My God and My Country

Word of God

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

The Epistle of James 4:17

(Study notes by Matthew Henry and John Gill

Edited/Prefaced by Doktor Riktor Von Zhades)

17 Therefore to him that knoweth how to do well, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Brethren:

The two main tenets of the entire Bible is to love God, and to love others. Who among us would not do good to another? In Scripture we read how even the most evil among us would do good to their own. Yet our Creator says to do good to all; those who would persecute us, those who would falsely accuse us, those that would cheat us, judge us, hurt us. If we cannot bless those that would curse us, what would we be? Certainly not the Christian men and women we would claim to be. - Dr. R.V.Z

“It is sinning with a witness; and it is to have the worst witness against his own conscience Observe: This stands immediately connected with the plain lesson of saying, If the Lord will, we shall do this or that; they might be ready to say, ‘This is a very obvious thing; who knows not that we all depend upon almighty God for life, and breath, and all things?’ Remember then, if you do know this, whenever you act unsuitably to such a dependence, that to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin, the greater sin. Omissions are sins which will come into judgment, as well as commissions. He that does not the good he knows should be done, as well as he who does the evil he knows should not be done, will be condemned. Let us therefore take care that conscience be rightly informed, and then that it be faithfully and constantly obeyed; for, if our own hearts condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God; but if we say, We see, and do not act suitably to our sight, then our sin remaineth (See John 9:41)” - Matthew Henry

“This may regard not only the last particular of referring all things to the will of God, the sovereign disposer of life, and all events, which some might have the knowledge of in theory, though they did not practice according to it; but all the good things the apostle had exhorted to, and the contrary to which he had warned from, in this epistle; and suggests, that a Gnostic, or one that knows the will of God, in the several branches of it, revealed in his word. it is criminal in him that is ignorant of what is good, and does that which is evil, nor shall he escape punishment; but it is much more wicked in a man that knows what is right and good, and ought to be done, and does it not, but that which is evil, and his condemnation will be greater; (See Luke 12:47-48) . The omission of a known duty, as well as the commission of a known sin, is criminal.” - John Gill