Charles Ellicott Commentary James 1:27

"Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep oneself unspotted from the world." — James 1:27 (ASV)

Pure religion . . .—It will be observed that 'religion' here means religious service. No single word can express this obvious interpretation of the original, which must be understood in connection with the preceding verse; and certainly 'religion' in its ordinary sense will not convey the correct idea. True worship, we might say, pure and undefiled, seen and acknowledged as such in the presence of God, even the Father—note the tender pathos of His divine relationship—is this:

To visit the fatherless (or, orphans) and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.—Here is the double proof of the perfect life of holiness, the savor of which is like perpetual incense before the throne of God.

And the help given to the helpless, thus placed first of the two requirements, will often bring about the second—namely, that spotless condition of unworldliness which marks, and will always mark, the true servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Deeds of benevolence may be and often are done by those who are not His; but all who truly belong to Him must live a life that continually praises Him in good works. This is not, it hardly needs to be said, a cause—but rather the natural and inevitable result of love for Him, warming the heart within.

Indeed, the 'religious' contemporaries of James were scrupulous; they would not enter where the image of Divus Caesar had its votive flame, while they were ceremonially clean for keeping their Passover—they went not into the judgment hall lest they should be defiled (John 18:28). But He whom they cruelly sought to slay there had told them before, though in vain, that which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man (Mark 7:20), and nothing from without can defile him (James 1:15).

What an eternal caution can be learned here against cold reliance upon ritual! What an instance that should always, in all its varieties and forms, be applied to themselves by the erring, persecuting, and deceitful sons of men!

On the other hand, from these words of the wise Apostle, we may be sure what is truest, indeed, the only true service, acceptable and accepted by the Most High: To visit the fatherless and the widow, seeing in them a new image of Christ, the Man of Sorrows, is truly to show pity to Him. In the end, such "pure religion" will receive His own approval.

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me (Matthew 25:40). Blessed are the ears attuned to catch this golden cadence, for it rings in angel voices around the comforters of the sick and sorrow-laden even now!