SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:23
Porque si alguno oye la Palabra, y no la pone por obra, este tal es semejante al hombre que considera en un espejo su rostro natural.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - James 1:23
Verse 23. Beholding his natural face in a glass] This metaphor is very simple, but very expressive. A man wishes to see his own face, and how, in its natural state, it appears; for this purpose he looks into a mirror, by which his real face, with all its blemishes and imperfections, is exhibited. He is affected with his own appearance; he sees deformities that might be remedied; spots, superfluities, and impurities, that might be removed.
While he continues to look into the mirror he is affected, and wishes himself different to what he appears, and forms purposes of doing what he can to render his countenance agreeable. On going away he soon forgets what manner of person he was, because the mirror is now removed, and his face is no longer reflected to himself; and he no longer recollects how disagreeable he appeared, and his own resolutions of improving his countenance. The doctrines of God, faithfully preached, are such a mirror; he who hears cannot help discovering his own character, and being affected with his own deformity; he sorrows, and purposes amendment; but when the preaching is over, the mirror is removed, and not being careful to examine the records of his salvation, the perfect law of liberty, ver. 25, or not continuing to look therein, he soon forgets what manner of man he was; or, reposing some unscriptural trust in God's mercy, he reasons himself out of the necessity of repentance and amendment of life, and thus deceives his soul.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. But if any man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer , etc.] The Arabic version here again reads, a hearer of the law, and so some copies; not hearing, but practice, is the main thing; not theory, but action: hence, says R. Simeon, not the word, or the searching into it, and the explanation of it, is the root, or principal thing, h[mh ala , but the work f15 : and if a man is only a preacher, or a hearer, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass ; or, the face of his generation; the face with which he was born; his true, genuine, native face; in distinction from any counterfeit one, or from the face of his mind: it means his own corporeal face. The Ethiopic version renders it, the lineaments of his face.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 22-25 - If we heard a sermon every day of the week, and an angel from heave were the preacher, yet, if we rested in hearing only, it would neve bring us to heaven. Mere hearers are self-deceivers; and self-decei will be found the worst deceit at last. If we flatter ourselves, it is our own fault; the truth, as it is in Jesus, flatters no man. Let the word of truth be carefully attended to, and it will set before us the corruption of our nature, the disorders of our hearts and lives; and it will tell us plainly what we are. Our sins are the spots the la discovers: Christ's blood is the laver the gospel shows. But in vain d we hear God's word, and look into the gospel glass, if we go away, an forget our spots, instead of washing them off; and forget our remedy instead of applying to it. This is the case with those who do not hea the word as they ought. In hearing the word, we look into it for counsel and direction, and when we study it, it turns to our spiritual life. Those who keep in the law and word of God, are, and shall be blessed in all their ways. His gracious recompence hereafter, would be connected with his present peace and comfort. Every part of Divin revelation has its use, in bringing the sinner to Christ for salvation and in directing and encouraging him to walk at liberty, by the Spiri of adoption, according to the holy commands of God. And mark the distinctness, it is not for his deeds, that any man is blessed, but in his deed. It is not talking, but walking, that will bring us to heaven Christ will become more precious to the believer's soul, which by his grace will become more fitted for the inheritance of the saints in light.
Greek Textus Receptus
οτι 3754 ει 1487 τις 5100 ακροατης 202 λογου 3056 εστιν 2076 5748 και 2532 ου 3756 ποιητης 4163 ουτος 3778 εοικεν 1503 5758 ανδρι 435 κατανοουντι 2657 5723 το 3588 προσωπον 4383 της 3588 γενεσεως 1078 αυτου 846 εν 1722 εσοπτρω 2072
Vincent's NT Word Studies
23. Beholding (katanoounti). With the notion of attentively considering (kata, down into, or through; compare eijv, into, ver. 25). Compare Luke xii. 24, 27; Heb. iii. 1. So that the contrast is not between a hasty look and a careful contemplation (ver. 25, looketh). It is not mere careless hearing of the word which James rebukes, but the neglect to carry into practice what is heard. One may be an attentive and critical hearer of the word, yet not a doer.
His natural face (to proswpon thv genesewv). Lit., the countenance of his birth; the face he was born with.
In a glass (en esoptrw). Better, Rev., a mirror; a metallic mirror. The word occurs only here and 1 Cor. xiii. 12.
