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James 1:19–20
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
James 1:18 reminded us of one of the greatest displays of divine goodness toward human beings, which is the Lord’s work to regenerate people and bring them to faith through the “word of truth,” which is the gospel and, indeed, all of Scripture. This reference to the “word of truth” provides a jumping-off point for verses 19–27, which feature a collection of the Apostle’s thoughts related to the Word of God and its wise application as James takes up again the second of his epistle’s three major themes: wisdom (see vv. 5–8).
The Apostle begins by addressing his audience as “beloved brothers,” an inclusive reference that also includes women (v. 19). This reminds his readers that while he is speaking with Apostolic authority, he is, like them, part of the family of God and accountable to follow his own teaching. James calls us to be “quick to hear, slow to speak” (v. 19), echoing the Old Testament Wisdom Literature (see Prov. 17:27–28). He calls for attentiveness to the Word of God but also to what others have to say. After all, we must pay heed to Scripture to obey it, and we avoid all sorts of relational difficulties when we actually listen to what people are saying before we respond to them, not speaking before we have received all the facts. Being quick to listen and slow to speak also prepares us well for teaching others. The Venerable Bede, the early medieval theologian and historian of Christianity in England, writes that “it is stupid to think that someone who is not prepared to learn from others will somehow be well equipped to preach to them.”
Additionally, James tells us that we should be “slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:19–20). Note first the connection between slowness to speak and slowness to anger. Those who are not quick to get angry are able to restrain themselves and are less likely to speak words that they later regret or to say things at inopportune times. Matthew Henry comments: “If men would govern their tongues, they must govern their passions. . . . If we would be slow to speak, we must be slow to wrath.”
Second, James exhorts us to be slow to anger, not to never get angry. It is possible, of course, to be angry in a righteous manner, to be angry at evil and not to sin in this anger (Eph. 4:26). Yet this is exceptionally difficult. So often, our anger is controlled by or mixed with our sin. Because of this, our anger rarely produces righteousness, the kind of behavior that pleases God (James 1:20).
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Many problems in our lives can be avoided if we listen well before we speak. Moreover, we will be slower to anger and less likely to do something that is not pleasing to God. In our interactions with others inside and outside the church, let us strive to listen and understand those with whom we interact, and may we pray that the Lord will give us the grace to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
For further study
- Proverbs 10:19
- Ecclesiastes 7:9
- Matthew 5:21–22
- Ephesians 4:31
The bible in a year
- Genesis 36–37
- Matthew 13:1–23