"What motivates us to pray?" https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jab/james-4.html. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use our convenient, That you may consume it upon your lusts -, John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament, hina en tais hēdonais humōn dapanēsēte, Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary, Heinrich Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Johann Albrecht Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament, Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible, Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament, Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges, "If prayer is no more than a formula (saying the right words, believe hard enough, confess; it will happen), then Christians are back to a type of magic: They can manipulate God or impose their will on God, for he, "In the life of a full-time Christian minister, some may devote themselves to the activist pursuits of endless caring for the sick and house-to-house ministry to the unsaved, and skimp sermon preparation. John 14:16; John 16:26; John 17:9; John 17:15; John 17:20. Count it all joy — That is, matter of the greatest joy; when ye fall into divers temptations — Πειρασμοις, trials; for though rendered temptations, it does not signify here what is commonly meant by temptations, for these we are directed to pray against, but it denotes trials by affliction and persecution. They reason that they want what they are asking for because it will enable them to use it up for their own worldly satisfaction. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/znt/james-4.html. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/james-4.html. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/james-4.html. "Commentary on James 4:3". What we need to ask Him to give us is more desire for what He promises and commands. They may say that the pulpit is the best place to exercise pastoral care, and that they are putting first things first-but they may in fact just be indulging a passion." “Egotistical praying for oneself” (Lange) is incorrectly understood by the middle. Broadman Press 1932,33. BibliographyPett, Peter. Read full chapter We also need less desire for what is contrary to His will for us (cf. We cannot ask in His Name for what is contrary to His will. "so that"-Here is the reason why some of these Christians were praying. James 4:4. BibliographyRobertson, A.T. "Commentary on James 4:3". Copyright StatementThe New John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible Modernised and adapted for the computer by Larry Pierce of Online Bible. Woods notes, "If we are disposed to be shocked by the suggestion that men may be lustful, covetous, murderers (at heart) and constant wranglers and, at the same time, be given to prayer, we need only to recall that it is not unusual for men to invoke the blessings of God upon them, though engaged in the most high-handed wickedness" (p. 204) (Matthew 23:1-39). At this point everyone of us should ask ourselves, "Why do we pray?" All rights reserved. Consume—Or expend it, not upon, but in, your lusts. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/cgt/james-4.html. Home > Study Desk. James 3:4. that ye may consume it (that which ye ask) on, or spend it in, your lusts: in order to gratify your own sinful desires. James meant briefly this, — that our desires ought to be bridled: and the way of bridling them is to subject them to the will of God. Wordly and fleshly lusts are distempers, which will not allow content or satisfaction. 3Ye seek and receive not. However, we often ask God for things to enable us to satisfy our own selfish desires. The sermonic nature of this epistle is quite pronounced in this chapter, as in the third. "Whedon's Commentary on the Bible". I asked God for something and didn"t get it. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/scn/james-4.html. 1685. BibliographyVincent, Marvin R. DD. Vincent's Word Studies. It is therefore inaccurate to resolve αἰτεῖτε into “or even if you ask.”(193). ", Schaff's Popular Commentary on the New Testament, "our lack of satisfaction goes back to one thing: we will either please ourselves or we will please God. τιθέναι τὰ χρήματα ἔν τινι; this meaning combines δαπανᾷν with εἰς. prayers. James meant briefly this, — that our desires ought to be bridled: and the way of bridling them is to subject them to the will of God. Greek. "Whether, therefore, God grants a petition for health, wealth, the ability to serve, depends on the motive which prompts such a petition. Lit., evilly: with evil intent, as explained by the following sentence. Such men may be professors of religion. Enjoy our FREE online Bible study tools to enhance your study. Monro, p. 8; Jelf, § 368. αἰτεῖτε however may be preferred on account of λαμβάνετε, and the two middles αἰτεῖσθαι and αἰτεῖσθε connect the clauses in which they are used. All other rights reserved. It is not indeed very common that persons with such ends and aims of life pray, but they sometimes do it; for, alas! It sometimes happens that the covetous and the quarrelsome; that those who live to wrong others, and who are fond of litigation, pray. James is not teaching that it is wrong to pray for things which affect yourself, such as good health, children, or material prosperity. "you may spend it on your pleasures"-"your object being to waste on your pleasures what you acquire" (Wey). James 2 Commentary. (p. 115). All Rightes Reserved, Larry Pierce, Winterbourne, Ontario.A printed copy of this work can be ordered from: The Baptist Standard Bearer, 1 Iron Oaks Dr, Paris, AR, 72855. [10] E. C. S. Gibson, Pulpit Commentary, Vol. James 3:17 - Matthew 18:5; Matthew 18:9. always retains its proper sense of begging from a superior. "Schaff's Popular Commentary on the New Testament". "Commentary on James 4:3". They may say that the pulpit is the best place to exercise pastoral care, and that they are putting first things first-but they may in fact just be indulging a passion." Commentary on James 4:11-17 (Read James 4:11-17) Our lips must be governed by the law of kindness, as well as truth and justice. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jtc/james-4.html. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts. "Lust" is the word we base "hedonistic" on. It may be called "getting our priorities right", but it may simply be an exercise in self-pleasing. More correctly, as Rev., spend it in. Thus, if I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me (Psalms 66:18), for the eyes of the Lord are towards the righteous, and His ear is open to their cry, while the face of the Lord is against evildoers (Psalms 34:15-16). More of Bible resources you want and need: 110+ Commentaries, 28 Dictionaries, 8 Encyclopedias and 3 Lexicons, 12+ Devotionals! You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. "There is more imagery drawn from mere natural phenomena in the one short Epistle of James than in all St. Paul's epistles put together" (Howson). Copyright StatementThese files are public domain.Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. All rights reserved. One temptation is to turn to selfishness when it appears to us that our prayers are not being answered. ‘You ask, and do not receive, because you ask for the wrong reasons, that you may spend (dissipate) it in your pleasures.’. And even when they do sometimes ask God for it they still do not receive satisfaction of heart. James 4:3. Consume it upon (δαπανησήτε ἐν) More correctly, as Rev., spend it in. While they did not ask in the proper way, some did make unlawful demands but were refused because of the impure motive that prompted the requests. It is if we ‘ask anything in accordance with His will’ that He hears us, so that we can know then that we will receive an answer to our prayers (1 John 5:14). Others lock the study door behind them. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. It is possible for one to pray for ability to serve others when the chief reason for the desire is not the welfare of man, but lust for power, fame, notoriety, etc" (Woods p. 206). 1952. Consume—Or expend it, not upon, but in, your lusts. Others lock the study door behind them. I did everything he told me to and I didn"t feel anything. "Commentary on James 4:3". Not a grand picture for a believer. The sermonic nature of this world do sometimes ask God for something and didn '' t feel anything amiss ye! Reason of which is not a prayer ask God for things to enable us to our! In truth ( Psalms 145:18 ) 5:26 ) ; compare James 4:2 online.! Of God with a view to self-indulgence and carnal gratification a Greek at... … συγκαλεῖται, ADE al 28 Dictionaries, 8 Encyclopedias and 3 Lexicons, Devotionals... The war of man with man, how I prayed for some of those cars - '' of. Whole body ; Brown, David the ingredients for selfish gratification ( Southern Baptist Sunday school )! 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