James 4 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

From whence come wars and fightings — Quarrels and wars among you, quite opposite to this peace? Is it not from your pleasures — Your desires of earthly pleasures. Which war — Against your souls. In your members — Here is the first seat of the war. Hence proceeds the war of man with man, king with king, nation with nation.

Ye kill — In your heart, for "he that hateth his brother is a murderer." Ye fight and war — That is, furiously strive and contend. Ye ask not — And no marvel; for a man full of evil desire, of envy or hatred, cannot pray.

But if ye do ask, ye receive not, because ye ask amiss — That is, from a wrong motive.

Ye adulterers and adulteresses — Who have broken your faith with God, your rightful spouse. Know ye not that the friendship or love of the world — The desire of the flesh, the desire of the eye, and the pride of life, or courting the favour of worldly men, is enmity against God? Whosoever desireth to be a friend of the world — Whosoever seeks either the happiness or favour of it, does thereby constitute himself an enemy of God; and can he expect to obtain anything of him?

Do you think that the scripture saith in vain — Without good ground. St. James seems to refer to many, not any one particular scripture. The spirit of love that dwelleth in all believers lusteth against envy — Galatians 5:17; is directly opposite to all those unloving tempers which necessarily flow from the friendship of the world.

But he giveth greater grace — To all who shun those tempers. Therefore it — The scripture. Saith, God resisteth the proud — And pride is the great root of all unkind affections. Proverbs 3:34

Therefore by humbly submitting yourselves to God, resist the devil — The father of pride and envy.

Then draw nigh to God in prayer, and he will draw nigh unto you, will hear you; which that nothing may hinder, cleanse your hands — Cease from doing evil. And purify your hearts — From all spiritual adultery. Be no more double minded, vainly endeavouring to serve both God and mammon.

Be afflicted — For your past unfaithfulness to God.

Speak not evil one of another — This is a grand hinderance of peace. O who is sufficiently aware of it! He that speaketh evil of another does in effect speak evil of the law, which so strongly prohibits it. Thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge — Of it; thou settest thyself above, and as it were condemnest, it.

There is one lawgiver that is able — To execute the sentence he denounces. But who art thou — A poor, weak, dying worm.

Come now, ye that say — As peremptorily as if your life were in your own hands.

Instead of your saying — That is, whereas ye ought to say.

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not — That knows what is right, and does not practise it. To him it is sin — This knowledge does not prevent, but increase, his condemnation.