Charles Ellicott Commentary James 2:21

"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?" — James 2:21 (ASV)

Was not Abraham our father justified by works...?—St. James now addresses his two examples from familiar history in support of his plea for active faith. The first is the marvellous devotion and trust of Abraham (Genesis 22:9) when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar; that boy himself the type of God’s dear Son, who bore, like His meek ancestor, the sacrificial wood up the long, weary road of death. Happily, the story is as well known to Christian readers as to Jews of old, and may safely be left here without further comment.