This verse could be called the text for the rest of the chapter. This whole portion proves that a faith not producing works is a mere matter of words, a profitless, dead thing. It is a warning to those who are resting on mere dead orthodoxy. Faith, unaccompanied by works, is like the barren fig tree the Lord Jesus cursed – like a body from which the spirit has departed. It is dead – no faith at all.

Paul and James: This portion (James 2:14-26) caused Martin Luther to reject the book of James. He said it was an epistle of straw and destitute of evangelical character. He thought this portion contradicted Paul's teaching on faith. James does not refute Paul, but writes to an entirely different group of people, emphasizing the other end of the matter. Paul wrote to those who were insisting that laws and ceremonies were necessary to please God, emphasizing faith. James wrote to those who had a form of faith; satisfied with that and nothing more. They had a faith, but it produced nothing – it did not show a change of: heart, will, or ways in its professors. James insists that a man's works prove his faith, not a creed that he can recite like a parrot.

Martin Luther and James: Luther probably rejected James because of this portion; perhaps because of not understanding it, as opposed to not agreeing with it. The below paragraph is a part of Luther’s preface to the book of Romans:

Oh, it is a living, active, energetic, mighty thing, this faith, so that it is impossible that it should not work what is good without intermission. It does not even ask whether good works are to be done, but before it asks it has done them, and is ever doing. But he who does not do such works, is a man without faith, is fumbling and looking about him for faith and good works, and knows neither the one nor the other, yet chatters and babbles many words about both. . . . Faith is a living, deliberate confidence in the grace of God, so sure that it would die a thousand times for its trust. And such confidence and experience of Divine grace make a man merry, bold, and joyful toward God and all creatures; all which the Holy Spirit does in faith. Hence the man without compulsion becomes willing and joyful to do good to everyone, to serve everyone, to endure everything, for the love and praise of God, who has shown such grace. Therefore it is impossible to sever works from faith; yea as impossible as to sever burning and shining from fire.

Paul on faith and works: Paul everywhere taught that good works must result from our faith. Sometimes Ephesians 2:8, 9 is quoted: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." One should not stop there, but should also quote verse 10; "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." While verses 8 and 9 do teach that faith is the foundation of salvation – the beginning step toward being born again – verse 10 certainly teaches the Lord works in us, training us to walk in good works.

Be careful to maintain good works: Another verse often quoted is Titus 3:5; "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost." It is the mercy of God and the work of His Spirit that brought us to Christ, and not anything we have done. Now that we are saved by His mercy, and not because of our good works, shall good works have no place in our lives? Note carefully a few verses down, "This is a faithful saying, and these things, I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works" (Titus 3:8). From this it is very plain to see that Paul expected good works to follow faith.

Works of faith and faith that works: This portion of James is very similar to Paul's statement about the Cretians, "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate" (Titus 1:16). The only difference is that Paul uses the word "profess", while James uses the word "say" (2:14). Paul calls the Cretians "reprobate", while James asks, "Can faith save him?", or can such professed faith help a man destitute of the natural fruits of faith? There is little difference between Paul's teaching and that of James. James emphasizes the works of faith, while Paul emphasizes the faith that works.

Paul and James agree: So we conclude that James does not contradict Paul, nor is he attempting to refute Paul's teaching. We have no knowledge that James had ever seen any of Paul's letters, and his letter may have been written before Paul wrote either Romans or Galatians. There is no proof that he had Paul in mind, but was simply writing as he saw the need. It is well to remember that both were inspired by the Holy Spirit, and cannot be contradictory. That one part of Scripture could be attacking another is unthinkable. The fellowship between Paul and James always seems happy in Scripture (Acts 15; Gal. 2:9).

"What doth it profit ..." James, in this portion, condemns a so-called faith that is unproductive. What does it profit a man who says, "I believe in Christ and want to be born again", but afterward does not work for Jesus Christ; does not continue to obey the Lord; who has no family prayer; will not teach others about Christ; sacrifices nothing for Christ; does not instruct his family in the ways of the Lord; does not live a Christ-like life. Such useless, fruitless faith is no faith at all. It is like an apple tree that never bears apples, or a clock that never tells time, or a car that has no wheels and never runs. Only as faith produces works is it of any profit.

"... though a man say he hath faith ..." The word "say" is emphatic here. A man may say almost anything, but saying it does not make it so. A man may be in dead earnest, yet not say the truth. There was a man who always insisted he was Napoleon Bonaparte. Of course he was insane. A man might be in dead earnest about having true faith, yet be utterly deceived. James puts the test as good works. Has our professed faith really affected our hands and feet? If not, then we might well question the reality of our faith. True faith brings Christ into the heart, and this is sure to affect the whole life. There are some who have given mere assent to a set of doctrines, who have never been born again. They have never put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The key word – say: Remember the word "say" is the key word to this whole section of the epistle. We have it again in verse 18. Matthew 7:21-23 is a simple portion, "Not everyone that sayeth unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven." It is possible to say "Lord, Lord" and not truly trust and obey Him, but when one's life is changed, and we see him starting to do the will of the Lord, then we can be sure that his faith is genuine. It would have been better if the word "trust" had been used more in the King James Version New Testament. "To believe in" and "to have faith in" both have the basic meaning of "trust." "Trust" does not lend itself so well to mere mental assent as "believe" and "faith" do.

"... faith ..." James does not belittle faith, but demands that it be a real living thing that produces something for God. He insists on faith all the way through his epistle. He first mentions it in 1:3, and it runs all through the epistle until we last have it in 5:15. The only chapter in the Bible that mentions it more often than this chapter 2 is Hebrews 11. Hebrews 11 exalts a faith that works, while James 2 exalts the works of faith.

The faith of the Pharisees: It may be that James has in mind the faith of the Pharisees. They thought a correct belief in the tenets of Judaism was enough to save a child of Abraham. Perhaps some were creeping into the Body of Christ on exactly the same ground. There are many like that today. They can give all the answers to their church's creed or catechism, but they have no more life than the Pharisees. In Acts 13:24, we read that Simon believed and was baptized. His believing must have been mere mental assent, because Peter says to him in verse 21, "Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God." True trust in and obedience to the Lord is more than just in the head; it is in the heart. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness" (Rom. 10:10).

"... and have not works? ..." Paul says, "If I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing" (1 Cor. 13:2 R.V.). The rest of the chapter shows that he is not merely thinking of love toward God, but also works of love. James, in our verse, speaks only of works, but the next few verses show that he is thinking, like Paul, of works of love. One may profess to have great faith but if that faith produces no acts of love toward fellow Christians then we may well ask with James (from the R.V.), "Can that faith save him?"

Faith and works: Some emphasize faith, others works. It is always well to emphasize faith, but never well to neglect works, which are the natural fruits of faith. Faith is of course first, but works must follow, or there is no proof that faith even exists. Many today give mental assent, to creeds, yet are not morally clean, and some are even villains. Faith includes mental assent, but must not stop short of a changed life. True faith is something real, vital, living that affects one's tongue, and hands and feet.

Evidence of faith: With many the only evidence of faith is what they say. A young man once said with zeal and fervor: "Yes, I am saved; I believe in John 3:16." But, just believing in a verse does not, in and of itself, save; it also takes true trust in and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Extremists: It is natural for man to go to extremes. Some insist that we are saved by good character or law-keeping. Others say, "Not so, we must believe right in order to be saved," and some in merely accepting and believing certain doctrines or creeds. Paul especially attacks the error of the first, while James is doing his best to offset the error of the second.

"... Can faith save him?" James asked, "Can faith save him?" Can just trusting Christ save a man destitute of good works? The Revised Version has it, "Can that faith save him?" Can this fruitless professed faith do anything for this kind of man? And of course the answer is "no." Merely holding a creed that is considered orthodox will not save a man. He must trust and obey the Lord Jesus, be born again, and produce a life of good works to the glory of the Lord.

An illustration of faith and works: A ferryman daily rowed two passengers across a stream. One of the passengers constantly contended that the way of salvation was through good works; the other affirmed with equal vigor that it was by trusting and obeying Christ, and seemed to have little or no regard for good works. The wise old ferryman listened for a long time, then one day he painted "trust and obey" on one oar and "works" on the other. The next day when he got out into the stream a bit, he laid down one oar and began rowing with the other. Of course the boat went round and round and made no progress. They told him to use the other oar, which he promptly did, but quit rowing with the first. The boat then started going around the other way but still made no progress. When they again remonstrated with him, he showed them the signs on the oars, and explained to them that as he needed both oars to get the boat across the stream, so they needed both trust and obedience and works to make any progress as Christians.

Faith, hope, love, works: Paul especially teaches faith; Peter, hope; John, love; and James, works as the result of these three. James is not trying to teach correct doctrine, but rather correct living as a result of correct doctrine. He insists that unless right doctrine produces right living, it is useless, fruitless; dead.

Scripture Reading: James 2:15 (KJV)

In this verse, along with the next, James, in a striking way, shows the futility of talk without accompanying action. Here is a brother or sister without suitable clothing and insufficient food. Does it help him any to say to him, "Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled?" No, that does not help him at all. Neither does it help at all to say, "I trust and obey Christ" when that faith is only a matter of words and produces no action, no works of mercy.

"If a brother or sister ..." When James in this illustration especially mentions "a brother or a sister," he brings in a truth everywhere taught in the New Testament. "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10). John teaches much the same; "But whoso hath the world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:17, 18). Here John emphasizes exactly what James emphasizes in our verses (15, 16). It is not nice words that help a needy brother or sister, but good deeds.

One family: Even the unsaved are solicitous of their flesh and blood. A parent usually will sacrifice anything for children, even if they are grown and no longer under the parental roof. Usually even the world will not see their close ones suffer hunger and nakedness if it is in their power to help. Sometimes we are surprised to see to what ends worldlings will go even to utter strangers, when a case of real need is presented to them. Christian ties should be much stronger than any earthly ties. We are bound together in one bundle of life with the Lord Jesus. We should not live for self, but for one another. "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" (1 John 3:16).

Scripture Reading: James 2:16 (KJV)

"And one of you say ..." Here again, "say" is emphatic. In verse 14 it is a professed faith, here it is a professed sympathy. A man may say he has faith, but the only way he can prove he really has, is by his works. A man may say he has sympathy for a poor shivering, starving saint, but he does not prove it unless he does what he can to alleviate the condition. And if he really is in a position to help, and then talks nice, but does nothing, his professions of sympathy are sheer mockery.

"... depart in peace ..." Ah, the irony of it all. Here is a man dressed in rags and destitute of food. A wealthy brother may say, "I am sorry for you brother; perhaps we better pray about it." So they pray to the Lord, asking Him to supply the needs of the poor brother. Than as they are about to part, the well-off brother says, "Well, don't worry, dear brother, just leave it all to the Lord; He will see to it that you get proper clothing and necessary food. He will not forsake His own." Oh, you say, it is never as bad as that. Well, don't be too sure; sometimes it is. Let's never ask God to do something we can do ourselves. The little girl said, "I asked the Lord to stop my brother trapping birds and I believe my prayer has been answered. I kicked his trap all to pieces."

Nice words: "Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled." Such sweet words, what lovely sentiments but how utterly empty. They did not stop the chill wind from striking his back, and they did not take away the gnawing hunger in his stomach. The rich man in Luke 16 might have acted very sympathetically toward poor, sick and hungry Lazarus. He might have said, "That poor man, how sorry I feel for him. He is surely a pitiful sight." All this would not help poor Lazarus at all. What he needed was good food and good care, but the rich man did not supply him with these things. My, how sweetly some people can talk, but how little they do. They talk so charitably, but know nothing of being charitable. Even the world says, "Talk is cheap." Let us not be cheap Christians. However, let not the neglected despair. The Lord will watch over you, and if His people fail, He is able to use even the world to care for you. He sent the ravens to feed Elijah. This will in no wise excuse the Christians who failed. They will have to answer at the judgment seat of Christ.

"... what doeth it profit?" What good are sweet words with no action? Who do they help? Did they help the poor fellow uncovered outside and unfilled inside? Did they put a coat on his back or a satisfied feeling in his stomach? Did this action help the one who said the fine words, but did nothing? Perhaps he retained a bit more temporarily, but it cost him more in the end. "The Lord loveth a cheerful giver", but He does not love cheap actions performed by His own toward others. Help the cause of Christ: Do nice words with no action help the cause of Christ? They are a hindrance rather than a help. How would it make the neglected one feel toward his fellow Christians? If he had unsaved friends or relatives, how would this make them feel toward Christ and Christians? Would it draw them to Christ? Or will it have the reverse effect?

The profit of charity: To meet the poor man's need helps in every way. It not only helps the poor, but the one who helps, too. It puts joy in his heart – a giver is always blessed! It pleases the Lord, too, and that is sure to bring further blessings to the one who was a blessing. It also helps the cause of Christ, by causing the unsaved to see beauty in the Lord. May we be like the Christian who practiced doing good without it ever being known.

"... needful to the body ..." Just as soon as the Philippian jailer was saved, he began to do things for Paul and Silas. The lash had descended upon their backs, and they were sore and bleeding. How quickly we see the jailer change from a tyrant to a tender Christian. "And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes" (Acts 16:33). In the next verse we read, "And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house." He washed their stripes; he took them out of the foul prison; he fed them with meat. Such actions are the natural consequences of placing faith in and obeying Christ. When Christ comes into our hearts, we will do more than talk. True faith is not a cold, dead thing. It is a warm, living, operative principle. It will fill one's heart with true sympathy for the needy, causing one to help when possible.

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