Hearing and Doing the Word

James 1

19 g Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person h be quick to hear, i slow to speak, j slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore k put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with l meekness the implanted word, m which is able to save your souls.

22 But be n doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, o the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, p he will be blessed in his doing.

26 If anyone thinks he is religious q and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's r religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: s to visit t orphans and widows in their affliction, and u to keep oneself v unstained from the world.

  1. Cross References
    1 John 2:21
    I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
  2. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 5:1 - 2
    Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.
  3. Cross References
    Proverbs 10:19
    When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
    Proverbs 17:27
    Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
  4. Cross References
    Proverbs 14:29
    Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
  5. Cross References
    Colossians 3:8
    But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
  6. Cross References
    James 3:13
    Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
  7. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 15:2
    And by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you - unless you believed in vain.
    Ephesians 1:13
    In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
  8. Cross References
    Romans 2:13
    For it is not the hearers of the law who are ri...
    James 2:14 - 20
    What good is it, my brothers, if someone says h...
    Matthew 7:21
    Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will...
    Matthew 7:24 - 27
    Everyone then who hears these words of mine and...
    Luke 8:21
    But he answered them, "My mother and my brother...
    John 13:17
    If you know these things, blessed are you if yo...
  9. Cross References
    James 2:12
    So speak and so act as those who are to be judg...
    Galatians 2:4
    Yet because of false brothers secretly brought ...
    Galatians 5:1
    For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm ...
    Galatians 5:13
    For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only ...
    1 Peter 2:16
    Live as people who are free, not using your fre...
    2 Peter 2:19
    They promise them freedom, but they themselves ...
    John 8:32
    And you will know the truth, and the truth will...
  10. Cross References
    Psalms 1:1 - 2
    Book One Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers.
    Luke 11:28
    But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!
  11. Cross References
    James 3:2 - 3
    For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
    Psalms 39:1
    I said, "I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.
    James 3:6
    And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
    Psalms 34:13
    Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
    Psalms 141:3
    Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!
  12. Cross References
    Acts 26:5
    They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee.
  13. Cross References
    Matthew 25:36
    I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.
  14. Cross References
    Job 31:17 - 18
    Or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it
    Isaiah 1:17
    Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.
    Isaiah 1:23
    Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not bring justice to the fatherless, and the widow's cause does not come to them.
  15. Cross References
    1 Timothy 5:22
    Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.
    1 John 5:18
    We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
  16. Cross References
    2 Peter 3:14
    Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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