Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
7. Submit yourselves therefore to God ] The forms of the Greek verbs express a somewhat sharper antithesis than the English. God setteth himself against the proud, therefore, set yourselves as under God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you ] The rule seems to point to the true field for the exercise of the combative element which enters into man’s nature. Not in strife and bitterness against each other, not in setting themselves against the will of God, but in taking their stand against the Enemy of God and man were the disciples of Christ to shew that they were indeed men. We may, perhaps, trace in the form of the precept an indirect reference to the history of the Temptation in Mat 4:1-11.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Submit yourselves therefore to God – That is, in his arrangements for obtaining his favor. Yield to what he has judged necessary for your welfare in the life that is, and your salvation in the life to come. The duty here enjoined is that of entire acquiescence in the arrangements of God, whether in his providence or grace. All these are for our good, and submission to them is required by the spirit of true humility. The object of the command here, and in the succeeding injunctions to particular duties, is to show them how they might obtain the grace which God is willing to bestow, and how they might overcome the evils against which the apostle had been endeavoring to guard them. The true method of doing this is by submitting ourselves in all things to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you – While you yield to God in all things, you are to yield to the devil in none. You are to resist and oppose him in whatever way he may approach you, whether by allurements, by flattering promises, by the fascinations of the world, by temptation, or by threats. See 1Pe 5:9. Satan makes his way, and secures his triumphs, rather by art, cunning, deception, and threatenings, than by true courage; and when opposed manfully, he flies. The true way of meeting him is by direct resistance, rather than by argument; by steadfastly refusing to yield in the slightest degree, rather than by a belief that we can either convince him that he is wrong, or can return to virtue when we have gone a certain length in complying with his demands. No one is safe who yields in the least to the suggestions of the tempter; there is no one who is not safe if he does not yield. A man, for example, is always safe from intemperance if he resists all allurements to indulgence in strong drink, and never yields in the slightest degree; no one is certainly safe if he drinks even moderately.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Jam 4:7-10
Submit yourselves therefore to God
Submitting ourselves to God
I.
THE DUTY OF SUBMITTING OURSELVES TO GOD. This submission has its commencement and abiding root in the reception of Christ as a Saviour. The natural heart rebels against a gratuitous justification, against the renunciation of every personal claim, and the acceptance of a salvation for which we are wholly indebted to the mercy of God and the merit of Jesus. It cannot brook the humiliation of taking all as a free gift–of standing on what is not our own, but anothers, and of having nothing to boast of, nothing to glory in, but that despised object, the Cross. When we receive Him as the end of the law for righteousness, the old, proud, stubborn spirit yields, is dispossessed, and a new, meek, compliant one succeeds. The surrender thus made is not a temporary or an isolated thing; no, it is both permanent and productive–it abides and fructifies. It leads to a lasting and unlimited submission.
II. THE MANNER IN WHICH, OR THE STEPS BY WHICH, THIS SUBMITTING OF OURSELVES TO GOD IS EFFECTED.
1. We must withstand Satan. If we yield a single step, tie will instantly press his advantage. Instead of submission here, our constant watchword is to be resistance–uncompromising, unceasing, growing resistance. But in order to success, let us always remember two things, which are of the last importance in tats contest. We must encounter him in Divine strength. A heavenly panoply is provided for us, and no other can enable us to conquer. We must, above all, take the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit. The Divine Word, firmly believed and wisely applied, is invincible.
2. We must approach God. Thus only can we be enabled to resist the devil. Not otherwise can we render submission and have it accepted. He will meet your advance, He will not keep aloof from you, whatever your past inconsistency, unfaithfulness–your going hack to the world, your covetous, adulterous solicitation of its friendship. Does this imply that it is not God but man himself who takes the initiative and the lead in the matter? Does he make the first advance? No; it is always and necessarily from God. He is ever the prime mover, not only preceding but actuating us; not only drawing nigh before us but prompting, causing our drawing nigh, whensoever anything of the kind really takes place. His grace brings us; His Spirit sweetly yet efficaciously disposes and enables us to approach. He must visit and quicken us before we turn our faces, or take a single step Zionward. But coming near to God implies certain feelings and exercises–a state of mind and heart suited to a proceeding so decisive andmomentous. There must be preparatory to it, or rather involved in it, the putting away of sin. Hence James couples with the call to draw nigh to Him the injunction, Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double-minded. We are certainly not to interpret this in the sense that we can enter the holiest only after we have thus purged away our filthiness. In that case we should never approach God at all; for it is only by coming to Him that we can get the strength necessary for the purpose. We can sanctify ourselves by His grace alone–by it sought and obtained. But we are to draw nigh ever with sincere desires to be delivered from all sin; and not less with strenuous endeavours actually to forsake every evil way, to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. There must also be godly sorrow for sin. The renunciation of it can be made only through unfeigned and profound contrition. We cannot put this evil thing away without grieving over it, feeling how bitter and dreadful it is, how dishonouring to God and destructive to ourselves. A great variety of expression is here employed to intimate that the repentance must be real, deep, thorough. Be afflicted–be distressed, be wretched. Let sin weigh heavily upon you, making you sad, miserable in spirit. Mourn and weep. Be not sullen. Keep not silence. Let not emotion be shut up, but allowed to flow forth in all its natural and proper channels. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness, or humiliation. The term literally signifies the casting down of the eyes, which is indicative of dejection or shame. Having thus unfolded the steps by which they were to render submission, he returns to the point from which he started. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up (verse 10). The one exhortation is substantially the same as the other. We are to abase ourselves, to cast away our pride, to Come down from our loftiness. We are to do it before God, in His presence. And what encouragement have we to comply with the call in the assurance, the promise by which it is accompanied? And He shall lift you up. He shall honour you here and hereafter, conferring on you, as His children, present grace and future glory–now the foretastes, then the full fruition of heavenly blessedness.(John Adam.)
The reason why many cannot find peace
We frequently meet with persons who tell us that they cannot find peace with God. They have been bidden to believe in the Lord Jesus, but they misunderstand the command, and, while they think the), are obeying it, they are really unbelievers; hence they miss the way of peace. They attempt to pray, but their petitions are not answered, and their supplications yield them no comfort whatever, for neither their faith nor their prayer is accepted of the Lord. Such persons are described by James in the third verse of this chapter. We cannot be content to see seekers in this wretchedness, and hence we endeavour to comfort them, instructing them again and again in the great gospel precept, Believe and live: yet as a rule they get no further, but linger in an unsatisfactory condition. We will go to the root of the matter, and set forth the reason for the lack of peace and salvation of which some complain.
I. First hearken to THE COMPREHENSIVE COMMAND. Submit yourselves therefore to God. According to the connection, the fighting spirit within many men shows that they have not submitted themselves to God; lusting, envy, strife, contention, jealousy, anger, all these things declare that the heart is not submissive, but remains violently self-willed and rebellious. Those who are still wrathful, proud, contentious, and selfish, are evidently unsubdued. A want of submission is no new or rare fault in mankind; ever since the fall it has been the root of all sin. Man wants to be his own law, and his own master. This is abominable, since we are not our own makers; for it is He that hath made us and not we ourselves. The Lord should have supremacy over us, for our existence depends on His will. The hemlock of sin grows in the furrows of opposition to God. When the Lord is pleased to turn the hearts of opposers to the obedience of the truth, it is an evident token of salvation; in fact, it is the dawn of salvation itself. To submit to God is to find rest. The rule of God is so beneficial that He ought readily to be obeyed. He never commands us to do that which, in the long run, can be injurious to us; nor does He forbid us anything which can be to our real advantage. All resistance against God must, from the necessity of the case, be futile. Common sense teaches that rebellion against Omnipotence is both insanity and blasphemy. And then let it always be known that submission to God is absolutely necessary to salvation. A man is not saved until he bows before the supreme majesty of God. Now, it is generally in this matter of submission that the stumbling-block lies in the way of souls when seeking peace with God. It keeps them unsaved, and as I have already said, necessarily so, because a man who is not submissive to God is not saved; he is not saved from rebellion, he is not saved from pride, he is still evidently an unsaved man, let him think whatever he will of himself.
1. Now, in the saved man there is and must be a full and unconditional submission to the law of God. If you say in your heart, He is too strict in marking sin, and too severe in punishing it, what is this but condemning your Judge? If you say, He calls me to account for idle words, and even for sins of ignorance, and this is hard, what is this but to call your Lord unjust? Should the law be amended to suit your desires? Should its requirements be accommodated to ease your indolence?
2. And before a man can have peace with God he must submit himself to the sentence of the law. If your plea be not guilty, you will be committed for trial according to justice, but you cannot be forgiven by mercy. You are in a hopeless position; God Himself cannot meet you upon that ground, for He cannot admit that the law is unrighteous and its penalty too heavy.
3. A man must next submit himself to the plan of salvation by grace alone. If you come with anything like a claim the Lord will not touch the case at all, for you have no claim, and the pretence of one would be an insult to God. If you fancy you have demands upon God, go into the court of justice and plead them, but the sentence is certain to be against you, for by the deeds of the law no flesh can be justified.
4. You must also submit yourselves to Gods way of saving you through an atoning sacrifice and by means of your personal faith in that sacrifice.
5. And then there must be full submission to God in the matter of giving up every sin. Either you must cast sin out of your heart or it will keep you out of heaven.
6. If we would be saved there must be submission to the Lord as to all His teachings; a very necessary point in this age, for a multitude of persons, who appear to be religious, judge the Scriptures instead of allowing the Scriptures to judge them.
7. And now I must ask another question of you who desire peace and cannot find it: have you submitted yourself to the providential arrangements of God? I know persons who have a quarrel with God. He took away a beloved object, and they not only thought Him unkind and cruel at the time, but they think so still. Like a child in a fit of the sulks, they cast an evil eye upon the great Father. They are not at peace, and never will be till they have owned the Lords supremacy, and ceased from their rebellious thoughts. If they were in a right state of heart they would thank the Lord for their sharp trials, and consent to His will, as being assuredly right. Yield yourselves unto God, and pray to be delivered from future rebellion. If you have submitted, do so yet more completely, for so shall you be known to be Christians when you submit yourselves unto God.
II. Now consider the other and FOLLOWING PRECEPTS. I think I am not suspicious without reason when I express a fear that the preaching which has lately been very common, and in some respects very useful, of only believe and you shall be saved, has sometimes been altogether mistaken by those who have heard it. Repentance is as essential to salvation as faith: indeed there is no faith without repentance except the faith which needs to be repented of. A dry-eyed faith will never see the kingdom of God. A holy loathing for sin always attends upon a childlike faith in the Sin-bearer. Where the root grace of faith is found other graces will grow from it. Now notice how the Spirit of God, after having bidden us submit, goes on to show what else is to be done. He calls for a brave resistance of the devil.
1. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. The business of salvation is not all passive, the soul must be aroused to active warfare. I am not only to contend with sin, but with the spirit which foments and suggests sin. I am to resist the secret spirit of evil as well as its outward acts. Oh, saith one, I cannot give up an inveterate habit. Sir, you must give it up; you must resist the devil or perish. But I have been so long in it, cries the man. Yes, but if you truly trust Christ your first effort will be to fight against the evil habit. Ay, and if it is not a habit merely, nor an impulse, but if your danger lies in the existence of a cunning spirit who is armed at all points, and both strong and subtle, yet you must not yield, but resolve to resist to the death, cheered by the gracious promise that he will flee from you.
2. Next the apostle writes, Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. lie who believes in Christ sincerely will be much in prayer; yet there are some who say, We want to be saved, but they neglect prayer.
3. The next precept is, Cleanse your hands, ye sinners. What! does the Word of God tell sinners to cleanse their hands and purify their hearts? Yes, it does. When a man comes to God and says, I am willing and anxious to be saved, and I trust Christ to save me, and yet he keeps his dirty, black hands exercised in filthy actions, doing what he knows is wrong, does he expect God to hear him? If you do the devils work with your hands, do not expect the Lord to fill them with His blessing.
4. Then it is added, Purify your hearts, ye double-minded. Can they do this? Assuredly not by themselves, but still in order to peace with God there must be so much purification of the heart that it shall no longer be double-minded. When you cease trying to serve two masters, and submit yourselves unto God, He will bless you, but not till then. I believe that this touches the centre of the mischief in many of those hearts which fail to reach peace; they have not given up sin, they are not whole-hearted after salvation.
5. Then the Lord bids us be afflicted, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. I grieve to say that I have met with persons who say, I cannot find peace, I cannot get salvation, and talk very prettily in that way; but yet outside the door they are giggling one with another, as if it were matter of amusement. What right have you with laughter while sin is unforgiven, while God is angry with you? Nay, go to Him in fitter form and fashion, or He will refuse your prayers. Be serious, begin to think of death, and judgment, and wrath to come.
6. Then the Lord sums up His precepts by saying, Humble yourselves in the sight of God. There must be a deep and lowly prostration of the spirit before God. If your heart has never been broken, how can He bind it up? If it was never wounded, how can He heal it? (C. H. Spurgeon.)
On submission to God
I. THE DUTY REQUIRED. We are to submit ourselves unto God.
1. The first step in submission to God has respect to the truths of revelation. The cordial reception of these, however sublime or profound, however obscure or clear, lies at the foundation of all personal religion. It is no degradation of our reason to make it submissive to what God has spoken, although we may not be able fully to understand it in all its bearings. God only wise must know better than man, and therefore the scholar must bow, and not the Teacher.
2. But the submission particularly intended here, has respect to the discipline of God. Does any one ask for illustration? It was displayed by Aaron who held his peace when his two sons fell in death, judicially smitten down by the righteous decree of God. It was evinced by king Hezekiah, who, when the prophet announced the impending destruction of the monarch and his throne, replied to the terrible intelligence–Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken. It was exhibited in the placid spirit of the sorrow-smitten David, when, amidst the cursings of Shimei who was a ringleader in the conspiracy of Absolom, he said to his faithful servant Abishai–Let him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord hath bidden him. It was seen in the meek and placid spirit of Eli when rebuked for his remissness of parental authority, and the ephod was to be taken from his family, he exclaimed in words of exemplary resignation, it is the Lord, let Him do as seemeth Him good. It was apparent in the conduct of Job, when messenger after messenger brought him the dismal tidings of the destruction of his cattle, his servants, and his children, he fell down upon the ground and worshipped, and said–the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. And more than all, it is the spirit and temper of Him who said–The cup which My father hath given
Me, shall I not drink it? Such are instances of resignation. It is the filial submission of the will and the heart to a parents conduct. It is the enlightened and sanctified acquiescence of our inner nature with the dealings of God, under the conviction that all His ways are just and good, and that He has our welfare in view by every trial He sends us.
II. THE GROUNDS ON WHICH THE DUTY OF SUBMISSION IS COMMENDED AND REQUIRED.
1. The first is the universal disposal of a righteous and gracious providence. There is no truth clearer to the thoughtful mind than this, that nothing can be beyond the notice or the power of God; and yet there is no truth less practically received by a large part of mankind.
2. Submission is our duty–our reasonable duty, as sinful and dependent creatures. Can a child span with its little fingers the vast expanse of the heavens? Can a mortal hand grasp the globe in its palm? Just as easily can our finite minds take in the entire scheme of Him who is wonderful in counsel and mighty in working.
3. The third ground of submission is the great doctrine of redemption. The love of One who has loved us, suffered and died for us, snatched us from the verge of everlasting woe, placed us beneath the light of the loving-kindness and tender mercy of God, called us to seek and find, if we will, a crown of heavenly glory–may well constrain us to submit for a little while to a discipline which He judges necessary to train us for the inheritance He has procured for all the redeemed.
4. Another consideration on which this duty is founded is that repining is as fruitless as it is sinful. (H. Hunter.)
Humble submission to God
1. The thing enjoined is submission to God, proceeding from humility, than which nothing is or can be more acceptable unto Him, nothing more commendable among men. Men submit themselves unto God divers ways.
(1) In obediently and reverently yielding themselves to His Word and will, in hearing what He commandeth and carefully performing what He enjoineth.
(2) As by obeying His will men submit themselves unto God, so by yielding themselves to Gods pleasure, to do with them after His will, men likewise submit themselves unto Him.
(3) Neither thus only submit men themselves unto God, but also when they bear with patience the cross which the Lord layeth upon them, then submit men themselves to God.
2. The next thing in this first part of duty is the contrary: we must submit ourselves to God, but we must resist the devil also. Wherein we are taught whither all our strivings must tend, even to the withstanding of Satan, with whom we have continual war, and therefore ought we wholly to bend ourselves with all might against him.
(1) Now the devil is sundry ways resisted of men, first by faith in Jesus Christ, wherewith we are armed, stand fast without wavering, and thereby resist the assaults of Satan.
(2) As we resist him by faith, so also we resist him by prayer, when in our manifold temptations we fly by prayer unto God for succour against the devil–our ancient enemy.
(3) Moreover the saints resist the devil when they earnestly give themselves over to the study of virtue and practice of godliness, serving the Lord in righteousness and true holiness of life. Hereby all entry for Satan is shut up; hereby all holes of our hearts are stopped so that he cannot invade us.
(4) Satan is, besides this, resisted of the saints when they oppose the law and commandment, the will and the Word of God, to his suggestions and wicked temptations.
(5) To conclude, this our enemy is resisted by the aid of Gods Spirit, and by the presence of His power, whereby we subdue our enemies, therefore we are exhorted to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Therefore is the spirit of power, the spirit of might, the spirit of wisdom, the spirit of strength, the spirit of fortitude, promised by Christ, that by the help thereof, not only our mortal enemies, but our ghostly adversaries, might be resisted by us.
(3) The precept and the contrary being thus set down, the third thing in the former part of duty is the reason of the contrary, why we should oppose ourselves unto Satan and set ourselves to resist him. Which reason is drawn from hope of victory: if we thus and by all means resist him then is he put to flight. Wherefore he may be compared to the crocodile who, as it is affirmed, fleeth away when a man turneth boldly unto him, but followeth very fiercely when he is not resisted. So Satan, that old dragon, that cruel crocodile, fleeth when he is resisted, but followeth us hardly when we give place unto him. (R. Turnbull.)
Unconditional surrender
This advice should not need much pressing. Submit yourselves unto God–is it not right upon the very face of it? Is it not wise? Does not conscience tell us that we ought to submit? Does not reason bear witness that it must be best to do so? Submit yourselves unto God–it is what angels do, what kings and prophets have done, what the best of men delight in–there is therefore no dishonour nor sorrow in so doing. All nature is submissive to His laws; suns and stars yield to His behests, we shall be but in harmony with the universe in willingly bowing to His sway. Submit yourselves unto God–you must do it whether you are willing to do so or not. Who can stand out against the Almighty? Submit yourselves unto God is a precept which to thoughtful men is a plain dictate of reason, and it needs few arguments to support it. Yet because of our foolishness the text enforces it by a therefore, which therefore is to be found in the previous verse–He resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. His wrath and His mercy both argue for submission. The Romans were wont to say of their empire that its motto was to spare the vanquished, but to war continually against the proud. This saying aptly sets forth the procedure of the Most High. He aims all His arrows at the lofty, and turns the edge of His sword against the stubborn; but the moment He sees signs of submission His pity comes to the front, and through the merits of His Son His abounding mercy forgives the fault. Is not this an excellent reason for submission?
I. To THE PEOPLE OF GOD, Submit yourselves unto God. He is your God, your Father, your Friend, yield yourselves to Him. What does this counsel mean?
1. It means, first, exercise humility. The right position of a Christian is to walk with lowly humility, before God, and with meekness towards his fellow-Christians. The lowest room becomes us most, and the lowest seat in that room.
2. Let us next observe that our text bears a second meaning, namely, that of submission to the Divine will–that of course would strike you in the wording of the verse, Submit yourselves therefore to God. Be willing to accept whatever God appoints. It is a happy thing when the mind is brought to submit to all the chastisements of God, and to acquiesce in all the trials of His providence. Knowing as we do that all these things work together for our good, and that we never endure a smart more than our heavenly Father knows to be needful, we are bound to submit ourselves cheerfully to all that He appoints. Though no trial for the present is joyous, but grievous, yet ought we to resign ourselves to it because of its after results.
3. It means also obedience. Do not merely passively lie back and yield to the necessities of the position, but gird up the loins of your mind, and manifest a voluntary and active submission to your great Lord. It is not ours to question, that were to become masters; but ours it is to obey without questioning, even as soldiers do. Submission to our Lord and Saviour will be manifested by ready obedience: delays are essentially insubordinations, and neglects are a form of rebellion.
4. Submit yourselves to God by yielding your hearts to the motions of the Divine Spirit; by being impressible, sensitive, and easily affected. The Spirit of God has hard work with many Christians to lead them in the right way; they are as the horse and the mule which have no understanding, whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle. There is the stout oak in the forest, and a hurricane howls through it, and it is not moved, but the rush by the river yields to the faintest breath of the gale. Now, though in many things ye should be as the oak and not as the rush, yet in this thing be ye as the bulrush and be moved by the slightest breathing of the Spirit of God. The photographers plates are rendered sensitive by a peculiar process: you shall take another sheet of glass and your friend shall stand before it as long as ever he likes, and there will be no impression produced, at least none which will be visible to the eye; but the sensitive plate will reveal every little wrinkle of the face and perpetuate every hair of the head. Oh, to be rendered sensitive by the Spirit of God, and we can be made so by submitting ourselves entirely to His will.
II. I desire now to address myself TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT SAVED, but have some desire to be so. You tell me that you have been anxious about your soul for some time, but have made no headway. It is very possible that the reason is this, that you have not submitted yourself to God; you are trying to do when the best thing would be to cease from yourself and drop into the hand of the Saviour who is able to save you, though you cannot save yourself. For a proud heart the very hardest thing is to submit. How, then, am I to submit? says one: To what shall I submit, and in what respects?
1. Well, first, submit thyself, if thou wouldest be saved, to the Word of God. Believe it to be true. Believing it to be true, yield thyself to its force.
2. Yield thyself, next, to thy conscience. He was a fool who killed the watch-dog because it alarmed him when thieves were breaking into his house. If conscience upbraid thee, feel its upbraiding and heed its rebuke. It is thy best friend; faithful are its friendly wounds, but the kisses of a flattering enemy are deceitful.
3. God also sends many messengers. To some of you He has sent the tenderest of monitors. Hearken to their admonitions and regard their kind warnings, for they mean good to thy soul. Remember, God has other messengers whom He will send if these loving ones do not suffice. He will soon send thee a sterner summons. Be not so foolish as to provoke Him so to do.
4. Moreover, submit yourselves to God, since He has, perhaps, already sent His messengers in sterner shapes to you. It was but a few days ago that you lost your old friend. Is there no voice from that new-made grave to you? Methinks your friend in his sudden end was a warning to you to be ready for the like departure! You have also yourself suffered from premonitory symptoms of sickness; perhaps you have actually been sick, and been made to lie where your only prospect was eternity; a dread eternity, how surely yours. I charge you, hear the voice of these providences; listen to these solemn calls,
5. Above all, I pray you submit yourselves, if you are conscious of such things, to the whispers of Gods Holy Spirit. The worst man that lives has his better moments, the most careless has some serious thoughts: there are lucid intervals in the madness of carnal pleasure. At such times men hear what they call their better selves. It is hardly so. I prefer to call it the general reprovings of Gods Spirit in their souls. Submit yourselves to God. If you ask me again, In what respect am I to submit myself?
(1) I answer, first submit yourself by confessing your sin. Cry peccavi. Condemn yourself and you shall not be condemned. Confess the indictment to be true, for true it is, and to deny it is to seal your doom.
(2) Next, honour the law which condemns you. Do not persevere in picking holes in it and saying that it is too severe, and requires too much of a poor fallible creature. The law is holy, and just, and good.
(3) Next, own the justice of the penalty. Confess with thy heart, If my soul were sent to hell it is no more than I deserve. It will go well with you when you make a full capitulation, an unconditional surrender. Fling wide the gates of the city of Mansoul, and admit the prince Emmanuel to rule as sole sovereign in every street in the city. Thou shall find grace in the sight of the Lord if thou wilt do this.
(4) Furthermore, submit yourself to Gods way of saving you. Now Gods way of saving you is by His grace, not by your merits; by the blood of Jesus, not by your tears and sufferings. He bids you trust His Son Jesus; will you do so or not? If you will not, there is no hope for you; if you will, you are saved the moment that you believe–saved from the guilt of sin by trusting Jesus.
(5) You must also surrender yourself at discretion to His method of operating upon you. He tells thee plainly, If thou believest on the Lord Jesus Christ thou shall be saved. Wilt thou believe or no? For if thou dost not, neither dreams, nor visions, nor terrors, nor anything else can save thee. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Submission to God
1. Man must submit himself to God as the God of the gospel. In dealing with men as sinners, the offended, but most merciful, Majesty of heaven has proposed certain terms as those on which alone He will receive any guilty soul into peace and favour with Himself. These terms are admirably fitted to harmonise the salvation of the sinner with the righteousness of Gods government and the threatenings of His law. But pride, and other feelings, in the human heart, are wont to rise up against them. Many going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. But submission to this righteousness must be realised in all who would be justified.
2. Man must submit himself to God as the Lawgiver. In offering pardon Heaven does not absolve the sinner from the moral obligation of the law. Naturally, man rises up, both against the duties which the law prescribes, and against the law which prescribes them; and even where some general submission is indicated towards both, particular parts are apt to be resisted and opposed. But the law of God is wise, and right, and good, in all its principles (Jam 2:11). The more arduous are as truly matters of obligation as the more easy duties. And man, as under law to God in all things, must in all things submit himself to Him.
3. Man must submit himself to God as the God of providence. Many are the considerations by which this threefold submission to God might be enforced.
(1) Among these is the character of God Himself–more especially His rightful supremacy, His unerring wisdom, His unsullied justice, His irresistible power, His generous love, and His unswerving faithfulness, alike to the threatenings and the promises which He addresses to His creatures.
(2) Here, by the connective word therefore, the oracular saying, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the lowly, is brought to bear, as an enforcement, on the rule, Submit yourselves to God. And the argument is both clear and strong. If God sets Himself in battle array against the proud, shall a man proudly refuse to submit to Him? If God giveth grace to the lowly, Shall not the creature yield meek submission to the Creator, and cast himself in dust and ashes at His feet? (A. S.Patterson, D. D.)
Submission to God
I. EXPLAIN THE NATURE OF THE SUBMISSION HERE ENJOINED.
1. We should submit to God in His authoritative sway.
2. We should submit to God in His gracious influences.
3. Submit yourselves to God in His providential dispensations.
II. URGE THE REASONS FOR REDUCING IT TO PRACTICE.
1. We urge it from a consideration of the greatness and goodness of the Being to whom you are called to submit.
2. We urge it on the ground of relationship and obligation.
3. We urge it for the salve of your personal happiness.
4. We urge it from a consideration of the punishment which inevitably follows the crime of non-submission to God. (Sketches of Sermons.)
The duty and advantages of submission to God
I. SOME PARTICULARS IN WHICH WE ARE TO EXERCISE SUBMISSION TO GOD.
1. We are to submit to God with respect to His providential dispensations towards us.
2. We are to submit to His commands. We may object; we may try to find excuses for disobedience, but till we thus unreservedly submit to God, He will treat us as rebels against His authority.
II. A FEW OF THE REASONS WHY WE SHOULD THUS SUBMIT TO GOD.
1. We must submit, because we can make no resistance to any of His appointments.
2. It is good for us to submit ourselves unto God, because He knows what is best for us.
3. The consequences of thus submitting to Him are–
(1) Peace in this world.
(2) Happiness in the world to come. (B. Scott, M. A.)
Submission to God
There is a threefold submission to God: of our carnal hearts to His holiness; of our proud hearts to His mercy; and of our revolting hearts to His sovereignty; and all this that we may be pure, humble, and obedient. (T. Manton.)
Submission to God
The submission that makes no merit of its cross; that does not venture to choose one lighter than the Lord lays on us; that does not seek the ability to bear it in the delirium of pleasure, or the drugs of the world, or the deadening influence of time and change; that does net compare your cross with those borne by others, or ask an explanation of it till the day break and the shadows flee away, but bears it all with a childs love for His sake who did not impose it till He had borne all the weight and sharpness of all the worlds crosses together–this is the victory. The earth has no fatal fear, and no insupportable sorrow in it after you have come to this; you are free in a boundless liberty, strong in immortal strength, and at peace in a peace too deep for the understanding to explain, or any sufferings to disturb. (Bp. Huntington.)
Submission to God
It is no less our interest than our duty to keep the mind in an habitual frame of submission. Adam, says Dr. Hammond, after his expulsion, was a greater slave in the wilderness than he had been in the enclosure. If the barbarian ambassador came expressly to the Romans to negotiate, on the part of his country, for permission to be their servants, declaring that a voluntary submission, even to a foreign power, was preferable to a wild and disorderly freedom, well may the Christian triumph in the peace and security to be obtained by an unreserved submission to Him who is emphatically called the God of order.
Submission to Gods will
Payson was asked, when under great bodily affliction, whether he could see any particular reason for this dispensation. No, replied he, but I am as well satisfied as if I could see ten thousand; Gods will is the very perfection of all reason.
Christian submission
Few things are easier than to perceive, to extol the goodness of God, the bounty of Providence, the beauties of nature, when all things go well, when our health, our spirits, our circumstances, conspire to fill our hearts with gladness, and our tongues with praise. This is easy, this is delightful, None but they who are sunk in sensuality, sottishness, and stupefaction, or whose understandings are dissipated by frivolous pursuits; none but the most giddy and insensible can be destitute of these sentiments. But this is not the trial, or the proof. It is in the chambers of sickness; under the stroke of affliction; amidst the pinchings of want, the groans of pain, the pressures of infirmity; in grief, in misfortune; through gloom and horror–that it will be seen, whether we hold fast our hope, our confidence, our trust in God; whether this hope and confidence be able to produce in us resignation, acquiescence, and submission. And as those dispositions, perhaps from the comparative perfection of our moral nature, could not have been exercised in a world of unmixed gratification, so neither would they have found their proper office or object in a state of strict and evident retribution–that is, in which we had no sufferings to submit to but what were evidently and manifestly the punishment of our sins. A mere submission to punishment, evidently and plainly such, would not have constituted–at least, would very imperfectly have constituted–the disposition which we speak of–the true resignation of a Christian.(Paley.)
Yielding ourselves up to God
Here is a physician who has for months been tracing an obscure disease, from which he has been suffering, to its secret cause. Very acute has been the reasoning process by which he has been approaching to a certain conclusion as to the nature of the disease. At last the cause is plain. And what does he find? That an operation is necessary if he would regain health. He cheerfully puts himself into the hand of others; suffers them to reduce him to unconsciousness; leaves himself entirely in their hands; and by and by he wakens up to find, by means he had no consciousness of, the obstacle removed, and his way open to returning health. This is a rational and sober-minded process right through. And when we–convinced of our morally diseased condition, which makes it impossible for us to enter into a full and hearty appropriation of salvation–yield ourselves up in self-despair, that God may work in us to will and do, the spirit of our action is precisely that of the physician. Presently we waken up to the first glad consciousness of faith, to the joy of surrender, to the dawning realisation of a new life–begotten to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Resist the devil, and he will flee
The right warfare
I. HERE YOU HAVE AMPLE SCOPE FOR YOUR FIGHTING INSTINCTS. Resist the devil–
1. As you find him on the arena of your own soul. The most terrific battles are fought within, the most illustrious victories are won there.
2. As you find him in the arena of society. He is not only in the grosser habits of life, and the corrupter institutions of society, but in literature, friendships, and even religions.
II. HERE YOU HAVE GLORIOUS ENCOURAGEMENT FOR YOUR FIGHTING INSTINCTS. He will flee from you.
1. You are provided with armour before which he must flee.
2. You are associated with allies before whom he must flee.
3. You are commanded by a leader before whom he must flee. (Homilist.)
Resist the devil
I. THE FOE.
1. His power. Can suggest ideas to the mind. Inflame the evil desires of the soul.
2. His diligence. Continually going about as roaring lion. If repulsed a hundred times, he tries again.
3. His malice. Envies all human happiness.
4. His policy. Crafty and subtle.
5. His experience. Has long studied human nature, and practised the art of deceiving mankind.
II. THE FIGHT. Resist–not dispute. To parley with him is to be conquered.
1. General orders.
(1) Be sober. Physically. Mentally. Pride, anger, love of pleasure, incapacitate the soul for this warfare.
(2) Be vigilant. His time is always ready.
(3) Be united. Call in all your allies. Stand shoulder to shoulder.
2. Tried weapons.
(1) Word of God.
(2) Past experience.
(3) Earnest prayer.
3. Invincible armour (Eph 6:10-18).
III. THE FLIGHT.
1. This promise imports temporary flight. In this life, he flees only to rally his forces and return. But constant resistance, while it strengthens the Christian, weakens the adversary.
2. This promise implies final flight (Rom 16:20). Lessons:
1. A Christians life is no easy one.
2. A Christians life is a most blessed one. (R. A. Griffin.)
Resistance of evil
Nothing is more plainly taught in the Scriptures than that men are exposed to Satanic influence. If God worketh in Christians to will and to do, Satan is the spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience. If the sanctified are said to be filled with the Holy Ghost, why, said Peter to Ananias, hath Satan filled thy heart? This is the being, then, whom we are commanded to resist.
1. And, among other reasons for so doing, I will mention, first, this–our ability to do it. We can resist evil. No one is compelled to sin. To each proposition of virtue and vice you finally say Yes or No. Nothing brings out so sharply the personality of man as some act of sin. It brings him out into the foreground as an agent. He has the universe as the witness to his conduct. His decision is his decision, and against God, in whom all which is assailable by vice finds expression. I wish each of you, in whatever you may purpose of evil, to feel this. Upon the edge of this terrible ability to resist God plant yourself, and behold the abyss at your feet.
2. Out of this thought comes also what might be called the hopefulness of morality. The assurance, Resist the devil, and he will flee from you, is a blessed and needed one. The thought that you can succeed in keeping your hand and heart clean is a constant inspiration to persevere. The contest, as waged by every man and woman against evil, is no longer a heavy, dragging spiritless contest, but a brave and hopeful one. The current we stand in is deep, swift, and hissing; and who of us, at times, is not swayed and staggered by it? But there is no reason why, by care and effort–a careful placing of the feet, and keeping our powers well collected–we cannot make headway against it. We do make headway. The Light that has come into the world, and shined upon so many hearts, is quickening the germinal capacities of man for virtue. The race is slowly but surely forging ahead. The waters behind are white with the freshening breeze; and the purposes of God, like a mighty wind, will put an increasing pressure upon the sails, and blow them grandly along. As a fleet of great merchant-men, impelled by the steady trade winds–their yards like bars of gold, their ropes like lines of ruby–go sailing at morning towards the east and the rising sun; so the race, in all its powers and motives, will be grandly luminous as it moves on into the light of the millennium. To live ignobly is, therefore, to live unworthy of your clearest possibilities. In the waters of this assurance the dirtiest may wash and be cleansed. Only resist evil, only stand firm, only try, and whatever of good you in your better moments crave will come to you, and abide with you, as the light of the sun to-day comes to the earth, elicting its manifold fruitage, and illuminating it from pole to pole. Yea, your life shall be like a globe belted and zoned with expressions of life; and never shall there be an hour when some portion of it shall not be in flower and fruitfulness.
3. But again: the wisdom of this injunction, Resist the devil, is seen when you reflect that in resistance, and resistance alone, is safety. Between this and some other course there is no election; you must fight, or die. On some streams you can drift; but, in the rapids which plunge hellward, no man can lie on his back, and float; he must keep in quick nervous action, or sink. (W. H. H. Murray.)
The Christian champion
The enemy who meets me fairly on the field of battle is very different from the assassin who steals upon me in the dark, when unprepared, to rob me of my life. The one I may overcome, but the other nothing can shield me from but the all-watchful providence of my God. Now Satan is the assassin, and not the open enemy; how, then, is he to be resisted?
1. In the first place, we must resist him boldly and at once. There must be no parleying with him, no yielding to him even in the slightest thing, no shrinking from his attack: to shrink from him is only to make him more bold, while to resist him, resting simply on the atonement of Jesus, is to drive him from us, vanquished and overcome.
2. In the next place, we must resist the devil constantly; because he is unceasing in his assaults, we are never safe from him, no, not for an instant, under any circumstances or in any place.
3. In the next place, we must resist the devil strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. All other resistance is utterly vain: we have no power in ourselves.
4. In the next place, we must resist Satan clad in the whole armour of God Eph 6:11; Eph 6:13). Mark it well, it is not a part, but the whole armour which is to be put on; not one part of that armour must be missing, or we at once expose a point of attack to our adversary. Mark again, the armour must be put on; it is not Rive us to look at, but to use. Mark again, whence is this armour to be obtained? only from heaven.
5. Yet once more, we must resist the devil watchfully and prayerfully. (A. W. Shape, M. A.)
Resist the devil
1. This resistance must extend to all the variety of his temptations. We must beware of resisting him in one or more, and making this a kind of compensation for yielding to him in others.
2. He applies his temptations to those lusts and passions of the old nature which remain in us, and especially to those which, by the study of our character, he knows to be the strongest, and most apt to yield–those which most easily beset us. The most effectual resistance we can make to him, therefore, is a constant and strenuous opposition to these–whichsoever of them we are conscious, from our experience, have most power within us. And, as his temptations are often sudden–meant to take us at unawares–this vigilance over our own hearts must be constant and unremitting–lest he find us off our guard.
3. The resistance must be made in the strength of God. (R. Wardlaw, D. D.)
The devil put to flight
Luther says: Once upon a time the devil said to me, Martin Luther, you are a great sinner, and you will be damned! Stop! stop! said I; one thing at a time; I am a great sinner, it is true, though you have no right to tell me it. I confess it. What next? Therefore you will be damned. That is not good reasoning. It is true I am a great sinner, but it is written, Jesus Christ came to save sinners; therefore I shall be saved! Now go your way. So I cut the devil off with his own sword, and he went away mourning because he could not cast me down by calling me a sinner.
Answer to the devil
A minister asked a little converted boy, Does not the devil tell you that you are not a Christian? Yes, sometimes. Well, what do you say? I tell him, replied the boy, whether I am a Christian or not is none of his business. (New Cycle. of Illustrations.)
Temptation sometimes subtle
If any temptation to spoil your purposes happens in a religious duty, do not presently omit the action, but rather strive to rectify your intention and to mortify the temptation. St. Bernard taught us this rule: for when the devil, observing him to preach excellently, and to do much benefit to his hearers, tempted him to vain-glory, hoping that the good man to avoid that would cease preaching, he gave this answer only, I neither began for thee, neither for thee will I make an end. (Jeremy Taylor, D. D.)
Fighting the devil
He who would fight the devil with his own weapons must not wonder if he finds him an over match. (R. South.)
Resist
In an old tower on the Continent they show you, graven again and again on the stones of one of the dungeons, the word Resist. It is said that a Protestant woman was kept in that hideous place for forty years, and during all that time her employment was in graving with a piece of iron, for any one who might come after her, that word. It is a word that needs to be engraven on every young man and young womans heart. It represents the highest form of courage which to them is possible–the power to say No to every form of temptation. (J. C. Lees, D. D.)
The devil to be resisted
A gentleman, who has spent many years of his life in capturing wild animals, says of the wolf, that, when attacked, he will first note the earnestness with which the enemy presses the attack, and, if he shows great determination, he scampers away. But if he detects the least fear in his pursuers movements, he will defend himself with great bravery. The same way with old Satan: he tempts us by first placing some trivial thing in our path; and if we offer no resistance, he suddenly attacks us with all his force, and overcomes us.
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 7. Submit – to God] Continue to bow to all his decisions, and to all his dispensations.
Resist the devil] He cannot conquer you if you continue to resist. Strong as he is, God never permits him to conquer the man who continues to resist him; he cannot force the human will. He who, in the terrible name of JESUS, opposes even the devil himself, is sure to have a speedy and glorious conquest. He flees from that name, and from his conquering blood.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Submit yourselves therefore to God; viz. voluntarily and freely, and that not only in a way of obedience to all his commands, but (which is chiefly meant here) in a way of humility, and sense of your weakness, and emptiness, and need of his grace.
Therefore; both because of the danger of pride, (opposed in the former verse to humility), he resisteth the proud; and because of the benefit that comes by humility, he giveth grace to the humble.
Resist, by faith, and the rest of the spiritual armour, Eph 6:13,14, &c. Or, resist, i.e. comply not with his motions and temptations.
The devil; the head and leader of fleshly lusts. These likewise are military terms. Having spoken before of strife and contention, he directs here with whom we may, and with whom we may not, contend. He had commended modesty toward men, they are our equals, we must not lift ourselves above them, nor envy nor strive with them; here he adviseth to submission to God as our supreme Governor, we must not contend with him; and to open war with the devil as our great enemy, our contention must be with him.
And he will flee from you; as to that particular assault in which you resist him; and though he return again, and tempt you again, yet you still resisting, he will still be overcome; ye are never conquered so long as you do not consent.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. Submit to . . . Godso yeshall be among “the humble,” Jas4:6; also Jas 4:10; 1Pe 5:6.
Resist . . . devilUnderhis banner pride and envy are enlisted in the world;resist his temptations to these. Faith, humble prayers, and heavenlywisdom, are the weapons of resistance. The language is taken fromwarfare. “Submit” as a good soldier puts himself incomplete subjection to his captain. “Resist,” stand bravelyagainst.
he will fleeTranslate,”he shall flee.” For it is a promise of God, not amere assurance from man to man [ALFORD].He shall flee worsted as he did from Christ.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Ver. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God,…. To the will of God, with respect to worldly things, and be content with such things as are enjoyed, and be satisfied with the portion that is allotted; it is right and best for the people of God to leave themselves with him, to choose their inheritance for them, since by all their anxious cares, their striving and struggling, their impatient desires, wars and fightings, as they cannot add one cubit to their stature, so nothing to their worldly substance; and it becomes them to submit to God in all afflictive dispensations of his providence, and be still and know that he is God; as well as to submit to his way and method of salvation by Christ, and particularly to the righteousness of Christ, for justification; and to depend upon him for supplies of grace in the discharge of every duty, and the exercise of every grace:
resist the devil, [and] he will flee from you; Satan is to be looked upon as an enemy, and to be opposed as such, and to be watched and guarded against; the whole armour of God should be taken and made use of, particularly the weapon of prayer, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, and the shield of faith; and also the grace of humility, than which nothing is more opposite to him: he is a proud spirit, and he endeavours to swell men with pride of themselves; and when he has worked them up to such a pitch, he is then master of them, and can manage them as he pleases; but a poor humble believer, with whom God dwells, to whom he gives more grace, and who comes forth not in his own strength, but in the strength of the Lord God, as David against Goliath, and who owns his vileness and sinfulness, and flies to the grace of God, and blood of Christ, Satan knows not what to do with him, he is puzzled, baffled, and confounded; such he leaves, from such he flees; he does not like the power of prayer, nor the strength of faith, nor the sharpness of the twoedged sword, the word of God, nor the humble believer’s staff, bag, scrip, and sling.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Be subject therefore unto God ( ). Second aorist (ingressive) passive imperative of , old verb, to range under (military term also). Same form in 1Pet 2:23; 1Pet 5:5. With the dative case (unto God). The aorist has the note of urgency in the imperative. Note the ten aorist imperatives in verses 7-10 (, , , , , , , , , ).
But resist the devil ( ). Second aorist (ingressive) active (intransitive) imperative of , “take a stand against.” Dative case . Result of such a stand is that the devil will flee (, future middle of ). See 1Pet 5:8; Eph 6:11; Luke 10:17.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Submit yourselves [] . Rev., be subject. The verb means to place or arrange under; as resist (ver. 6) is to array against. God sets himself in array against the proud; therefore, array yourselves under God, that ye may withstand the devil.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) Submission to God is the key to resistance to sin and wrong. 1Co 15:58.
2) Take a stand against and keep on standing against the devil and he will flee from you, of his own accord, 1Pe 5:8; Eph 6:11; Luk 10:17.
3) Submission to God is humility, yet resistance to the devil, is a virtue of humility. When temptations come, humbly wave the banner of Christ in the devil’s face and he will flee. Deu 32:30-31; Jos 23:9-10.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
7 Submit yourselves. The submission which he recommends is that of humility; for he does not exhort us generally to obey God, but requires submission; for the Spirit of God rests on the humble and the meek. (Isa 57:15.) On this account he uses the illative particle. For as he had declared that God’s Spirit is bountiful in increasing his gifts, he hence concludes that we ought to lay aside envy, and to submit to God.
Many copies have introduced here the following sentence: “Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” But in others it is not found. Erasmus suspects that it was first a note in the margin, and afterwards crept into the text. It may have been so, though it is not unsuitable to the passage. For what some think, that it is strange that what is found only in Peter, should be quoted as Scripture, may be easily disposed of. But I rather conjecture that this sentence which accords with the common doctrine of Scripture, had become then a sort of proverbial saying common among the Jews. And, indeed, it is no more than what is found in Psa 18:27,
“
The humble O Lord, thou wilt save; and the eyes of the proud wilt thou cast down:”
and similar sentences are found in many other passages. (132)
Resist the devil. He shews what that contention is which we ought to engage in, as Paul says, that our contest is not with flesh and blood, but he stimulates us to a spiritual fight. Then, after having taught us meekness towards men, and submission towards God, he brings before us Satan as our enemy, whom it behooves us to fight against.
However, the promise which he adds, respecting the fleeing of Satan, seems to be refuted by daily experience; for it is certain, that the more strenuously any one resists, the more fiercely he is urged. For Satan, in a manner, acts playfully, when he is not in earnest repelled; but against those who really resist him, he employs all the strength he possesses. And further, he is never wearied with fighting; but when conquered in one battle, he immediately engages in another. To this I reply, that fleeing is to be taken here for putting to flight, or routing. And, doubtless, though he repeats his attacks continually, he yet always departs vanquished.
(132) The passage is found in all MSS. and versions: there is, therefore, no ground to think it an interpolation. And it is taken literally from Pro 3:34, according to the Sept.; though the first clause differs from the Hebrew in words, yet it is substantially the same. To “scorn the scorners,” and to “resist (or, to stand in array against) the proud” or insolent, mean the same thing.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. (But) resist the devil.The hardest advice of all, to a man reliant on himself, is submission to any, more especially to the Unknown. But, as a correlative to this, the Apostle shows where pride may become a stimulant for good, viz., in contest with the Evil One.
He will flee.Or, he shall flee. The Devil, says the strange old book called The Shepherd of Hermas, can tight, but he cannot conquer; if, therefore, thou dost withstand him, he will flee from thee, beaten and ashamed.
The text is another proof of the personality of Satan; no amount of figures of speech could otherwise interpret it.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. The same antithesis as that mentioned in Jas 4:4 is carried through the paragraph. It is between the proud and the humble, between God, to be submitted and approached, and the devil, to be resisted; between cleanse and sinners, between purify and doubleminded, between laughter and mourning, and, finally, between penitent humiliation and a divine exaltation.
Therefore In view of the fact that the proud spirit is resisted by Jehovah. But while there is One to whom we must submit, there is one whom we should resist the devil.
Will flee Temptations repelled disappear, and when habitually kept at a distance, cease to exist. The firmly formed habit of virtue comparatively places the soul out of the normal reach of temptation. The apostolic father, Hermas, said, “The devil is able to wrestle, but not to wrestle us down; for if we struggle firmly he is conquered, and slinks away in shame.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Be subject therefore to God.’
The phrase is possibly based on Psa 37:7 LXX. ‘Submit yourself to YHWH’. They are therefore to subject themselves humbly to God, as Joshua the High Priest had done before them when he stood at the bar of God (Zec 3:1), submitted before Him so that He might determine his case and the case of the people, while they humbly awaited His verdict. They were to turn from the world and own His Lordship (see Zec 3:1-6). Submission was regularly the way in which wayward kings would find forgiveness from their overlord. They are to turn from their ways, submit to God, and thus resist the Evil One.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
‘And resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.’
As a consequence of this submission they will be resisting the Devil and he will flee from them, as Satan fled from before Joshua (after Zec 3:3 Satan drops out of sight and is heard of no more). Notice that the way in which we are always to resist Satan when it is a question of dealing with the pride of life and the friendship of the world is by submission to God. Then all Satan can do is run. While for His people all the glories of the world will seem as nothing when their eyes are on God.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The Path of Life The way we overcome this trial is to submit ourselves to God by repenting of our sins and by resisting the devil, who puts these evil temptations within us.
Humility – Jas 1:9 tells the humble person to rejoice in his exaltation. It is this humility that will open a man’s heart to the ways of God so that he can pray in faith and walk in the wisdom that will help him persevere in the midst of trials. We are told in Jas 1:21 to receive God’s Word in meekness. When we ask God for wisdom, we must be meek enough in heart to receive God’s Word as His reply to us. As we obey this word from God, which we call wisdom, we learn to walk by faith. Thus, the body of this Epistle explains this walk of faith. It is this faith that allows a man to access God in prayer as Elijah did for wisdom so that he can endure trials like Job. The author will then close this topic on faith in Jas 4:7-10 by asking us to submit to God and humble ourselves in His sight.
Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Jas 4:7
[117] Kenneth Hagin, I Believe In Visions (Tulsa, Oklahoma: Faith Library Publications, c1984, 1986), 89.
Comments – Why does James bring the devil into this discussion at this point? The answer can be found by looking back as the author’s comparison of earthly wisdom with divine wisdom in Jas 3:13-18. We note that earthly wisdom is described as “earthly, sensual, devilish” in this passage. The term devilish means that demons influence man’s ways of thinking, which affects his behaviour. Such demonic influence is behind the jealousy and strife mentioned in this passage, since these two vices are the outward manifestations of being earthly-minded. It is jealousy and strife that serves as the root cause of contention between believers within the body of Christ.
Jas 4:7 verse teaches us that every believer has been given authority over the devil. James did not tell them to send a message to Paul that prayer clothes be sent to them. Peter told these believers that they themselves had the same authority that Peter and Paul had to cast the devil out of their lives. Note this parallel passage in the first epistle of Peter.
1Pe 5:8-9, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
We should draw near to God to receive divine wisdom, and we should resist the devil and his influences in our life to draw us into sin with ungodly wisdom.
Jas 4:7 Comments – How often we as believers must not neglect this divine truth in God’s Word. We go on for years as a minister. We draw near to God. Then, when temptation comes, we consider it, rather than quickly remembering to stand up and resist the devil.
A well-known minister tells the testimony of how he was once tempted to take his life. His son had died almost a year earlier in a tragedy. One night, depresses and alone in a motel room as he continued to travel and sing for the Lord as a minister, he sat at the edge of his bed and began to take steps to take his life. Instead of following through with this plan, he first called a dear friend on the phone. This friend began to pray for him and said that a demon, which had been standing over him, was now fleeing. It took another minister to pray for this minister. Sometimes, we forget how important it is to continue to resist the devil, even as we are strong in the Lord.
Jas 4:7 Comments – Note how this verse does not day that we are to pray that God would deliver us, but rather, we ourselves are to take authority over the problem. Remember the opening verse of this epistle which tells us to count it all joy when we fall into divers temptations. The next verse says that our faith is being tested. We must take spiritual authority over the situation and stand firm without moving away from the plan that God has for us to follow.
Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Jas 4:8
Illustration (1) – When I left the Southern Baptist denomination in 1983 and began working in Alethia Fellowship Church in Panama City, Florida, I went through a time when all of my family and church friends withdrew from me. I felt like I had no friend on earth, just Jesus. Besides Him, no one was standing with me in my walk. But, during that first year as a non-denominational believer, as I drew near to God for my strength, the Lord gave me two supernatural experiences. These two experiences were the fulfillment of His Word, that as I drew near to Him, he would draw near to me.
One night, after study in the Bible until about 1:00 a.m. on a Monday morning, as I laid down to sleep, the presence of God began to slowly fill me and eventually flood my room. At first I tried to go off of sleep and could not. If got up and sang and worship and laid back down. After three or four hours of this, with God’s presence getting stronger, A verse out of 1Pe 1:8, as a song, came to me “Joy unspeakable and full of glory’. That verse was it! It described just the way I was feeling at that moment, full of such joy I could not put it into words, and full of glory, or singing worship and praise to His name. Finally, about 5:00 a.m. in the morning, I told the Lord that I could not bear much more and the Holy Spirit’s anointing subsided.
One day while just sitting on my bedside, being quite before the Lord, I heard singing, with my spirit, not my physical ears. The most beautiful, anointed song I had ever heard. I believe it was a chorus of angel singing.
The Lord drew near me during those times I needed Him most and those two experiences were timely for my life, very needful at that time.
Illustration (2) – Benny Hinn gives an illustration of Jas 4:8. [118] In the 1970’s he had a vision in which he saw himself sitting bound and sickly, with a dark cloud overshadowing him. As he looked about in this vision, he saw the Lord Jesus Christ standing and saying to him, “Come”. In his vision, Benny Hinn wanted to say, “How can he come, when he is all bound up and weak. Why don’t you go to him and set him free.” As Jesus continued to say, “Come”, the Benny Hinn in the vision exerted all of his strength to reach forth his arms to Jesus. As he did so, the force of the dark cloud began to hold him back. But as Benny Hinn became determined to stretch forth his arms to Jesus, he found more strength to do so. As the Benny Hinn in the vision gained some strength, he began to move toward Jesus. As Benny Hinn began to move to Jesus, Jesus began to move toward Benny Hinn. This continued until the two met halfway and fell into each other’s arms. All of a sudden, the Benny Hinn in his vision seemed to disappear into the body of Jesus Christ. At this point, Benny Hinn remembered the words of Jas 4:8, “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.” Jesus said, “In me, you are always free. But when you walk away from Me, you become bound.”
[118] Benny Hinn, This is Your Day (Irving, Texas), on Trinity Broadcasting Network (Santa Ana, California, 6 January 2003), television program.
Jas 4:8 “Cleanse your hands….purify your hearts” Comments – This refers to our outward actions and our inner motives (Psa 24:3).
Psa 24:3, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart ; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”
Jas 4:8 “ye double minded” Scripture References – Note:
Jas 1:8, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
Jas 4:6-8 Comments – Jas 4:6 is similar to 1Pe 5:5.
1Pe 5:5, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humbl e.”
Jas 4:7-8 is similar to 1Pe 5:6-9.
1Pe 5:6-9, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
Jas 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Jas 4:9
Illustration – See how a righteous man reacts to trials in Job 1:20.
Job 1:20, “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,”
We, also, are to fast and pray and seek God’s face. Fasting afflicts the body. By it, we deny our flesh the pleasures of this world. Note also:
Isa 22:12, “And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:”
Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Jam 4:7. Submit yourselves “Subject yourselves therefore to God, and, being listed in his army, keep the rank which he hath assigned you.” Thus much is implied by the word .
Jas 4:7 . From the sentiment expressed in the preceding, James infers ( ) several exhortations expressive of the duty of humility.
] The exhortation is addressed to the : because God them, they are to to God. In Schneckenburger’s explanation: plena obedientia vos Deo committite, ut sitis , obedientia is incorrectly emphasized. Calvin’s is better: subjectio ista, quam commendat, humilitatis est; neque enim generaliter hortatnr, ut pareamus Deo, sed requirit submissionem. [199]
] This exhortation is closely joined to the preceding; submission to God means resistance to the devil. This requirement was so much the more appropriate, as the readers wished to be the friends of the , whose is the devil.
] comp. Hermas, I. 2, mand. 12 (ed. Hefele, p. 380): , . , . Calvin: Quamvis continuos insultus repetat, semper tamen exclusus discedit.
after the imperative commencing the apodosis; so also in Mat 7:7 and frequently. 1Pe 5:5-9 is to be compared with this passage, where upon the quotation of the same O. T. passage follow exhortations to humility before God, and to resistance to the devil.
[199] On account of its strangeness, we give here Semler’s remarks on this passage: Jacobus, Paulus, Petrus, Judas, uno quasi ore id confirmant, opus esse, ut Romanis et sic Deo se subjiciant (in which Lange finds no fault were it only said: ut Deo et sic Romanis); and afterwards: , qui per vos suscitat adversus magistratum Romanum; similar also, of course, Lange.
(7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (8) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (9) Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. (10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (11) Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. (12) There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
Though in the first Chapter of this Epistle, verses 2 and 12 (Jas 4:2 ; Jas 4:12 ), I dwelt somewhat long upon the subject of temptation; yet, in addition to what was there said; I know not how to resist the present occasion, of offering, if but a short remark, on the gracious precept, and gracious promise blended with it, of baffling the devil by resisting him; and drawing nigh to God, who is always drawing nigh to his people.
It is very certain, that Satan knoweth not who are, or who are not the Lord’s people, while in their stage of unregeneracy. And, therefore, it is said, that he goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour: not whom he will, for if he had the will, that would be all; but whom he may, 1Pe 5:8 . Now, in his impudent attacks upon a child of God, it is very blessed, When through grace, we are enabled to resist him by faith. Those now in heaven, are said to have overcome by the blood of the Lamb, Rev 12:11 . And certain it is, Satan will flee from nothing, but the blood of the cross.
Secondly. The very resisting the devil in the Lord’s strengths cannot but ultimately succeed. For the devil always dreads that, Christ is at hand. When he finds in the child of God, the grace of resistance; if he still tempts, he tempts with fear. So that when the precept is, Submit yourselves, therefore to God: This calls in God’s presence, and protection. And, when it is added, draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you: this secures victory. And Satan’s devices are then, carried on, before his flight, in cowardly fear. He dreads Christ’s presence, and he fears the consequence.
Once more. It is the disgrace of Satan to be overcome, in the triumph of a child of God over every single temptation. He feels ashamed, and skulks away. Not as much from our victory, and his disgrace, that the worm Jacob should thresh the mountains; but froth: the ultimate victory, which every successful skirmish on our part, puts him in mind of. And the punishment that may be inflicted upon him for his attempt, even before, his final ruin, no doubt works upon him now, as it did in the days of Christ’s flesh. Hence that question: What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time? Mat 8:29 . And may we not conclude, that often now, though we know it not, the Lord doth punish him, and rebuke him; as the Holy Ghost hath given us a beautiful example of in that precious scripture: Zec 3:2 . From all these considerations, I think, we may, through grace, derive sweet instruction and comfort, that where the Lord’s precepts are blended, as in this instance, with the Lord’s promise, boldly the child of God may go forth, in the name of the Lord, and in the Lord’s strength resist the devil’s policy. For, as the armies in heaven, overcame by the blood of the LAMB, so the same precious blood is the sure sign of victory now upon earth. They that are with Jesus, both here and there, are called, and chosen, and faithful. Rev 17:14 .
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Ver. 7. Submit yourselves therefore to God ] Gr. , set yourselves under him, not above him; as the proud person doth, Jas 4:6 . Sit at his feet to receive his law, as scholars sat at the feet of their teachers, Deu 33:3 See Trapp on “ Deu 33:3 “ obey him as your superior in all things; say to him, Iussa sequi tam velle mihi quam posse necesse est.
Resist the devil ] i.e. Worldly and fleshly lusts stirred up by the devil, Eph 4:26 . Lust resisted is sin materially, not formally; for the guilt is done away, in that we do not allow it, but abhor it, as some are of the opinion. (Mr Capell on Tempt.)
And he will flee from you ] He is but a coward therefore; for like the crocodile, if you follow him he fleeth, if you flee from him he followeth you. In all other fights, the first encounter is sharpest, but here, essiest; for the old serpent having his head bruised and crushed, cannot now so easily thrust in his mortal sting, unless we dally with him, and so lay ourselves open. Est Leo si fugias: si stas, quasi musca recedit.
7 .] Submit yourselves therefore to God (addressed mainly to the proud the above; but also to all): but resist the devil (the ) and he shall flee (better than E. V., “ will flee ,” which is merely an assurance as from man to man: this is a divine promise. Huther refers to Hermas, Pastor ii. 12. 5, p. 949, , . , ) from you:
Jas 4:7 . : Cf. Heb 12:9 , . It is not a question of subjection either to God or the devil, but rather one of the choice between self-will and God’s will; it is the proud spirit that has to be curbed. , : the two ideas contained in these words are very Jewish; in the first place, the withstanding of the devil is represented as being within the competence of man ; the more specifically Christian way of putting the matter is best seen by comparing the words before us with the two following passages: Luk 10:17 , , . And the passage in 1Pe 5:6 ff. which is parallel to the one before us, is prefaced by the words. “Casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He careth for you,” and followed by the words, “And the God of all grace shall Himself perfect, stablish, strengthen you”. The difference between the Jewish and Christian doctrines of grace and freewill here cannot fail to be observed. It is useless to cite the words, “Be subject unto God,” as indicating divine assistance in withstanding the devil, because the subject of thought in either passage is quite independent; the meaning is not that ability to withstand the devil is the result of being subject to God; but two courses of action are enjoined, in each of which man is represented as able to take the initiative. In the second place, the representation of Satan (the devil) here is altogether Jewish; the Hebrew root from which “Satan” comes ( ) means “to oppose,” or “to act as an adversary”; the idea is very clearly brought out in Num 22:22 , where the noun is used: And the Angel of Jahwe placed himself in the way for an adversary (literally “for a Satan”). This is precisely the picture represented in the words before us; the ancient Hebrew idea of something in the way is to some extent present in the Greek , from “to throw across,” i.e. , the pathway is impeded ( cf. Eph 4:27 ; Eph 6:11 ). Jewish demonology was full of intensely materialistic conceptions; the presence of demons in various guise, or else invisible, was always feared; primarily it was bodily harm that they did; the idea of spiritual evil, as in the passage before us, was later, though both conceptions existed side by side. The words under consideration are possibly an inexact quotation from Test. of the Twelve Patriarchs , Naphth. viii. 4, “If ye work that which is good my children and the devil shall flee from you”. Knowling quotes an interesting parallel in Hermas, Mand. , xii. 5, 2, where in connection with the devil it is said, “If ye resist him he will be vanquished, and will flee from you disgraced”.
7.] Submit yourselves therefore to God (addressed mainly to the proud-the above; but also to all): but resist the devil (the ) and he shall flee (better than E. V., will flee, which is merely an assurance as from man to man: this is a divine promise. Huther refers to Hermas, Pastor ii. 12. 5, p. 949, , . , ) from you:
Jam 4:7. ) Submit yourselves therefore to God: Psa 62:5. Septuagint, , but, my soul, submit thyself to God. This exhortation, submit yourselves, agrees with the lowly, Jam 4:6; and after an intermediate explanation of this submission, it is brought to a close in Jam 4:10 : comp. 1Pe 5:6.– , resist-from you) The opposite follows, Draw nigh-to you. Comp. resist, 1Pe 5:9.- , the devil) who is proud, and especially tempts men by pride; the enemy, under whose banner pride and envy are enlisted in the world.-, will flee) as overcome. A word of joy, 1Jn 5:18.
Jas 4:7-10
SUBMISSION AND EXULTATION
Jas 4:7-10
7 Be subject therefore unto God;—“Be subject,” is translated from hupotagete, an ingressive aorist passive in the imperative mood, from hupotasso, derived from hupo, under, and tasso, to place oneself; thus to put oneself under (in this instance) God. It will be recalled that the verb “resisteth,” in the second sentence of verse 6, above, is from antitasso, compounded from anti, against, and tasso, to place. The root has a military connotation, and means to array oneself; hence, “Those who are proud God arrays himself against; see to it that you array yourselves under God.” The verb means to place yourselves in the position of those who are in the service of God; and, in the aorist imperative denotes immediate action, action influenced by a sense of urgency. It is significant that there are ten aorist imperatives in verses 7-10, all with a note of urgency, and requiring immediate and forthright action. Peter frequently refers to this obligation, and example of which is in 1Pe 5:5-6 : “….God resisteth the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time … . ” (See, also, 1Pe 2:21-23.) The aorist tense suggests a once-for-all act in which we are forevermore to place ourselves in the rank of God’s faithful soldiers, and to remain there. We cannot possibly please him by being a soldier today, and a citizen of the world tomorrow. Paul admonished Timothy to “suffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus,” and reminded him that no soldier on service entangleth himseli in the affairs of this life; “that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.” (2Ti 2:3-4.) And, John wrote, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” ( 1Jn 2:15.) We must not overlook the fact that far more is involved here than in exercising a choice between submission to God and t0 the world. The verb hupotagete involves the matter of choosing between our own proud spirit’s domination, and the will of God. It requires that God be enthroned in our hearts, and be allowed to dominate our lives. Only as we yield ourselves wholly to his will do we discharge the duty set out in this passage. It was James’ design to emphasize this obligation in order that those to whom he wrote might avail themselves of the grace which abounds to meet every need. And, more than mere mechanical obedience is involved. One may, from considerations of expediency, find it proper to conform to the will of another; but only those who allow God’s will to become sovereign in their lives really submit themselves to him.
but resist the devil,—( Attistete de toi diaboloi, take your stand against the devil.) “Resist,” from antistete, is an aoris! active imperative verb from antihistemi, which in turn, is from anti against, and histemi, to stand. This, too, has a military connotation, and was frequently used of those who placed themselves in battle array against an enemy and held their ground. We are. therefore, to face Satan in battle array; to recognize him as a iormidable and dangerous enemy; and to fight off all of his advances. All is at stake in the effort; and the issues are life and death. Man must resist (stand against) Satan, or be taken captive by him. There can be no armistice, no terms of amnesty offered; it is a war of survival. Fortunately, the Christian is not without powerful aid and effective weapons of defense: “Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and have done all, to stand. Stand therefore having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints …. ” (Eph 6:10-18.)
He whom we are to resist is “the devil,” (loi diaboloi, the accuser, the slanderer). He is, as his name indicates, a calumniator, a gossip-monger, one who slanders another for the purpose of injury. Other names assigned to this evil being in the Scripture are Satan (an opponent), the Dragon, the Evil One, the angel of the bottomless pit, the prince of this world, the prince of the powers of the air, the god of this World, Apollyon, Belial, and Beelzebub. The devil is the ruler of a band of evil spirits (Mat 8:28; Mat 9:34; Mat 12:26; Luk 11:18-19), the enemy of Christ and the Lord’s people (Mat 13:19; Mat 13:39; Mar 4:15), a murderer from the beginning (Joh 8:44), an enemy to, and a falsifier of, God’s word (Mat 13:19; Mat 13:39), whose destruction will be accomplished by, and in connection with, the return of Christ (2Th 2:3-4), and whose destiny will be the burning lake which is the second death (Rev 20:10; Rev 21:8). For the difference between the devil, and the demons, see the comments on Jas 2:19.
We resist the devil by always refusing to yield to his allurements, and by repelling and opposing his temptations. He has many tricks (2Co 2:11), and we must not be ignorant of his devices. He is ever engaged in his insidious efforts to seduce the good; and, “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1Pe 4:8.) It is necessary, therefore, as Peter admonished, to be “sober,” and “watchful,” with reference to this “adversary.”
It would, however, be a fatal mistake to assume that Satan always identifies himself as such, or announces his intentions in advance. Often, he moves in and out among us quietly, politely, even piously, his influence as gentle as a summer zephyr until he has accomplished his evil designs. Not infrequently he is in the pulpit, affecting to be one of the Lord’s ministers: “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.” (2Co 11:13-15.) The test of a teacher is not to be sought in the piety he affects, but in the loyalty to the word of God which he evidences in word and in life.
and he will flee from you.—The devil is by no means as brave as he would like to appear to be. In a confrontation by the saints of God, he takes to his heels in flight, and abandons his effort, at least, for the time. Christians therefore need have no fear of the outcome if they stedfastly resist the devil. We are assured that no temptation is sufficient to overcome us (1Co 10:12-13), and the Lord left us an example in his effective use of the sword of the Spirit on the Mount of Temptation. (Mat 4:1-11.) Done in that fashion, the devil will flee from us, as he did in that historic encounter.
It is important to observe that we resist Satan only by a total rejection of his efforts. One who yields, even in the slightest degree, takes a step that may eventually lead to complete surrender. One who never tastes intoxicating liquors, for example, will never become a drunkard; one who yields to the temptation to try it “just once” may acquire a taste to him irresistible, being unable thenceforth to refrain from participation therein, and thus to become an alcoholic. We are safe, where Satan is involved, only by following James’ injunction, “Resist the devil. …
8 Draw nigh to God,- “Draw nigh,” ( enggisate, aorist active imperative of engg11s, near), is an injunction to get close to God! The tense designates a decisive and once-for-all act, which brooks of no loitering or hesitancy. This statement appears in close connection with, and should be regarded as a part of, the overall admonition of James in this section. Ve are, (1) to resist the devil ; (2) he will then flee from us ; (3) we are to stay close to God ; ( 4) God will then come close to us. In such a course alone is there safety. The edict of the writer here is a condition precedent to the favor of God which may be enjoyed only by those who thus do. David said to Solomon, “And you, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Jehovah searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts. If thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but i[ thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.” ( 1Ch 28:9.)
One does not draw near to God by an attempt to get close to him physically. As a matter of fact he is not far away from any of us (Act 17:28; Deu 4:7; Jer 23:23); even sinners cannot escape his presence. “Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in Sheol, behold thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall thy hand lead me. and thy right hand shall hold me.” (Psa 139:8-10.) We come near to God, when we study his word, worship him in spirit and in truth, and serve him faithfully. During one of Israel’s periods of faithfulness to God, Moses said, “Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as Jehovah my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the midst of the land whither ye go in to possess it. Keep therefore and do them: for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the people, that shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely, this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what great nation is there, that hath a god so nigh unto them, as Jehovah our God is whensoever we call upon him? And what great nation is there, that hath statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?” (Deu 4:5-8.)
The priests of the old order, when they came to the sanctuary, were said to draw nigh unto God (Exo 19:22); and, inasmuch as all Christians are priests today (1Pe 2:9), and thus privileged to approach God in worship, they come near him in worship. We are not from thence to infer that only on such occasions do we draw near him; we have seen that the tense of the verb “draw nigh” suggests a once-for-all act, and refers to a definite and decisive action in which one puts sin and Satan away, and comes to God. The verb is intransitive; the action is, therefore, man’s; while God draws by incentive, it is man’s responsibility to come to God. Of some Jesus affirmed, “And ye will not come to me, that ye may have life.” (Joh 5:40.)
and he will draw nigh to you.—This follows when we draw nigh to God. He will come close to us, if we come close to him! The verb here is future; and, the promise conditional. Asariah, by the Spirit of God, testified to Asa, “Jehovah is with you, while ye were with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.” (2Ch 15:2.) Paul reminded the Romans: “Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God’s goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” (Rom 11:22.) And Isaiah, in a familiar passage, admonished: “Seek ye Jehovah while he may be fot1nd; call ye upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isa 55:7-8.) ‘We may, therefore, as the Hebrew writer declares, “Draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith” (Heb 10:22), with the assurance that the Lord will welcome and receive us, and be pleased with our devotions. “All that which the Father giveth me shall come unto me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (Joh 6:37.) Those who choose to remain at a distance from deity need not expect to have showered upon them the blessings mankind needs.
Cleanse your hands, ye sinners;—“Cleanse,” katharisate, second person plural of the aorist active imperative of kathatizo, to cleanse, and often in a ritual sense, reflects the Jewish practice of purification (Mar 7:3; Mar 7:19; Exo 30:19-21); is remindful of the Levitical mode of worship in the temple and the tabernacle, and would, therefore, be most vivid in significance to the Jewish Christians among those to whom James wrote. Doubtless, the familiar phrase, “Draw nigh to God,” which precedes it, and which was so often used of those who approached God in the worship of the older order (Jewish worship), led on to this ritualistic phrase, “Cleanse your hands …. ” Those who came to the tabernacle in the wilderness. and to the temple in Jerusalem, were said to “draw nigh to God,” because his Holy Presence hovered there. And, as the priests were required to wash their hands and bodies before performing their duties in that worship, so worshippers today are “to cleanse” their “hands,” as a prerequisite to acceptable worship in the new order, Christianity. (Exo 30:20; 2Co 7:1.) The cleansing is, of course, figurative: and has reference to purity of life and of heart in our approach to God. This conception is a common one in the S.cripture, and the figurative usage is likewise frequently seen. “And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers I wilJ not hear; your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doing from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.” (Isa 1:15-17.)
Here, it is the “hands,” (cheiras) which are to be cleansed. Soiled hands are, in the Scriptures, a symbol of guilt: “So when Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; see ye to it.” (Matt. 37:24.) In this instance, Pilate assumed that clean hands would suffice, without regard to the condition of his heart. In contrast with this common view, Jesus said. “For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings, these are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not the man.” (MIatt. 15:19, 20.) The Pharisees erred in assuming that a ceremonial cleansing was sufficient; and, they placed little or no emphasis on purity of heart. Sinners cleanse their hands by putting away all guilt and all transgression; their hearts are purified in obedience to the truth: “Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love oi the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently.” ( 1Pe 1:22.) There is no article before the word “hands,” in the Greek text, and thus the noun is abstract in significance and stands for that which the hands do. Hands are the instrument by which deeds are done; to cleanse the hands is to cleanse our actions of wicked and unworthy deeds. David said, “I will wash my hands in innocency; so will I compass thine altar, 0 Jehovah; that I may make the voice of thanksgiving to be heard, and tell of all thy wondrous works.” (Psa 26:6-7.)
Those who are admonished to cleanse their hands are railed “sinners,” (/wnzartoloi) from the fact that their conduct was wholly reprehensible to God, even though they had obeyt:d the gospel and were, therefore, members of the church. It is noteworthy that the more common “brethren,” by which James usually addressed his readers gives way to this sharp term of reproach in this instance. This was doubtless done to impress them with the seriousness of the situation, and to shock them into action to remedy it. It was brought on by their friendship with the world; and it could be eliminated only by their immediate termination of this relationship. In a passage of similar import, Paul admonished the Corinthians: “Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belia!? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore,
Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate saitlt the Lord,
And touch no unclean thing;
And I will receive you,
And will be to you a Father,
And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2Co 6:14-18; 2Co 7:1.)
and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.—The word “purify,” (hagnisate, aorist active imperative of hagnizo, often to make dean in a ceremonial manner) has reference here to moral cleansing. (1Jn 3:3; 1Pe 1:22.) Here, too, the Jewish influence is to be seen, though the significance of the passage goes far beyond mere ceremonial purification, and requires the elimination of all sin from the heart and life insofar as it is possible for us so to do. To purify the heart has particular reference to the seat and source of sin in the individual; to cleanse the hands to the performance of the acts of sin. The heart is the spring of evil; the hands are (figuratively) the instruments by which the purposes of the sinful heart are accomplished. Thus, both the source and the means of sin arc to be purged, if one is to receive the blessings of grace earlier promised by James. As the reference to hands is without the article, so also is the word “hearts” without it. Hence, cleanse hands, purify hearts.
For the significance of the word translated “double-minded,” (dipsuchoi), in our text, see the comments thereon at Jas 1:8. The world is ever about us, and its influences are often exceedingly strong. It is most difficult for the best of people always to avoid the defilements of the age; and, not infrequently Christians feel totally different influences tugging at them. Those who tolerate this situation, and suffer it to continue, find themselves vascillating in their loyalties, influenced by conflicting inttrests, and with a divided allegiance. Consequently, they lack that unity of thought and singleness of purpose which ought to characterize them; and are, therefore, double-minded (literally, two minded men.) Such are religious in part, but none-the-less, long for the things of the world. A man with two minds is one who prays to God, yet has such a regard for the world that he is disposed to divide his attentions. He would, if he could, love the world, and live with God hereafter. Such is, of course, impossible; but, alas, how very many of us often appear to be trying to accomplish just this! It will be remembered that Abraham said to the rich man of Luke 16, “Son, remember that thou, in thy lifetime, receivest thy good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: but now here he is comforted, and thou art in anguish.” (Luk 16:25.) We must choose where we will have our “good things … it may be either here or hereafter; we cannot have them bnlh here and hereafter.” Jesus solemnly urged: “But seek ye first his kingdom and his righteousness.” (Mat 6:33.) Paul warned: “And have no fellowship (joint-participation), with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove (expose, bring to light) them.” ( Eph 5:11.)
9 be afflicted, and mourn, and weep:—The verb “be afflicted,” (talaiporesale, aorist active imperative) , signifies to be wretched, to carry and to be conscious of heavy burdens. Thus. these to whom James wrote are urged to become aware of the heavy load of sin they were carrying-the first requisite to repentance. The writer is not instructing them to impose upon them selves acts of penance on the ground that the greater the hardship suffered the more worthy of salvation they are; but to acquire :mch a sense of the enormity of their sin, that they will speedily turn irom ail such in genuine penitence. Those possessed of a deep sense of sin are wretched; Paul, in the remarkable passage of Romans 7, in contemplation of the man without the hope of the gospel, cried out, “Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out oi the body of this death?” (Rom 7:24.) This is the hopeless cry of the individual without Christ; and is a vivid representation oi the condition of every person conscious of the intolerable load oi sin borne without the knowledge of Christ and his cause, and the glorious relief it affords. This, Paul clearly indicates in the statement following: HI thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom 7:25.) Helpless and lost without him, there is hope and assurance in Christ.
This wretchedness, if properly felt, will result in mourning and weeping. People, deeply aware of their rebellion against God. will experience and exhibit grief for their sins. Peter wept bit terly over his tragic lapse; and the sinful woman of Luk 7:27-50. cried unashamedly at the feet of Jesus. Thus, those in the mind of James, far from glorifying in their guilt, should have felt distress and shame at their condition, and to have shown this remorse in mourning and weeping, rather than in laughter and joy. This passage should impress us all with the realization that we must not regard lightly a sinful life, and should not attempt to brush off, as a trivial and inconsequent thing our guilt: instead. we should be painfully conscious of, and feel the weight oi God’s displeasure when we have sinned, and should experience and gie evidence of grief therefore. Often, those most in need of repentancc are least concerned about it ; and those who ought to be exhibiting sorrow over sin, are gay, frivolous and vain. Such a disposition is wholly opposed to that which should characterize individuals under the censure of God.
let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.—We are not from this to assume that the Holy Spirit frowns upon the lighthearted and those often given to laughter and joy. Christianity is a happy religion, and those who are truly good should be genuinely happy. Our Lord honored, with his presence, a marriage feast (John 2 :lff), traditionally one of the most joyous of occasions. Contemplated here are those who ha Ye been in sin; who ought, therefore, to feel deeply the guilt involved, and to exhibit evidence of penitence. Those whose hands are stained with sin, and whose lives are polluted by the corruption of the world arc in no position to laugh and experience joy. Instead, they ought to mourn over their waywardness, and fall at the feet of Jesus for mercy. “Laughter.” (gelos), is not, of itself, sinful; it is indeed, one of God’s gracious gifts to those who are faithful: “Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he uphold the evil-doers. He will yet fill thy mouth with laughter, and thy lips with shouting.” (Job 8:20-21.) There is, however, a kind of laughter which issues from a wicked heart and which demonstrates perverseness and rebellion. Those who indulge in such laughter must eventually weep, not because of genuine penitence, but from an overwhelming sense of loss, when their sins have brought them into judgement: “Woe unto you, ye that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.” (Luk 6:25.) Those who weep from a sense of sin shall find comfort: “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” (Mat 5:4.)
The word for “mourning,” a term often joined with “weeping” (Mar 16:10; Rev 18:16), is penthesate, aorist active imperative of pentheo, a word which originally meant to lament over the dead, and then to designate any great grief, derives from the same root as that used by our Lord in the second of the Beatitudes. There was in the word a suggestion of exhibition of mourning; indeed, the ancient Greeks wore black tokens as evidence of it; and James emphasizes here that the light-hearted laughter (which all can hear), ought to be turned into mourning (which all can see). Moreover, the “joy” which some of those to whom James wrote were experiencing was to be turned into “heaviness.” It should be noted that there are two pairs of contrasts drawn in this section: laughter and mourning, joy and heaviness. The laughter is to be turned into mourning, the joy into heaviness. The first pair is largely outward in character; the second pair is more nearly dispositions of heart. The word translated “heaviness,” katepheian, is compounded from kata. down and phae, eyes; hence, one with downcast eyes, one whose appearance is that of sorrowful dejection. An instance of this disposition is to be seen in the case of the publican who would not so much as lift his eyes heavenward, “but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner.” (Luk 18:13.) This attitude is not to be identified with moroseness of spirit and a gloomy disposition; it is a sobering consciousness of the weight and guilt of sin. Now, as then, there are many who ought to be penitent, sad and contrite over their sins, but who are vain, gay and frivolous, and for whom a day of terrible judgment awaits.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,—The spirit of humility is peculiarly characteristic of all faithful disciples and is enjoined again and again in the sacred writings. (Matt. 23:12: 18:3.) The phrase, “humble yourselves,” is from the Greek tapeinothete, aorist passive imperative of tapeino, and literally means be humbled, rather than “humble yourselves.” Occasionally. the passive has a middle or reflective sense, and this may well be its significance here. Whether one humbles oneself, or suffers oneself to be humbled, the result is the same; and is that which is here enjoined. Humility is the voluntary acceptance of a place of lowliness in order to be pleasing to God. While James had in mind humility in the act of repentance here, humility of life is repeatedly taught in the New Testament. Peter, for example, wrote: “Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another; for God resisteth the proud but giveth grace to the humble.” (1Pe 5:5.) Earlier, Peter had set out duties applicable to different groups and individuals; here, the effort to designate obligations of the separate classes is dropped and the duty of all declared. It is as if the apostle had said, “Why should I attempt to specify particular duties for each class when one injunction will cover them all? All of you gird yourselves with humility to serve one another.” “Gird yourselves,” is translated from the Greek verb engkombomai, a term of exceeding interest and significance. The noun from which it is derived (kombos), signifies a knot; and the noun form means to tie with a knot. From this noun the verb of our text, denoting the garment thus tied on, is derived. It was used at the beginning of the Christian era of the white scarf or apron which slaves wore tightly fastened around the waist to distinguish them from freemen. Used figuratively here, the meaning, “Tie on humility like a .slave’s apron.” The saints were thus to array themselves in humility; to tie it on securely like a garment so that it might never fall away. Peter probably had a vivid mental picture of the Lord’s action when he tied a towel about him and washed the disciple’s feet, as he penned these words. (Joh 13:10-17.) The statements of Peter and James are almost identical here. (Cf. Jas 4:10 with 1Pe 5:5.)
It is possible for one to appear humble when the motive is not right; to be acceptable, it must be for the purpose of pleasing God, and not in order to obtain the plaudits of men. We have, in the story of the prodigal son, a splendid example of humility and contrition. Said he, when he had come to himself in the far country, “I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight; I am no more worthy to be called thy son : make me as one of thy hired servants.” (Luk 15:18-19.) And, as the father rejoiced to have his lost son return, so God will gladly receive and restore and exalt his returning prodigals.
and he shall exalt you.—“He,” is God, the Father, against whom all sin is committed; though the reference may simply be to deity which, in this case is one, insofar as sin is concerned. When men sin, they sin against the entire Godhead,the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Peter said to the first detected liar and hypocrite in the early church, “Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained did not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.” (Act 5:3-5.)
The way to true exaltation is through humility. Our Lorcl said, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.” (Mat 23:12.) This teaches us that the way up is first down; the road to genuine greatness is along the way of complete surrender. Those who turn to God in penitence, however great their sin, are assured of full and complete pardon. David, keenly conscious of the enormity of his sin, humbly confessed it, and begged for mercy: ”Have mercy upon me, 0 God, according to thy loving kindness; according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions .. . Create in me a clean heart, 0 God, and renew a right spirit with me.” Assured that God would do this, he penned a statement that has brought hope and comfort to countless thousands who have also transgressed the law of God, and are burdened with a heavy load of sin: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart. 0 God, thou wilt not despise!” (Psa 51:1-19.)
Submit: 1Sa 3:18, 2Sa 15:26, 2Ki 1:13-15, 2Ch 30:8, 2Ch 33:12, 2Ch 33:13, Job 1:21, Job 40:3-5, Job 42:1-6, Psa 32:3-5, Psa 66:3, Psa 68:30, Jer 13:18, Dan 4:25, Dan 4:32, Dan 4:34-37, Mat 11:29, Act 9:6, Act 16:29-31, Act 26:19, Rom 10:3, Rom 14:11, Eph 5:21, Heb 12:9, 1Pe 2:13
Resist: Mat 4:3-11, Luk 4:2-13, Eph 4:27, Eph 6:11, Eph 6:12, 1Pe 5:8, 1Pe 5:9, Rev 12:9-11
Reciprocal: Deu 10:16 – stiffnecked 2Sa 22:28 – but thine Job 8:5 – thou wouldest Job 9:13 – the proud helpers Job 42:6 – I Psa 32:9 – Be ye Psa 99:2 – high Dan 4:37 – those that walk Mat 4:10 – Get Luk 4:8 – Get Luk 4:13 – General Luk 23:41 – we indeed Act 3:19 – be Act 5:3 – why Heb 13:17 – submit Jam 4:10 – Humble 1Jo 5:17 – and
THE COMBAT WITH EVIL
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Jam 4:7
Temptation is the root of sin: if you want to fight against sin you must look to the root of it, and you must resist temptation. Christ came to show us how to resist temptation in order that we might not fall into sin. The history of Christs temptation is meant to teach us what temptation is, what kinds of temptations there are, where it comes from, and how to overcome it when it comes. When any one is being taught a trade, his master explains to him what he is to do, and then lets him look on while he does it. So Christ in the wilderness is teaching us what we have to do, and showing us how to do it. Christ was tempted by the devil.
I. It was the devil that tempted Christ. So it is the devil that tempts you.Remember this. It is not yourself only you are pleasing when you do anything that is wrong. Very often when men do wrong they are not pleasing themselves at all. They are uncomfortable all the while, and only fancy that they enjoy it. But whether it pleases them or not, whether they enjoy their sins or not, it is the devil who is really being best pleased. Every time you think a bad thought or read a bad book there is the devil looking on and enjoying the fact of your being so wicked and so foolish as to let him entrap you into doing what will make you miserable. It is the devil who puts it into the hearts of young men to be profane and foolish talkers. It is the devil who puts it into the hearts of young women to be conceited and giddy and light. It is the devil who sets you upon talking scandal, or upon cheating or lying or Sabbath-breaking. It is the devil who finds you in excuses for staying away from Holy Communion, or makes you get into quarrels with your neighbours. It is the devil who is waiting outside the church door to pick up any good thoughts which have been sown in your hearts and fly away with them before they have had time to settle in your minds and bring forth any fruit.
II. Try and think what a dreadful thought this really is.Suppose God were to open the eyes of your souls so that you could really see what is going on, how it would startle you and terrify you. And yet it is real; but people go on sinning, for they dont see it. When a man is going into a bad action, or when a girl is going astray, there is really the devil leading them quietly on, giving them just a little push here or a pull there, as he sees they will take it, watching them and gradually helping them on in their badness, until at last he lands them in some great sin; and then the devil is pleased, for he has got what he wanted. And so it is in quarrelling. There were several different ways in which Christ was tempted, just as there are many different ways in which we are tempted. And one great use of the history is that it shows us that whatever way it was that Christ was tempted, it was the devil all the same who was tempting Him. The devil may deceive us, but he could not deceive Christ. Christ saw that it was the devil, and He said at last, Get thee behind Me, Satan.
II. Resisting the devil.The devil saw it was of no use, and he left off tempting Christ. It is so with us; let whatever will be the way in which we are tempted, whether it is to think too much of ourselves, or to be greedy and covetous about getting on in life, or to fear the worlds opinion and neglect the worship of God, be it what it may, it is the devil all the same, and what we have to do is to speak out plainly and say, Get thee behind me, Satan. Satan knows quite well that the moment we see it is he that is tempting us we are on the high road to overcoming him.
III. Overcoming the devil.As soon as Christ said, Get thee hence, Satan, so soon, we read, then the devil leaveth Him. And if we will say the same and mean itand call on Christ to say it for us also to the devilthen the devil will flee away, and all on a sudden you will find that you do not care one bit for the very thing you were only just now wishing to do. Only be firm, make up your mind that it is not you that is wishing the evil, but that it is the devil who is trying to make you wish it, and then, as you tell him to get him hence, ask Christ to drive the devil away, and you will find yourself left in peace. And then good angels will come round you, and good thoughts will be put into your mind, and you will wonder how you could have been so foolish as ever before to have let the devil have his way with you and lead you into wrong at all.
Jas 4:7. Submit yourselves calls for a voluntary act on the part of man, else his pride will come up against the resistance of God. Resist requires more than a mere aversion to the devil; it calls for active opposition. If a disciple will put up that kind of fight he is assured of victory over the enemy.
Jas 4:7. Now follow several exhortations to enforce humility and the subjection of the passions.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Because God resisteth the proud, therefore submit yourselves to Him. Submission is the first step of the sinners return to Cod; and the same spirit of submission accompanies the believer in every succeeding stage. Submission is the parent of patience, contentment, freedom from petulance, trust, hope, and other blessed and peaceful graces; whereas the want of submission gives rise to ungoverned desires, envy, hatred, and all those passions which are the cause of bitter contentions.
Resist the devil. Submission to God implies resistance to all that is evil, and to the devil the spirit of evil, especially as the devil is the author of pride and contention. We must realize our spiritual enemy, and resist him with spiritual weapons (Eph 6:11; Eph 6:16), especially by the exercise of constant watchfulness and prayer on our part. Compare the words of St. Peter: Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith (1Pe 5:8-9).and he will flee from you. We may, says Benson, chase away the devil not by holy water, nor by the sign of the cross, but by steady virtue and resolute goodness.
That is, “Submit to his government and authority, to his preceptive and commanding will, and to his providential and disposing will: submit yourselves to the guidance of his word, to the direction of his Spirit, to the conduct of his providence; submit your whole selves to the whole law and will of God; let all your thoughts, affections, words, and actions, be guided according to the strict rules of the word of God; but resist the devil, by no means do not submit or yield an inch to him: the only way to overcome Satan is, not by yielding to him, but by resisting and opposing of him; Satan is both a conquered enemy and a cowardly enemy, though he has a bold face, yet a faint heart; resist him, and he will flee from you.”
Observe here, 1. The devil’s active enmity and continual hostility against man, implied and supposed: Satan is continually busy with us, that is, the apostate spirit, and the spirit of apostacy lodged in our natures: wherever we see malice, revenge, envy, hatred, pride, and self-love, there is that evil spirit which is so inimical and injurous to us, that is, Venenum serpentis diabolici, “The sting and poison, the very soul and spirit of the apostate nature.”
Observe, 2. The Christian’s duty discovered, and that is, not to yield but resist and oppose; we must either resist him, or be taken captive by him; if we do not resist him, we shall never get rid of him: if once we parley and treat with him, we must expect to be triumphed over, and trampled upon by him.
Observe, 3. The certainty of success declared, he will flee from you; every denial is a discouragement to Satan, the strength of his temptations lie in our treachery and falseness; we are false within ourselves, otherwise all his power and malice could not hurt us; however, if we continue our resistance, the holy Spirit will come in with his assistance, he will be our second in the field, and we shall find, that stronger is he that is in us, than he that is in the world; the God of peace will bruise Satan under our feet shortly.
The Means of Overcoming Fleshly Desire
So, instead of yielding to wrongful desire, we should make ourselves subject to God by obeying his will. Paul reminded Timothy that a warrior fights for his leader and carefully avoids being turned aside by desires which might lead him contrary to that leader’s will ( 2Ti 2:3-4 ). We must stand in battle array, which is the idea of the word “resist,” against the devil. To do this, we must put on the Christian armor ( Eph 6:10-18 ) and stand steadfastly for God in loving obedience to his will that the victory might be ours ( 1Co 15:58 ; Heb 10:39 ). If we do stand against the devil, he will run from us ( Jas 4:7 ; Compare Mat 4:1-11 ).
Having resisted the devil, we should draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to us. The way to draw nigh to God is through purification. The reference here would have caused Jewish converts to remember the cleansing of the priests before they performed their duties ( Exo 30:17-21 ). Sin will not allow us to get close to God ( Isa 59:1-2 ). So, we must be cleansed from our sins ( Act 22:16 ). The heart is critical in such cleansing because the issues of life flow out of it ( Pro 4:23 ; Mat 15:19-29 ). Our cleansing comes from obeying the truth ( Jas 4:8 ; 1Pe 1:22 ).
Verse 7
Resist the devil; the temptations and excitements to sin, represented as offered by Satan.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God” has some serious implications for the believer. Submit means to put yourself under, or to be obedient. 1Pe 2:13 uses it in the area of us being under every ordinance of man. Rom 12:1-2 are familiar to all of us – give ourselves to God as a living sacrifice. We are to be obedient to His commands, His will and His desire.
I might add that Col 3:18 uses this same word in the context of wives submitting to their husbands – rather puts a new light on that passage to see “submit” being what it is here in James.
The “submit” is of interest since it is an aorist passive indicating that it is a one time act rather than the daily type ritual of the deeper life people. The passive voice is also of interest in that the passive normally indicates that the subject is being acted upon by something without. A submission of ourselves in a one time act, where the action is caused by something from without.
God through James tells us that due to outside forces, we are to submit to God. What could this be? What occurrence in the Christian life is this speaking of?
a. Salvation. God draws the nonbeliever to Himself and through the persons decision for God; God produces all those glorious elements of salvation in and around the person making them a believer. The submission in this case would be that decision to believe in God.
b. A one time commitment to serve God to the fullest extent of the persons most sincere commitment. This might entail that “supposed” Spirit whelming that some speak of that accompanies their commitment to Him. What this “whelming” is differs between people, but is usually described as sudden outpouring of the Spirit which they can barely stand.
c. That point in time when you realize the facts contained in James are reality and incumbent upon the believer, and you make that commitment to walk with God in all meekness and humility, seeking His wisdom for your continued, committed Christian life before mankind, knowing that it is God living in and through you that will accomplish His will in your life.
Note, that FIRST we are to submit ourselves to God, and then we RESIST the Devil – a sequence that is to be followed for least consequences.
“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” How do we resist the Devil?
a. By submitting to God, is actually the answer. If we are properly submitted to God, we automatically are resisting the Devil. To me the clear implication of this verse is that we resist the Devil by submitting to God. One dictates the other.
b. Others suggest prayer, and often have little catch phrases as “plead the blood” and “set a circle of protection” etc., but the passage seems to dwell on submit.
c. I have heard some suggest a separated walk – isn’t that what submission to God is?
d. Yet others suggest, turning down his every advance.
One of the meanings for “flee” relates to the seeking of safety by flight. Might we understand this to mean that the Devil knows the power of a submitted Christian? Oh, that believers around the world would understand this truth and submit to God for the glory of God.
2Ti 2:22 relates well “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
In Gen 39:10-12 it speaks of Joseph fleeing the Devil – “Got him out” – he didn’t stand around praying about the situation, he didn’t sit down beside her to challenge the Devil, he ran as fast as he could from the situation.
4:7 {5} Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
(5) The conclusion: We must set the positive virtues against those vices, and therefore whereas we obeyed the suggestions of the devil, we must submit our minds to God and resist the devil with a certain and assured hope of victory. In short, we must endeavour to come near to God by purity and sincerity of life.
In view of God’s certain supply of this grace we need to adopt a definite stance toward the people involved in this conflict. Ten aorist imperatives in Jas 4:7-10 demand decisive action. They sound like military commands and reflect how seriously James viewed double-mindedness. [Note: Hiebert, James, p. 236.]
Toward God we must submit in humility. This means making what is of importance to Him important to us, ordering our priorities in harmony with God’s priorities. It means not living to fulfill our personal ambitions but using our lives to fulfill His desires. Submission is not identical to obedience. Submission involves the surrender of the will that results in obedience.
We must resist Satan strongly. When we do, he will flee from us. What is Satan trying to get us to do? The record of his temptations, including those of Eve and Jesus Christ, indicates that he wants to make us doubt, deny, disregard, and disobey God’s Word (cf. Genesis 3; Matthew 4). We resist him by refusing to do these things.
Chapter 20
THE POWER OF SATAN AND ITS LIMITS-HUMILITY THE FOUNDATION OF PENITENCE AND OF HOLINESS.
Jam 4:7-10
SUBMISSION to God is the beginning, middle, and end of the prodigals return from disastrous familiarity with the world to the security of the Fathers home. A readiness to submit to whatever He may impose is the first step in the conversion, just as unwillingness to surrender ones own will is the first step towards revolt and desertion. “I am no more worthy to be called Thy son: make me as one of Thy hired servants.” As soon as the resolve to make this act of submission is formed, the turning-point between friendship with the world and fidelity to God has been passed. The homeward path is not an easy one, but it is certain, and those who unflinchingly take it are sure of a welcome at the end of it. The prodigal Was tenderly received back by his offended father, and these adulterous souls will be admitted to their old privileges again, if they will but return. God has given them no bill of divorcement to put them away forever. {Isa 1:1} “If a man put away his wife, and she go from him and become another mans, shall he return unto her again? Shall not that land be greatly polluted? But thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to Me, saith the Lord”. {Jer 3:1} An amount of mercy and forgiveness which cannot be shown by an earthly husband to his unfaithful wife is readily promised by God.
But the return must be a complete one. There must be every guarantee that the penitent is in earnest and has utterly broken with the past. And St. James with affectionate sternness points out the necessary steps towards reconciliation. He will not be guilty of the crime of those who “have healed the hurt of the daughter of My people lightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace”. {Jer 8:11} The results of intimacy with the world cannot be undone in a day, and there is painful work to be done before the old relationship can be restored between the soul and its God.
Among the most grievous consequences of yielding to the world and its ways are the weakening of the will and the lowering of the moral tone. They come gradually, but surely; and they act and react upon one another. The habitual shirking of the sterner duties of life, and the living in an atmosphere of self-indulgence, enervate the will; and the conscious adoption of a standard of life which is not approved by conscience is in itself a lowering of tone. And this is one of the essential elements of worldliness. The pleas that “I cant help it,” and that “everybody does it,” are among the most common excuses urged by those whose citizenship is not in heaven, {Php 3:20} but in that commonwealth of which Satan is the presiding power. They like to believe that temptations are irresistible, and that there is no obligation to rise above the standard of morality which those about them profess to accept. Such men deliberately surrender to what they know to be evil, and place what they think to be expedient above what they know to be right, forgetting that even the worldlings who set them this low standard, and openly defend it, very often do not really approve it, but despise while they applaud the man that conforms to it.
St. James enters an earnest and simple protest against the weak plea that temptations are irresistible. To maintain that is to assert that the Evil One has more will and power to destroy mankind than God has to save them. The truth is exactly the other way. God not only allows to Satan no power to coerce a man into sin, but He Himself is ever ready to aid when He is faithfully prayed to do so. Every Christian is endowed with sufficient power to withstand Satan, if only the will to withstand is present, because he has the power to summon God to his assistance. “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”; that is one side of the blessed truth; and the other is its correlative: “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.”
It will be observed that St. James, quite as much as St. Peter, or St. Paul, or St. John, speaks of the chief power of evil as a person. The passage is not intelligible on any other interpretation; for there is a manifest and telling antithesis between the devil who yields to opposition, and the God who responds to invitation. It is a contrast between two personal agencies. Whether St. James was aware of the teaching of the Apostles on this point is not of great moment; his own teaching is clear enough. As a Jew he had been brought up in the belief that there are evil spiritual beings of whom Satan is the chief, and since he became a Christian he had never been required to revise this belief. He was probably well aware of the teaching of Jesus Christ as to the real source of temptations. He may have heard Christs own interpretation of the birds in the parable of the Sower: “And when they have heard, straightway cometh Satan, and taketh away the word which hath been sown in them”. {Mat 4:15} He probably had heard of Christs declaration to St. Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat: but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not,” {Luk 22:31} where we have a contrast similar to this, an infernal person on one side, and a Divine Person on the other, of the man assailed by temptation. How easy to have interpreted the birds in the parable as the impersonal solicitations of a depraved nature, the hearers own evil tendencies; and perhaps if we had not possessed Christs own explanation we should so have explained the birds by the wayside. But. Christ seems to have made use of this, the queen of all the parables, {Mar 4:13} in order to teach that a personal enemy there is, who is ever on the watch to deprive us of what will save our souls. And the warning to St. Peter might easily have been given in a form that would not have implied a personal tempter. Nor do these two striking passages stand alone in our Lords teaching. How unnecessary to speak of the woman who “was bowed together, and could in nowise lift up herself,” as one “whom Satan had bound,” unless He desired to sanction and enforce this belief. {Luk 14:11; Luk 14:16} And why speak of having “beheld Satan fall as lightning from heaven” {Luk 10:18} unless He had this desire? When the Jews said that He cast out devils by the aid of the prince of the devils, it would have been a much more complete contradiction to have replied that no such person existed, than to argue that Satan was not likely to fight against his own interests. If the belief in personal powers of evil is a superstition, Jesus Christ had ample opportunities of correcting it; and He not only steadfastly abstained from doing so, but in very marked ways, both by His acts and by His teaching, He did a great deal to encourage and inculcate the belief. He showed no sympathy with the skepticism of the Sadducees about such things. He argued convincingly against them as regards the doctrine of the resurrection and a future life, and He gave full sanction to the belief in angels and spirits, both good and bad. There is no need to lay much stress upon the disputed meaning of the last petition in the Lords Prayer; the evidence is quite ample without that. Yet those who are convinced that “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil,” must mean, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the tempter,” have a very important piece of evidence to add to all the rest. Is a gross superstition embodied in the very wording of the model prayer?
In this volume is a passage on this subject respecting which a very friendly critic has said that he cannot quite see the force of it. As the argument is of value, it may be worth while to state it here more clearly. The statement criticized is the concluding sentence of the following passage: “It has been said that if there were no God we should have to invent one; and with almost equal truth we might say that if there were no devil we should have to invent One. Without a belief in God bad men would have little to induce them to conquer their evil passions; without a belief in a devil good men would have little hope of ever being able to do so.” The meaning of the last statement is this, that if good men were compelled to believe that all the devilish suggestions which rise up in their minds come from themselves alone, they might well be in despair of ever getting the better of themselves or of curing a nature capable of producing such offspring. But when they know that “a power, not themselves, which makes for” wickedness is the source of these diabolical temptations, then they can have confidence that their own nature is not so hopelessly corrupt but that, with the help of “the Power, not themselves, that makes for righteousness” they will be able to gain the victory.
The plea that the devil is irresistible, and that therefore to yield to temptation is inevitable, is only another form of the fallacy, against which St. James has already protested, of trying to shift the responsibility of temptation from oneself to God. {Jam 1:13-15} It is the old fallacy carried a stage farther. The former plea has reference to the temptation; the present one has reference to the fall. As regards both the facts are conclusive. We often provoke our own temptations; we always can resist them if we in faith draw nigh to God for protection. “To this end the Son of man was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” {1Jn 3:8} And the Son of God preserveth every child of God, “and the evil one toucheth him not”. {1Jn 5:18} But the man himself must consent and co-operate, for God saves no man against his will. “Return unto Me, and I will return unto you,” is the principle of the Old Covenant; {Zec 1:3} and “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you,” is the principle of the New.
The converse of this is true also, and it is a fact of equal solemnity and of great awfulness. Resist God, and He will depart from you. Draw nigh to the devil, and he will draw nigh to you. If we persist in withstanding Gods grace, He will at last leave us to ourselves. His Spirit will not always strive with us; but at last He Himself hardens the heart which we have closed against him, for He allows things to take their course, and the heart which refuses to be softened by the dew of His grace must become harder and harder. And the more we place ourselves in the devils way, by exposing ourselves to needless temptations, the more diligently he will seek us and abide with us. Those who voluntarily take up their abode in the tents of ungodliness have surrendered all claim to be kept unspotted from the world. They have lost their right to join in the cry, “Why standest Thou afar off, O Lord? Why hidest Thou Thyself in times of trouble?”
But the hands which one raises in prayer to God must be cleansed by withholding them from all evil practices, and from all grasping after the contaminating gifts of the world; and the heart must be purified by the quenching of unholy desires and the cultivation of a godly spirit. In this St. James is but repeating the principles laid down by the Psalmist: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? and who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart”. {Psa 24:3-4} And in similar language we find Clement of Rome exhorting the Corinthians, “Let us therefore approach Him in holiness of soul, lifting up pure and undefiled hands unto Him” (29). In all these instances the external instruments of human conduct are mentioned along with the internal source of it.
St. James is not addressing two classes of people when he says, “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.” Every one whose hands have wrought unrighteousness is a sinner who needs this cleansing; and every one who attempts to draw nigh to God, without at the same time surrendering all unholy desires, is a double-minded man who needs this purification. The “halting between two opinions,” between God and Mammon, and between Christ and the world, is fatal to true conversion and efficacious prayer. What is necessary, therefore, for these sinners of double mind, is outward amendment of life and inward purification of the desires. “The sinner that goeth two ways” must with “a single eye” direct his path along the narrow way. “Whoso walketh uprightly shall be delivered; but he that walketh perversely in two ways shall fall at once”. {Pro 28:18} The whole exhortation is in spirit very similar to the second half of the second chapter of Ecclesiasticus. Note especially the concluding verses: “They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts and humble their souls in His sight, saying, We will fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men; for as His majesty is, so is His mercy.”
There must be no “light healing,” or treatment of the grievous sins of the past as of no moment. There must be genuine sorrow for the unfaithfulness which has separated them so long from their God, and for the pride which has betrayed them into rebellion against Him. “Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep.” The first verb refers to the inward feeling of wretchedness, the other two to the outward expression of it. These two are found in combination in several passages, both in the Old Testament and in the New. {2Sa 19:2; Neh 8:9; Mar 16:10; Luk 6:25; Rev 18:15; Rev 18:19} The feelings of satisfaction and self-sufficiency in which these friends of the world have hitherto indulged, and the glowing complacency which has been manifest in their demeanor, have been quite out of place, and must be exchanged for feelings and manifestations of grief. Their worldly merriment also must be abandoned; those who have cut themselves off from God have no true spring of joy. “Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.” The last word (), which occurs nowhere else in Scripture, refers primarily to the dejected look which accompanies heaviness of heart. The writer of the Book of Wisdom uses the adjective () to express the “gloomy phantoms with unsmiling faces” which he supposes to have appeared to the Egyptians during the plague of darkness (17:4). The term admirably expresses the opposite of boisterous lightheartedness.
St. James ends as he began, with submission to the Almighty. He began his exhortation as to the right method of conversion with “Be subject unto God.” He ends with “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” The root of their worldliness and their grasping at wealth and honor is pride and self-will, and the cure for that is self-abasement and self-surrender. If it is Gods will that they should occupy a lowly place in society, let them humbly accept their lot, and not try to change it by violence or fraud. If they will but remember their own transgressions against the Lord, they will admit that the humblest place is not too humble for their merits; and it is the humble whom God delights to honor. Here, again, St. James is reproducing the teaching of his Divine Brother: “Every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted”. {Luk 14:11; Mat 23:12} And the Old Testament teaches the same lesson. “The humble person He shall save,” says Eliphaz the Temanite; {Job 22:29} and the Psalmist gives us both sides of the Divine law of compensation: “Thou wilt save the afflicted people; but the haughty eyes Thou wilt bring down”. {Psa 18:27}
“Humble yourselvesHe that humbleth himself.” Everything depends on that. It must be self-abasement. There is nothing meritorious in chancing to be in a humble position, still less in being forced to descend to one. It is the voluntary acceptance, or the choice, of a lowly place that is pleasing to God. We must choose it as knowing that we deserve nothing better, and as Wishing that others should be promoted rather than ourselves. And this must be done “in the sight of the Lord”; not in self-consciousness, “to be seen of men,” which is “the pride that apes humility,” but in the consciousness of the ineffable presence of God. That is the source of all true self-abasement and humility. To realize that we are in the presence of the All-holy and All-pure, in whose sight the stars are not clean, and who charges even the angels with folly, is to feel that all differences of merit between man and man have faded away in the immeasurable abyss which separates our own insignificance and pollution from the majesty of His holiness. “Now mine eye seeth Thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes,” is the language of Job. {Job 42:5-6} And it was the same feeling which wrung from St. Peter, as he fell down at Jesus knees, the agonizing cry, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” {Luk 5:8} Hence it is that the most saintly persons are always the most humble; for they realize most perfectly the holiness of God and the ceaselessness of His presence, and are therefore best able to appreciate the contrast between their own miserable imperfections and His unapproachable purity. The language which they at times use about themselves is sometimes suspected of unreality and exaggeration, if not of downright hypocrisy; but it is the natural expression of the feelings of one who knows a great deal about the difference between a creature who is habitually falling into sin and One who, in holiness, as in wisdom and power, is absolute and infinite perfection. Humility is thus the beginning and end of all true religion. The sinner who turns to God must be humble; and this is the humility which St. James is urging. And the saint, as he approaches nearer to God, will be humble; for he knows what the approach has cost him, and how very far off he still remains.
“And He will exalt you.” This is the result, not the motive. To strive to be humble in order to be exalted would be to poison the virtue at its source. Just as the conscious pursuit of happiness is fatal to its attainment, so also the conscious aim at Divine promotion. The way to be happy is not to think about ones own happiness, but to sacrifice it to that of others; and the way to be exalted by God is not to think of ones own advancement, but to devote oneself to the advancement of others. The exaltation is sure to come, if only humility is attained; an exaltation of which there is a foretaste even in this life, but the full fruition of which lies in those unknown glories which await the humble Christian in the world to come.
Fuente: Everett’s Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
Fuente: Mr. D’s Notes on Selected New Testament Books by Stanley Derickson
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Expositors Bible Commentary