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James 1:23

James 1:23
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

My Notes

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Baptist theologian, 1697–1771

Gill's Exposition

But if any man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer,.... The Arabic version here again reads, "a hearer of the law", and so some copies; not hearing, but practice, is the main thing; not theory,…

Presbyterian pastor, 1798–1870

Barnes' Notes

James 1:23-24

For if any be ... - The ground of the comparison in these verses is obvious. The apostle refers to what all persons experience, the fact that we do not retain a distinct impression of ourselves after…

Methodist theologian, 1762–1832

Adam Clarke

Beholding his natural face in a glass - This metaphor is very simple, but very expressive. A man wishes to see his own face, and how, in its natural state, it appears; for this purpose he looks into a…

Nonconformist minister, 1662–1714

Matthew Henry

James 1:19-27

In this part of the chapter we are required,

I. To restrain the workings of passion. This lesson we should learn under afflictions; and this we shall learn if we are indeed begotten again by the word…

Academic commentary, 1882–1921

Cambridge Bible

he is like unto a man The instance is chosen to illustrate the nature of the paralogismor fallacy by which the man deceived himself. It lies, as said above, in forgetting the self-knowledge which…

Cross References

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