From the recording James the Letter An Intimate Review
Lyrics
Letter of Apostle James
An Intimate Review
Pt 4
By Lawrence DeMetrius
Apostle James notes RELIGIOSITY writing,
If any man among you SEEM to be RELIGIOUS, and BRIDLETH not his TONGUE, but DECEIVETH his own HEART, this man’s RELIGION is VAIN.
[Jam 1:26]
*seem Gk #1380 dokeo (dok-eh-o) it means to think and seem either truthfully or uncertainly
*religious Gk #2357 threskos (thrace-kos) it is to be pius and ceremonious in worship as demonstrative
*bridleth Gk #5468 chalinagogeo (khal-in-ag-ogue-eh-o) it means to be a bit-leader and to curb, which is to…
• control as a restraint or anything that restrains and controls
• check and cause to keep near with a curb
*tongue Gk #1100 glossa (gloce-sah) it is the tongue or a language, specifically one naturally unacquired
*deceiveth Gk #538 apatao (ap-at-ah-o) it means to cheat and delude
*heart Gk #2588 kardia (kar-dee-ah) it is the heart and figurative of thought, feeling, mind and middle
*religion Gk #2356 threskeia (thrace-ki-ah) it is ceremonial observance
*vain Gk #3152 mataios (mat-ah-yos) it means empty, profitless and idol
One who is unable to CONTROL their TONGUE also lacks control in other areas of their being. This includes self-imposed expressions of RELIGIOSITY that is EMPTY and PROFITLESS in Yahweh’s perspective.
In fact, such VANITY is IDOLOTRY. Christ teaches that one’s innate nature and true convictions will eventually be revealed in their conduct, character and speech. [Mt 7:15-21; 12:34, 35, 37; Pro 17:27, 28] In [Jam 1:27] Apostle James expounds upon the quality of RELIGION that is PURE in Yahweh’s perspective. He writes,
PURE RELIGION and UNDEFILED before God and the Father is this, To VISIT the FATHERLESS and WIDOWS in their AFFLICTION, and to KEEP himself UNSPOTTED from the WORLD.
[Jam 1:27]
*pure Gk #2513 katharos (kath-ar-os) it means clean
*undefiled Gk #283 amiantos (am-ee-an-tos) it means unsoiled and pure
*religion Gk #2356 threskeia (thrace-ki-ah) it is ceremonial observance
*visit Gk# 1980 episkeptomai (ep-ee-skep-tom-ahee) it means to inspect, select, relieve and go to see
*fatherless Gk #3737 orphanos (or-fan-os) it means comfortless, parentless and a bereaved orphan
• a bereaved is one who is greatly saddened at being deprived by the death of a loved one
• an orphan is a…
o child who has lost one or both parents through death
o a person or thing that is without protective affiliation and sponsorship
*widow Gk #5503 chera (khay-rah) it is a widow as lacking a husband
There are definite qualifications for women in this predicament prescribed by Apostle Paul that Christians are admonished to consider in their service to WIDOWS. Such qualification is provided in his letters to Timothy and Titus.
*affliction Gk #2347 thlipsis (thlip-sis) it is pressure, anguish, burden, persecution, tribulation and trouble
*keep Gk #5083 tereo (tay-reh-o) it means to…
• guard from loss and injury by keeping the eye upon
• note a prophecy and fulfill a command
• maintain and detain in custody
• keep unmarried and withhold for personal ends
• hold fast, preserve and watch
*unspotted Gk #784 aspilos (as-pee-los) it means to be physically and morally unblemished and without spot
*world Gk #2889 kosmos (kos-mos) it is orderly arrangement, decoration and the world in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants
Apostle James is referring to WORLD SYSTEMS that are rooted in IDOLATRY. [Exo 20:3; Mt 6:19-24, 32, 33; Col 3:1, 2; I Jn 2;15-17; 5:22] In [Jam 2:1-14] Apostle James notes that there is a proper way in which Christians are to administer the FAITH of Jesus Christ. He writes,
My brethren, have not the FAITH of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with RESPECT OF PERSONS.
[Jam 2:1; Rm 2:11; Gal 2:16, 20; Heb 12:1-3]
*faith Gk #4102 pistis (pis-tis) it is…
• persuasion and credence
• moral conviction of religious truth, truthfulness of Yahweh and a religious teacher
• reliance upon Christ for salvation and constancy of such profession
• the system of religious truth based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ
*respect of persons Gk #4382 prosopolepsia (pros-o-pol-ape-see-ah) it is partiality and favoritism
Per [Jam 2:4] Apostle James explains that those who practice RESPECT OF PERSONS are…
1. PARTIAL within themselves.
*partial Gk #1252 diakrino (dee-ak-ree-no) it means to separate thoroughly, withdraw from, oppose, discriminate, decide and hesitate
This is what one does within themselves when they practice RESPECT OF PERSONS. Because Yahweh is THE ALL KNOWING ONE, HE recognizes RESPECT OF PERSONS within one’s HEART. [I Sam 16:7; Pro 20:27; 24:12; Act 17:28; Gen 2:7; 6:3; Eccl 12:6, 7; Heb 9:27, 28
2. Become JUDGES of EVIL THOUGHTS.
*judges Gk #2923 kriterion (kree-tay-ree-on) it is…
• a rule of judging, criterion which is a standard of judgment
• criticism, rule or principle for evaluating and testing something
• a tribunal, which is a court of justice and place or seat of judgment
*evil Gk #4190 poneros (pon-ay-ros) it means…
• hurtful and evil in effect and influence
• calamitous, ill and diseased
• morally culpable, derelict and vicious
• mischief and malice
• guilt, Lucifer and unregenerated sinners
*thought Gk #1261 dialogismos (dee-al-og-is-mos) it is…
• discussion and internal consideration by purpose and debate
• dispute that is full of doubt
• imagination and reasoning
Erroneous JUDGMENT is a serious offense before Yahweh, especially in one’s own perception of another person’s personal disposition before HIM. [Rm 3:23; 14:10; Rev 20:11-15] RIGHTEOUSNESS has and will always be the standard expected of THE DIVINE. Therefore, divine directives are put in place for both children of heaven and earth to obey.
Thus, to usurp establishment of standards above those issued by Yahweh is taking the seat of HIS authority. Jesus Christ is clear about the practice of JUDGING others. [Mt 7:1-5; Rm 10:14, 15, 17] Per His dialogue with the Rich Young Ruler Christ clarifies that Yahweh is the only GOOD MASTER. [Mt 19:16, 17a] Christ is the only One authorized of Yahweh decree final JUDGMENT on mortal and angelic beings. [St Jn 3:16-18; 12:45-50; Acts 17:30, 31; Rev 20:11-15] Apostle James expresses a profound fact that is and will always be in place. It regards mortals who do not possess an abundance of temporal assets. It is likely why POOR people will always be present in every community. [Zep 3:12; Mk 14:7] He notes that it is more prevalent amongst the POOR that the NAME of THE LORD is highly exalted, sincerely trusted in and wholeheartedly embraced. However, it has always been that those who put their trust in temporal wealth are less prone to express such reverence toward Yahweh. [Mk 10:25] Apostle James writes,
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God CHOSEN the POOR of this world RICH in FAITH, and HEIRS of the KINGDOM which HE hath PROMISED to them that LOVE HIM.
[Jam 2:5]
*chosen Gk #1586 eklegomai (ek-leg-om-ahee) it means to select, make choice and choose out
*poor Gk #4434 ptochos (pto-khos) it is a beggar as cringing and a pauper who practices absolute and public begging for alms and is one who maintains the condition of a beggar
*rich Gk #4145 plousios (ploo-see-os) it means to be wealthy and abounding with
*heir Gk #2818 kleronomos (klay-ron-om-os) it is a sharer by lot, inheritor and a possessor
*kingdom Gk #932 basileia (bas-il-i-ah) it is royalty, rule and realm
*promised Gk #1861 epaggello (ep-ang-el-lo) it means to announce upon, engage to do something, assert something in respect to oneself or profess and make a promise
*love Gk #25 agapao (ag-ap-ah-o) it means to love in a social and moral sense
This refers to people who express their devotion to Yahweh through GOOD WORKS that are performed PUBLICLY and PRACTICES RIGHT DOING. [Mt 5:14-16, 19; I Jn 3:14-18] The BASILEIA or KINGDOM that Yahweh has PROMISED to people who LOVE HIM is an everlasting KINGDOM that was founded in Christ Jesus before the world began. [Lk 12:15. 32; Mt 6:33; 16:24-28; 19:23-26; Rm 14:17; II Cor 4:18; I Tim 6:6-10, 17-19; I Jn 2:22-24; I Jn 2:15-17] Apostle James writes,
But ye have DESPISED the POOR. Do not RICH men OPPRESS you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they BLASPHEME that worthy NAME by the which ye are CALLED?
[Jam 2:6, 7]
*despise Gk # 818 atimazo (at-im-ad-zo) it means to render infamous, contemn and maltreat
*oppress Gk #2616 katadunasteuo (kat-ad-oo-nas-tyoo-o) it means to exercise dominion against and oppress, which is to…
• burden with cruel and unjust impositions or restraints
• subject to a burdensome or harsh exercise of authority and power
*blaspheme Gk #987 blasphemeo (blas-fay-meh-o) it means to vilify, speak impiously and rail on, speak evil of, defame and revile
*name Gk #3686 onoma (on-om-ah) it is one’s name, authority and character
*called Gk #1941 epikaleomai (ep-ee-kal-eh-om-ahee) it means to entitle, invoke for, aid, worship, testimony and decision
This is what people who have no regard for THE LORD do, especially when they possess great wealth and power in this world. [St Jn 3:19, 36; Rm 8:5-7; I Cor 1:18] In [Jam 2:8-13] The Elect of GOD are to remain steadfast in fulfilling the Law of divine Love. [Rm 13:8-10] Thus, those who practice RESPECT OF PERSONS are guilty of violating The Law of divine Love and will have no mercy extended to them on The Final Day of Judgement. [Rev 20:11-15]
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