Jam 1:25, 2Pe 1:9 | JFB | STEP | 25. looketh into —literally, "stoopeth down to take a close look into." Peers into: stronger than "beholdeth," or "contemplated," . A blessed curiosity if it be efficacious in bearing fruit [BENGEL ]. perfect law of liberty —the Gospel rule of life, perfect and perfecting (as shown in the Sermon on the Mount, ), and making us truly walk at liberty ( , Church of England Prayer Book Version ). Christians are to aim at a higher standard of holiness than was generally understood under the law. The principle of love takes the place of the letter of the law, so that by the Spirit they are free from the yoke of sin, and free to obey by spontaneous instinct ( ; compare ). The law is thus not made void, but fulfilled. continueth therein —contrasted with "goeth his way," , continues both looking into the mirror of God's word, and doing its precepts. doer of the work —rather, "a doer of work" [ALFORD ], an actual worker. blessed in his deed —rather, "in his doing "; in the very doing there is blessedness ( ).

James 1:25

25. looketh into—literally, "stoopeth down to take a close look into." Peers into: stronger than "beholdeth," or "contemplated," Jas 1:24. A blessed curiosity if it be efficacious in bearing fruit [BENGEL].

perfect law of liberty—the Gospel rule of life, perfect and perfecting (as shown in the Sermon on the Mount, Mt 5:48), and making us truly walk at liberty (Ps 119:32, Church of England Prayer Book Version). Christians are to aim at a higher standard of holiness than was generally understood under the law. The principle of love takes the place of the letter of the law, so that by the Spirit they are free from the yoke of sin, and free to obey by spontaneous instinct (Jas 2:8, 10, 12; Joh 8:31-36; 15:14, 15; compare 1Co 7:22; Ga 5:1, 13; 1Pe 2:16). The law is thus not made void, but fulfilled.

continueth therein—contrasted with "goeth his way," Jas 1:24, continues both looking into the mirror of God's word, and doing its precepts.

doer of the work—rather, "a doer of work" [ALFORD], an actual worker.

blessed in his deed—rather, "in his doing"; in the very doing there is blessedness (Ps 19:11).

2 Peter 1:9

9. But—Greek, "For." Confirming the need of these graces (2Pe 1:5-8) by the fatal consequences of the want of them.

he that lacketh—Greek, "he to whom these are not present."

blind—as to the spiritual realities of the unseen world.

and cannot see afar off—explanatory of "blind." He closes his eyes (Greek) as unable to see distant objects (namely, heavenly things), and fixes his gaze on present and earthly things which alone he can see. Perhaps a degree of wilfulness in the blindness is implied in the Greek, "closing the eyes," which constitutes its culpability; hating and rebelling against the light shining around him.

forgotten—Greek, "contracted forgetfulness," wilful and culpable obliviousness.

that he was purged—The continually present sense of one's sins having been once for all forgiven, is the strongest stimulus to every grace (Ps 130:4). This once-for-all accomplished cleansing of unbelievers at their new birth is taught symbolically by Christ, Joh 13:10, Greek, "He that has been bathed (once for all) needeth not save to wash his feet (of the soils contracted in the daily walk), but is clean every whit (in Christ our righteousness)." "Once purged (with Christ's blood), we should have no more consciousness of sin (as condemning us, Heb 10:2, because of God's promise)." Baptism is the sacramental pledge of this.