The Epsitle of James: a Commentary | Page 3

far, we see trials as an
inherent part of Christian life. But there is a world of
difference between testing and temptation.
Whilst God may send trials (or at least allow them) to
test us, to encourage growth, it is wrong to move on
from that point to say that temptation comes from
God. Trials will not, of themselves, corrupt spiritually
or morally; temptation can. And the source of
temptation for the Christian, as for the non-believer is
from his own 'evil desire'; from his sinful nature. But
the Christian is no longer slave of that nature (Rom
6:6); rather it is something to be deliberately put on
one side. (Eph 4:22).
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Temptation entices(v14)! It is not to be played with.
Paul warns in various places to flee from various
temptations (1 Cor 6:18; 1 Tim 6:11). Sin is the
product of temptation, and sin leads to death. For the
Christian, who is born again, the possibility of the
'second death' cannot exist. So what does James
mean by death? It can be a premature physical death
(cf 1 Cor 11:29). It may be, as J A Motyer argues that
to embrace temptation is to inevitably embrace a
sundering of our fellowship relationship with God (see
1 John 1:6). James ends this section with a stark
warning: 'Do not be deceived'; don't even be deceived
about the truth of the matter.
v13 'tempted'- peirazo- the word which was used in v2
for 'trial' Its best sense is what we would call 'quietly
control' Coming from our sinful nature, it means
temptation and sin.
v14 'evil desire' epithumia- a tendency towards the
base and immoral. This is just what characterises
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Chapter Two
1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus
Christ, don't show favouritism. 2Suppose a man
comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine
clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes
in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing
fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but
say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the
floor by my feet," 4have you not discriminated among
yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those
who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith
and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who
love him? 6But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the
rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones
who are dragging you into court? 7Are they not the
ones who are slandering the noble name of him to
whom you belong?
8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture,
"Love your neighbour as yourself," you are doing right.
9But if you show favouritism, you sin and are
convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever
keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one
point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who said,
"Do not commit adultery,"also said, "Do not murder." If
you do not commit adultery but do commit murder,
you have become a lawbreaker.
12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged
by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment
without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not
been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have
faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily
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food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep
warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical
needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if
it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my
faith by what I do. 19You believe that there is one God.
Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.
20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without
deeds is useless? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham
considered righteous for what he did when he offered his
son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his
actions were working together, and his faith was made
complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled
that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to
him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.
24You see that a person is justified by what he does and
not by faith alone.
25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute
considered righteous for what she did when she gave
lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different
direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith
without deeds is dead

2:1-26 A Caring Ministry: the first Test of Growth
James now leads on to a fuller development in his
examination of Christian growth. Motyer (BST: The
Message of James, I.V.Press) shows that these three
correspond to the three major traits in God's own
dealings with us which were contained in 1:18.
-'he chose to give us'- his spontaneous care for the
helpless (cf Rom