From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Ver. 1. From whence come wars] That is, word wars, needless and endless strifes and contentions. The Greek word πολεμοι properly signifies quarrels that cause much bloodshed.
Among you] Being, 1. Brethren; and that one consideration should quash all quarrels; and should be like the angel that stayed Abraham's hand when the blow was coming. 2. Scattered brethren, James 1:1; and should not misery breed unity? Is it not enough, that blows great store are dealt you by the common adversary, but your own must add to the violence? Surely all unkind and unchristian strifes would easily be composed, did we not forget that we are brethren and fellow sufferers.
Even of your lusts] Gr. νδονων, of your pleasures, for wicked men take pleasure in unrighteousness, it is their meat and drink, Proverbs 4:17, they cannot sleep, nay, live without it, James 4:16. Look how Tartarians feed upon carrion with as great delight as we do upon venison; as the Turkish galley slaves eat opium as if it were bread, and as the maid in Pliny fed on spiders, and digested them into nourishment; so do sensualists feed upon sin's murdering morsels, and swallow them down with delight.