The term “receive” is often used in the book of Acts concerning those who responded to the Gospel call and became Christians (see Acts 2:41; 8:14; 11:1). However, James indicates in our text that once a Christian, a person certainly does not stop receiving the Word! (see v. 21).
The entire letter of James admonishes God’s children to practical daily Christian living. In essence, James defines Christian living in his letter. When one initially receives (and obeys) the Gospel, he is born (1:18 – ESV – “brought forth”, KJV – “begat”) as a spiritual infant (compare Jn. 3:3-5), ready to progress and grow in spiritual maturity. One should carefully note the references in the immediate context to the role of God’s Word in this process (see 1:18, 21, 22, 25).
James commands his brethren to “know” (v. 19) something. The three-fold admonition they need to be reminded of is: (1) “be quick to hear,” (2) “slow to speak,” and (3) “slow to anger” (all from verse 19).
What are they to hear? Many jump straight to our personal relationships with each other. While I would not deny this application, we should note something very important from the context. James had just mentioned their relationship to the “word of truth” in the previous verse, and then he even says in verse 22, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Be quick to hear what? The Word of God! Of course, Christians are taught to give a careful ear to others, giving preference to them (Phil. 2:3-4), but we perhaps miss something when we overlook the context here. If we truly give careful ear to God’s Word, many other things will naturally fall in line, but they hinge on being good hearers of the good Word!
Hearing is further emphasized with the admonition to be “slow to speak.” One does not hear while he is speaking (not with undivided attention, at least). And being “quick to hear” and “slow to speak” is a great recipe for being “slow to anger.”
Anger is something that many good people (and good Christian people) struggle with. But notice that James deals in preventative “medicine” here. Being slow to speak and quick to hear, will often keep one from even the notion of anger. Surely those who struggle with anger should think about how they are listening to God’s Word, and make sure they allow God to “talk to them” in real time and “real life.” I don’t mean something strange by this, but merely taking enough pause to be considerate of God’s will and one’s fellow man as he is living daily life. Or, to put it the way James says in the next section of chapter 1… he ought to pause long enough to look in the mirror and remember who he is (see vv. 23-24)!
The reason for James’ discussion of these matters is not only to prevent anger itself, but to prevent the filth and unrighteousness that often accompanies man’s wrath. Such anger does not produce the quality of fruit God desires. The Christian will seek to “put away” (v. 21) his unrighteousness, and instead continue receiving the Word (Compare this with what Peter says in 1 Peter 2:1-2.) The Word of God is God’s power unto salvation (Rom. 1:16). Not only is it God’s power unto our initial salvation, but notice that James says to Christians: it is “able to save your souls” (v. 21). Christians must continue in the Word of His grace (see Acts 20:32) in order to be saved by the Lord.
Daren Schroeder
