Read verses 19-27 for context and review. We are continuing to learn about the testing of our faith in our response to God’s Word.
Look at verses 22-25.
We can see a contrast here between those who are hearers only and those who are hearers and doers. [As we have seen in previous study and will see as we go: those who have faith vs. the double-minded whose life is characterized by doubt (1:6-8); religion that is pure vs. religion that is worthless (1:26,27); and living faith vs. faith that is dead (2:14-26)]
Verse 22
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Note the warning about deceiving ourselves (v. 22 and 26; previously in v. 16 as well)
As believers, we are called to be hearers and doers of the word. If we think we only need to be hearers, then we are deceiving ourselves. Remember the teaching in verses 14-16, 17-18 and 19-21. We are tempted and led away to sin by our own desires, but God who gives good gifts and does not change, of his own free will has chosen us to be a new creation in Christ. Our identity in Christ is that we are hearers and doers of the word, doers of the word that he has put in our hearts. Being a doer is now our character. We are the one who does the will of the Father and will enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 7:21). The one who hears the words of Christ and does them and is like the wise man who built his house on the rock (Matthew 7:24-25).
Verses 23 and 24
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
Why does one usually go to look in a mirror? To see what he looks like. To see if he looks good or if he looks bad to see what changes he should make to improve how he looks.
Here James compares one who is a hearer and not a doer to a man looking at his face in a mirror.
This man seemingly is putting a lot of effort into knowing what the image of himself reveals as to how he really looks. All this effort was useless for as soon as he walks away, he forgets what he saw. There is a warning here.
How is a hearer and not a doer of the word like this?
- He has deceived himself that he is not sinful even though the word (the law) has shown him that he is (Romans 7:7-12; Hebrews 4:11-13; 1 John 1:5-10).
- He is like the foolish man that Jesus teaches about in Matthew 7:26, 27 who did not believe that he needed God or his word to save him.
- Or perhaps he is even like the Pharisees who thought they could get eternal life on their own and searched the scriptures only to see what they could do themselves and how they measured up (John 5:37-47).
Verse 25
But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
…looks into the perfect law… (Psalm 19:7-11; Romans 7:12; 2 Timothy 2:14-26; 2 Timothy 3:10-17; James 1:21)
…the law of liberty… (Romans 7:4-6 (consider whole chapter for context); Romans 8:1,2; Galatians 4:1-7)
…and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts… (John 14:21-24; John 15:1-11; Philippians 2:12-13;1 John 2:5,6)
…he will be blessed in his doing… (Psalm 19:11; Proverbs 13:13; Matthew 7:24-27; Ephesians 1:3-14)
The one who is a hearer and doer studies the word of God (the perfect law, the law of liberty). The hearer and doer studies with the intention to learn from God and to obey him. He does this without delay.
He does not forget what God has shown him in his word by the Holy Spirit. For this person, perseverance in studying God’s word results in action. Those who are in Christ are hearers and doers. They persevere in hearing and doing his word because God is preserving them. He has blessed them by saving them. Christ the Son setting them free so that they are no longer slaves to sin (John 8:34-36). Because of this, they not only seek to obey God through his word, but they can and will obey God as those who walk according to the Spirit with which they have been sealed for the day of redemption (Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:13).
In this and in all the spiritual blessings in Christ (adoption, redemption, forgiveness of sins, the riches of God’s grace, guaranteed inheritance, and more) they continue to be blessed as they please God.