And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Passive sentimental impressions from sights of woe not carried out into active habits only harden the heart.
One of you - James brings home the case individually.
Depart in peace - as if all their wants were satisfied by the mere words. The same words in the mouth of Christ, whose faith they said they had, were accompanied by deeds of love.
Be ye warmed - with clothing, instead of being as heretofore "naked" (Job 31:20; Job 5:15).
Filled - instead of being "destitute of food" (Matthew 15:37).
What doth it profit? - concluding as at the beginning, James 2:14. Just retribution: kind professions unaccompanied with corresponding acts, as they are of no "profit" to the needy object, so are of no profit to the professor. So faith consisting in mere profession is unacceptable to God, the object of faith, and profitless to the professor.