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Verse Takeaways
1
The Word is a Mirror
Commentators explain that James uses the metaphor of a mirror to describe the Word of God. When we read or hear it, it reflects our true spiritual condition—our "natural face," as the verse says. Scholars note this isn't a casual glance but an attentive look that reveals our moral flaws and spiritual shortcomings, which some call our "spots."
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Book Overview
James
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Commentaries
11
Albert Barnes
On James 1:23
18th Century
Theologian
For if any be, etc. The basis of the comparison in these verses is obvious. The apostle refers to what all people experience: the fact tha…
AT Robertson
On James 1:23
And not a doer (κα ου ποιητης). Condition of first class, assumed as true, and ου (rather than μη) contrasts ποιητης with ακροατης…
Charles Ellicott
On James 1:23
19th Century
Bishop
He is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass.—The Apostle points grimly to an example of this self-decepti…
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Charles Spurgeon
On James 1:21–23
19th Century
Preacher
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your sou…
Expositor's Bible Commentary
On James 1:23
The author proceeds to explain why people should do more than merely listen to the truth, using the illustration of a man who “looks at his face in…
John Calvin
On James 1:23
16th Century
Theologian
He is like to a man. Heavenly doctrine is indeed a mirror in which God presents himself to our view; but so that we may be transformed int…
John Gill
On James 1:23
17th Century
Pastor
But if any man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer ,
&c.] The Arabic version here again reads, "a hearer of the law", and …
Matthew Henry
On James 1:22–25
17th Century
Minister
If we heard a sermon every day of the week, and an angel from heaven were the preacher, yet, if we relied on hearing only, it would never bring us …