The General Epistle of James the Apostle Chapter 4:7-10
7 Submit yourselves to God: resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purge your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Suffer afflictions, and sorrow ye, and weep: let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into heaviness.
10 Cast down yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Cross references:
James 4:7 : Ephesians 4:27
James 4:7 : Ephesians 4:27
James 4:10 : 1 Peter 5:6
Editor’s thoughts:
Verses 7-10
These can be summed up by noting that humility cures worldliness.
Note the key words and phrases:
Submit, resist, (the Devil who promotes self-pride), draw near, cleanse, purify, and most importantly humble yourselves.
This is to say that by submitting and humbling ourselves in all things, (especially in prayer - Read Luke 18:1), we can change our thinking and put on the mind of Christ.
"Resist the devil. Under his banner pride and envy are enlisted: 'resist' (stand against) these his temptations. Faith, prayers, and heavenly wisdom are the weapons of resistance. 'Submit,' as a good soldier puts himself in subjection to his captain. He will draw nigh - propitious. Cleanse your hands - the outward instruments of action. None but the clean-handed can ascend into the hill of the Lord (justified through Christ, who alone, being perfectly so, 'ascended' there. Purify your hearts, make chaste of spiritual adultery from your hearts, the inward source of all impurity. [Humble yourself], In the sight of the Lord - as continually in the presence of Him who alone is to be exalted: the truest incentive to humility. The tree, to grow upwards, must strike its roots downward; so man, to be exalted, must have his mind deep-rooted in humility, namely, in His providential dealings: a distinct thought. Lift you up - partly in this world, fully in that to come." - Source; Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged
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