Jam 4:13-17 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Jas 4:13-16: 4:13-16 Itinerant merchants depended on personal assertiveness as a solution to their poverty and low social status. James urges greater recognition of God’s providence and warns against arrogantly planning events which one cannot really control.

a4:13-16►

b4:15►

cDeut 32:39►

d1 Sam 2:6►

eMatt 10:28►

f4:16►

g1:9-10►

h4:17►

iDeut 24:15►

jProv 3:27-28►

kMatt 25:41-46►

lLuke 12:47►

‏ James 4:13-17

Summary for Jas 4:13-16: 4:13-16 ^a Itinerant merchants depended on personal assertiveness as a solution to their poverty and low social status. James urges greater recognition of God’s providence and warns against arrogantly planning events which one cannot really control.
4:15 ^b The Lord has authority over life and death (Deut 32:39 ^c; 1 Sam 2:6 ^d; Matt 10:28 ^e).
4:16 ^f Christians may boast about what God has done (1:9-10 ^g), but not about their own arrogant plans, which assume that God has no claim or authority over their lives.
4:17 ^h Remember: This verse is probably a maxim that James expected his readers to recognize. Its source is unknown, but it is consistent with the teaching of Scripture (cp. Deut 24:15 ⁱ; Prov 3:27-28 ^j; Matt 25:41-46 ^k; Luke 12:47 ^l).