by heaven or earth or any other oath but let your yes be yes and no be no to avoid judgement. If you are suffering you must pray, if you are cheerful you are to sing praises, if anyone is sick he must call to the elders of the community and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another to be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much (remember Elijah's story for rain). If anyone strays from the truth and one turns him back let him know he saved a soul from death and “cover” a multitude of sins.