COMMENT:

1 Kings 3:9 "So give your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may know the difference between good and evil. For who can judge this great people of Yours?"

6 But he must ask in faith without doubting, for one who doubts is like the waves of the sea, tossed and driven by the wind. 7 This sort of man will not receive anything from the LORD, 8 because he is double-minded and unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of humble circumstances rejoice that he is exalted. 10 And the rich man is to glory that he is made low, for he will pass away as the flower of the grass. 11 For the sun rises and withers the grass, its flower falls off and its beauty is gone. Just so the rich man fades away in the midst of his pursuits.

COMMENT:

Isaiah 40:7 "The grass withers and the flowers fades, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. The people are as grass."

12 Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the LORD has promised to those who love Him. 13 Never blame God when you are tempted, for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He does not tempt anyone. 14 But a person is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust. 15 After lust is conceived, it gives birth to sin. And in the end sin brings death. 16 Do not be deceived, my brethren. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above and comes from the Father of lights in Whom there is no variation or even the least bit of turning. 18 By His own will He brought us forth so that we might be the firstfruits among His creatures. 19 And my children, you know that everyone must be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger, 20 for a man's anger does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21 For this reason, put aside everything filthy and all wickedness. Receive the word in humility, which will save your souls. 22 Prove yourselves to be doers of the word and not just hearers who are kidding themselves. 23 For if anyone hears the word and does not do what it says, he is like a man who sees himself in the mirror. 24 After he walks away from the mirror he immediately forgets what kind of person he saw. 25 But one who looks into the perfect law of liberty, and abides by it, not being one who hears and forgets, will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone among you seems to be religious, but does not keep his tongue under control, he is deceived in his own heart and his religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in God's sight is to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

James 2 - RWB Paraphrase (26 V)
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1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ while having and attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothing, and there also come in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the better dressed man, asking him to sit in a good place, while leaving the poor man to stand aside or sit by your footstool, 4 haven't you made a distinction among yourselves and become judges with evil motives? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren, didn't God choose the poor to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promises to those who love Him?

COMMENT:

Job 34:19 "who shows no partiality to princes, and neither regards the rich above the poor, because they are all the work of His hands?"

6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Isn't it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? 7 And don't they blaspheme the name by which you are called? 8 However, if you fulfill the royal law as scripture defines it, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," then you are doing well.

COMMENT:

Leviticus 19:18 "You shall not take vengeance nor bear a grudge against the children of your people. You are to love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."

9 But if you show partiality you are transgressing the law. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law, except for one point, is guilty of breaking all. 11 For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not commit murder." If you are guilty of only one of these, you are a transgressor of the law.

COMMENT:

Exodus 20:13-14 "You shall not murder." [14] "You shall not commit adultery."

12 So you must speak and act as one who shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 And judgment will be without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

COMMENT:

Proverbs 21:13 "He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry and not be answered."

14 What does it profit a man who says he has faith, but does not have works? Can his faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and needs food for the day, 16 and one of you says to them, go in peace, be warm and filled, and yet you do not give them what they need, of what use are your good wishes? 17 Faith without works is dead, because it is standing alone. 18 Someone may say, you have faith and I have works. Show me your faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You say you believe that there is one God, and you do well. The devils also believe and tremble. 20 But will you recognize, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?

COMMENT:

Genesis 22:9 When they arrived at the place God had indicated, Abraham built the alter. After arranging the wood on it, he then bound his son Isaac and laid him on the alter on top of the wood.

22 You can see that his faith was at work as it was being perfected. 23 And scripture was fulfilled which says, "And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness, " and he was called the friend of God.

COMMENT:

Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the LORD and He counted it to him for righteousness,

Isaiah 41:8 "But you, O Israel, my servant Jacob, whom I have chosen, who is descended from My friend Abraham,"

24 You see that by works a man is justified, and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, Rahab the harlot was justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way. 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead.

James 3 - RWB Paraphrase (18 V)
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1 My brethren, not too many of you should be come teachers, for these will receive the greater condemnation.

COMMENT: God expects more from those who teach.

2 We all stumble in many ways. To not offend in what is said, makes a man perfect and able to control his whole body. 3 Now if we put a bit in a horse's mouth, we can direct his entire body. 4 Look at the ships. Though they are large and driven by strong winds, they may be directed by a small rudder according to the pilot wishes. 5 So it is with the tongue which is a small part of the body. Yet is can boast such great things. And see how a forest can be set aflame by just a little fire! 6 The tongue can be a small fire, and a world of iniquity. It is able to defile the entire body and set on fire the course of nature. Its fire can lead to the fire of hell.

7 Every species of beasts, birds and creatures of the sea has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no one can tame the tongue. It is full of deadly poison. 9 With it we may bless our Lord and Father, or curse men made in the image of God. 10 From the same mouth comes both blessing and curses. My brethren, this should not be. 11 Does a fountain send out fresh and bitter water from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Can salt water produce fresh water? 13 Who of you is wise and with understanding? Let him show this by his good conversation, and his works of meekness and wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do boast and lie against the truth. 15 This type of wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, sensual and of the devil. 16 For where there is envy and strife, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, and without partiality or hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James 4 - RWB Paraphrase (17 V)
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1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is it not because of your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have, so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask but do not receive, because you ask for the wrong reasons, just to satisfy your own lusts. 4 You that commit adultery, don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Those who are friendly with the world are His enemy. 5 Or do you think that the scripture speaks to no purpose when it says, "The which He has made to dwell in us jealously desires us?" 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble."

COMMENT:

Proverbs 3:34 "He mocks those who mock others, and gives grace to the humble."

7 Therefore, submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded.

COMMENT:

Zechariah 1:3 Now He is saying, "Return to Me, that I may return to you.

9 Afflict yourselves, mourn and weep, exchange your laughter for mourning and your joy for sadness.

COMMENT:

Proverbs 14:13 "Even in laughter the heart may be in pain, and the end of joy may be grief."

10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the LORD and He will lift you up.

COMMENT:

Job 5:11 "He sets the lowly on high and those who mourn are lifted to safety."

11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who judges his brother and speaks evil of the law, judges the law. And if you judge the law you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one Lawgiver and Judge, and He is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

COMMENT:

Isaiah 33:22 "For the LORD is our Judge and Lawgiver. The LORD is our King. He will save us."

13 Come now, you who say, "Today, or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there doing business and making a profit." 14 The truth is, you cannot know what will happen to you tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you should be saying, "If the LORD wills, we will do this, or that." 16 Otherwise you are boasting, and boasting is evil. 17 And to know what is right and not do it is sin.

James 5 - RWB Paraphrase (20 V)
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1 Come now, you who are rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and your silver have rusted. Their rust will be a witness against you, consuming your flesh like fire because you have stored up treasure for the last days. 4 Behold, the laborers from whom you withheld wages, cry out against you. The LORD of the Sabbath has heard the outcry of those you have defrauded. 5 You have lived in luxury and led a life of pleasure, having fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and put to death the righteous, and he has not resisted you.

7 So be patient, brethren, until the LORD comes, just as the farmer waits patiently for the precious fruit, waiting for the early and latter rain. 8 You must continue to be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the LORD's coming is near. 9 Do not complain against one another, brethren, so that you will not fall under condemnation. Behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. 10 As examples of suffering and patience, consider the prophets who spoke in the name of the LORD. 11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job. You have seen the outcome of the LORD's dealings with him. The LORD is full of compassion and mercy.

12 And above all, brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or the earth, or by any other oath. Your yes should be yes and your no, no. Otherwise you are in danger of falling into condemnation.

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church that they may pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the LORD. 15 The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the LORD shall raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he shall be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man brings results. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain and it did not rain for three and one-half years. 18 Then he prayed again and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced fruit.

COMMENT: Elijah prayed seven times.

1 Kings 18:42-44 So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah went to the top of Mount Carmel and cast himself down upon the earth, with his face between his knees. [43] He said to his servant, "Go look toward the sea and tell me what you see." So his servant went and looked, and came back, saying, "I didn't see anything." Seven time Elijah sent him back for another look. [44] And it came about that after the seventh time, he came back, saying, "I see a small cloud about the size of a man's hand coming up from the sea." Then Elijah said to him, "Go to Ahab and say, 'Prepare your chariot and head for home before the heavy rain stops you.'"

19 Brethren, if any one of you strays from the truth and someone turns him back, 20 let that one know that he has turned a sinner from the error of his ways and saved his soul from death. This will cover a multitude of sins.

Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5