James 4:17 Themes and Topics

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And every person who hears these words of mine but does not obey them will be like the foolish person who built his house on [a foundation of] sand. Verse Concepts

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you should have therefore deposited my money in the bank [so] when I returned, [at least] I would have received my own money back, with interest. Verse Concepts

And that slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not make preparations [i.e., for his master's return], or do what his master wanted, will be whipped with many lashes. Verse Concepts

What good is it, my brothers [and sisters], if a person says he has faith but does not have [good] deeds? Can such faith save him? Verse Concepts

So, the person who knows the good [he ought] to be doing, but is not doing it, is sinning. Verse Concepts

"It is too bad for you hypocritical experts in the law of Moses and [you] Pharisees! For you give a tenth of your mint, dill and cumin [i.e., small garden herbs used for seasoning or fragrance], and [yet] neglect the heavier responsibilities required by the law, [such as] justice, mercy and faith. You should have done these ["lighter"] things and not neglected to do the other ["heavier"] things [as well]. Verse Concepts

And that slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not make preparations [i.e., for his master's return], or do what his master wanted, will be whipped with many lashes. Verse Concepts

So, the person who knows the good [he ought] to be doing, but is not doing it, is sinning. Verse Concepts

Then the Lord will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, since you did not do it for one of these least [significant brothers of mine], you did not do it for me.' Verse Concepts

"But it is too bad for you Pharisees! For you give a tenth of your mint, rue and every [other] herb [Note: These were small garden plants used for seasoning or medicine] and [yet] neglect [demonstrating] justice and the love of God [toward others]. But you should have done these things and not neglected to do the other things [as well]. Verse Concepts

So, the person who knows the good [he ought] to be doing, but is not doing it, is sinning. Verse Concepts

[when] I came [to you as] a stranger, you did not give me a place to stay; [when I] did not have adequate clothing, you did not give me anything to wear; when I was sick, or in prison, you did not visit me.' Verse Concepts

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So, the person who knows the good [he ought] to be doing, but is not doing it, is sinning. Verse Concepts

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And a certain beggar named Lazarus, who was full of sores, was laid at the rich man's doorway. He longed to be fed with scraps that fell from the rich man's table and even dogs came and licked his sores.

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And every person who hears these words of mine but does not obey them will be like the foolish person who built his house on [a foundation of] sand. Verse Concepts

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you should have therefore deposited my money in the bank [so] when I returned, [at least] I would have received my own money back, with interest. Verse Concepts

And that slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not make preparations [i.e., for his master's return], or do what his master wanted, will be whipped with many lashes. Verse Concepts

What good is it, my brothers [and sisters], if a person says he has faith but does not have [good] deeds? Can such faith save him? Verse Concepts

So, the person who knows the good [he ought] to be doing, but is not doing it, is sinning. Verse Concepts

[when] I came [to you as] a stranger, you did not give me a place to stay; [when I] did not have adequate clothing, you did not give me anything to wear; when I was sick, or in prison, you did not visit me.' Verse Concepts

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So, the person who knows the good [he ought] to be doing, but is not doing it, is sinning. Verse Concepts

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And a certain beggar named Lazarus, who was full of sores, was laid at the rich man's doorway. He longed to be fed with scraps that fell from the rich man's table and even dogs came and licked his sores.

The [harmful] sting that causes [physical] death is sin [See Rom. 5:12]; and the power of sin [to do this] comes from the law. [See Rom. 8:2]. Verse Concepts

Therefore, whatever you believe about this matter should be held between you and God. That person is happy who does not condemn himself for practicing something he believes is right. But the person who has doubts about eating [a certain food] is self-condemned if he [goes ahead and] eats it, because his action is not based on faith [i.e., if he lacks the conviction that he is doing what is right]. And whatever is not done with such a conviction is a sin.

So, the person who knows the good [he ought] to be doing, but is not doing it, is sinning. Verse Concepts

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All wrongdoing is sinful, and [yet] there is a situation where [a person's] sin does not lead [him] to [spiritual] death. Verse Concepts

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These people know that God's decrees require that those who practice such things deserve to die [i.e., either spiritual or temporal punishment], yet they not only do the same things [themselves], but even approve of other people who practice them. Verse Concepts

They would not be guilty of sinning if I had not come and spoken to them. But now [that I have], they have no excuse for their sin. Verse Concepts

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So, the person who knows the good [he ought] to be doing, but is not doing it, is sinning. Verse Concepts

Now they knew who God was, but they did not honor Him as God or thank Him [for their blessings]. Instead they engaged in their useless speculations and their foolish minds were filled with [spiritual] darkness. Verse Concepts

Jesus said to them, "If you were [really] blind [i.e., unable to see spiritually], you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim, 'We can see [fine],' you remain guilty of sin." Verse Concepts

For if we go on sinning intentionally, after we have received the full knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for [our] sins. Verse Concepts

And that slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not make preparations [i.e., for his master's return], or do what his master wanted, will be whipped with many lashes. But the one who did not know [i.e., what his master wanted], yet did things deserving of punishment, will be whipped with few lashes. And to the person who has been given much [responsibility], there will be much required [of him]. And to whom people entrust much [responsibility], they will ask [much] more from him.

But if you call yourselves "Jews," and [claim to] rely on the law of Moses, and brag about [belonging to] God; if you know His will and have been taught by the law of Moses to [evaluate and] give approval to what is best; if you are confident that you can give [spiritual] guidance to blind people and enlightenment to those who are in [spiritual] darkness; read more.
if you are instructors of the ignorant, and teachers of babies [i.e., immature people] and possess in the law of Moses the [correct] form of knowledge and truth --- since you teach other people [all of this], why do you not teach yourselves [these things]? You preach that a person should not steal, [but] do you steal? You say that a person should not commit adultery [i.e., sexual unfaithfulness to their mate], [but] do you commit adultery? You [claim to] hate idols, [but] do you rob [their] temples? [Note: It is difficult to determine how the Jews were doing this. Perhaps they were guilty of the "spirit" of idolatry by devoting their efforts and affections to material things instead of to God]. You boast about having the law of Moses, [but] do you dishonor God by breaking that law?

It would have been better for them if they had not known the right way [to God] than, after knowing it, to turn back from the sacred message that had been presented to them. It has happened to them like the true proverb [says], "The dog [throws up, and then] goes back and eats its own vomit," and "The hog that was all cleaned up [goes back] to wallowing in the mud."