James 1:14-22

Testing of Your Faith

14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire x when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and y sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 z Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from a the Father of lights b with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 1 18 c Of his own will he d brought us forth by the word of truth, e that we should be a kind of f firstfruits of his creatures.

Hearing and Doing the Word

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.

  1. Cross References
    Job 15:35
    They conceive trouble and give birth to evil, and their womb prepares deceit.
    Psalms 7:14
    Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies.
    Isaiah 59:4
    No one enters suit justly; no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.
  2. Cross References
    Romans 5:12
    Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned -
    Romans 6:23
    For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  3. Cross References
    Psalms 85:12
    Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
    John 3:27
    John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.
    1 Corinthians 4:7
    For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
  4. Cross References
    1 John 1:5
    This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
  5. Cross References
    Malachi 3:6
    For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
  6. Cross References
    John 1:13
    Who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
  7. Cross References
    Galatians 4:19
    My little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!
    1 Peter 1:3
    Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
    1 Peter 1:23
    Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.
  8. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:12
    So that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
  9. Cross References
    Jeremiah 2:3
    Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest. All who ate of it incurred guilt; disaster came upon them, declares the Lord.
    Revelation 14:4
    It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb.
    Romans 8:19 - 23
    For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. Cross References
    Proverbs 14:29
    Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
  14. Cross References
    Colossians 3:8
    But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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...
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.