James 1:19-27

Bible StudyJames

May 10

Written By Jen

W E E K T W O

So far, James has talked about trials and temptations. Now he hits hard on anger and gossip. James has been talking theoretically so far, but now he's getting to the heart of his message.

We know we should be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger” (James 1:19), but we don’t always do it. That’s because, ultimately, our mind doesn’t always connect to our heart. As James tells us in this passage, we can’t merely hear God’s Word—we have to act on it. Being transformed by the Word means becoming a doer, not just a hearer. It means inviting the Holy Spirit to carve out those ugly places and fill them with the righteousness that Jesus gives, so that we might live out what James calls a “pure and undefiled religion” (1:27). God's Word becomes more than a book to us; it is a means of grace, a tool of the Spirit’s sanctifying work in my heart.

The Christian life is one of active obedience. When you hear God's Word, respond in obedience. All of the Bible study in the world is meaningless if it doesn't transform your affections and your actions. In fact, knowledge can begin to harden your heart if your perspective is primarily focused inward. If your spiritual life is all input with no outlet, you start to spoil, like the roots to a potted plant without a drain.

The gospel-filled life Christ calls us to is not one full of quick and angry words, self-serving pride, or self- sufficiency, but of sacrificial love and humility. We are called to let the Word do its work inside us—to be living the Word — to read it daily with fresh eyes as it, by the Holy Spirit, reads our hearts and transforms us, making us more and more like Jesus.

James left no room in his letter for the idea of hearing the truth and not doing what it says. He didn't want his readers to deceive themselves into thinking they could be Christians merely by believing the right things about Jesus. Following Jesus requires action! As a disciple, you not only have to believe Christ is worth following, but you also have to take steps of faith to deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow Him daily!

James 1:19-27

My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does.

If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself. Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

READ :

Read James 1:19-27 for your main study this week.
Consider reading the passage in several different translations of the Bible in order to get a more complete understanding of the text!

OBSERVE & INTERPRET :

What initially stands out to you about this passage?

Look for key words, comparisons/contrasts, commands, etc. - what did you highlight or underline in this passage?

Why does James want us to be quick to listen and slow to speak (1:19)? What or who do you think he wants us to listen to?

What happens in your heart if you hear the Word but don't do what it says (1:22)?

What does it mean to "keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (1:27)?

APPLY :

Ask God to give you spiritual ears to hear His truth and eyes to see opportunities to put it into action.

Take time to think about one internal or external obstacle that keeps you from doing what God's Word says.

EXTRAS :

Use a resource like the Faithlife Study Bible app or the Logos Bible app to do some word studies or get new insight into specific words or phrases and how they fit into this passage of Paul’s letter.

Listen to the song “The Cause of Christ” by Kari Jobe this week.
How does this song show the truth found in James 1:19-27? What is encouraging to you about this song?

Dig in deeper with this passage with a short video by Francis Chan - The Book of James - James 1:19-27 (12 min).
Do you find it easy to be quick to listen and slow to anger? Or do you find that your heart prefers to be quick to speak or post or comment, and to do that with fear and anger?

STUDY TOGETHER

There is great encouragement that comes with community and accountability when we study the Bible with other believers! If you plan to study with other people, follow these few steps during your STUDY TOGETHER time:
READ - Make sure to read the passage together
DISCUSS - Use the study questions from this blog to discuss your study of James over the week. If there were parts of the passage that you didn’t understand, ask other people what they thought or understood!
CHALLENGE - Spend time talking about how this passage applies to your life right now. How can you keep each other accountable to what you are learning or what God is working out in you?
PRAY - Don’t forget to talk to God and lift each other up while you are together. Take notes and be intentional to pray for your small group throughout the week.

SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT

R E S O U R C E S
A list of resources used throughout this online Bible Study series in James

Grounded: Wisdom for Real Life from Proverbs and James by Clayton and Sharie King, LifeWay Press, 2018.

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