Charles Ellicott Commentary James 4:17

"To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." — James 4:17 (ASV)

Therefore: A difficulty arises with this verse—whether its application is general or a particular comment on the preceding words. Probably, both ideas are correct. We learn the opposite of the evil of vainglory in life: namely, the good that can be done by everyone.

Opportunities for doing good lie with the needy at our doors and in the pleas of pity within our own hearts. And so it is that omission is sometimes worse than commission; and more souls are in jeopardy for things left undone than for things done.

In “The Beautiful Legend,” there is a conflict between the call of duty to give a portion of bread to the hungry and the temptation to linger in religious ecstasy over a vision of Christ. But the true brother knew “to do good” and did it. Returning at the end of his work, he found his cell full of the radiant presence of the Lord and heard the words of rich approval:

“If you had stayed, I would have fled.”

And again, in another line of thought on the text, God has no need of human knowledge, nor of our ignorance. “And it is a sin to shut the ears to instruction: it is a duty to get knowledge, to increase in knowledge, to abound in knowledge.”

Nor must we rest in this, but, as 2 Peter 1:6–7 states, “add to knowledge temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity.”