SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:25
Mas el que hubiere mirado atentamente en la Ley de perfecta libertad, y hubiere perseverado en ella, no siendo oidor olvidadizo, sino hacedor de la obra, este tal ser bienaventurado en su hecho.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - James 1:25
Verse 25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law] The word parakuyav, which we translate looketh into, is very emphatic, and signifies that deep and attentive consideration given to a thing or subject which a man cannot bring up to his eyes, and therefore must bend his back and neck, stooping down, that he may see it to the greater advantage. The law of liberty must mean the Gospel; it is a law, for it imposes obligations from God, and prescribes a rule of life; and it punishes transgressors, and rewards the obedient. It is, nevertheless, a law that gives liberty from the guilt, power, dominion, and influence of sin; and it is perfect, providing a fullness of salvation for the soul: and it may be called perfect here, in opposition to the law, which was a system of types and representations of which the Gospel is the sum and substance. Some think that the word teleion, perfect, is added here to signify that the whole of the Gospel must be considered and received, not a part; all its threatenings with its promises, all its precepts with its privileges. And continueth] parameinav Takes time to see and examine the state of his soul, the grace of his God, the extent of his duty, and the height of the promised glory. The metaphor here is taken from those females who spend much time at their glass, in order that they may decorate themselves to the greatest advantage, and not leave one hair, or the smallest ornament, out of its place.
He being not a forgetful hearer] This seems to be a reference to Deut. iv. i10: "Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life." He who studies and forgets is like to a woman who brings forth children, and immediately buries them. Aboth R. Nathan, cap. 23.
Shall be blessed in his deed.] In Pirkey Aboth, cap. v. 14, it is said: "There are four kinds of men who visit the synagogues, 1. He who enters but does not work; 2. He who works but does not enter. 3. He who enters and works. 4. He who neither enters nor works. The first two are indifferent characters; the third is the righteous man; the fourth is wholly evil." As the path of duty is the way of safety, so it is the way of happiness; he who obeys God from a loving heart and pure conscience, will infallibly find continual blessedness.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty , etc.] By which is meant, not the moral law, but the Gospel; for only of that is the apostle speaking in the context: this is no other than the word of truth, with which God begets men of his own will; and is the ingrafted word which is able to save, and of which men should be doers, as well as hearers, ( James 1:18,21,22), and this is compared to a glass by the Apostle Paul, ( Corinthians 3:18), and the word here used for looking into it is the same word the Apostle Peter uses of the angels, who desired to look into the mysteries of the Gospel, ( 1 Peter 1:12) all which serve to strengthen this sense; now the Gospel is called a law; not that it is a law, strictly speaking, consisting precepts, and established and enforced by sanctions penalties; for it is a declaration of righteousness and salvation by Christ; a publication of peace and pardon by him; and a free promise of eternal life, through him; but as it is an instruction, or doctrine: the law with the Jews is called hrwt , because it is teaching and instructive; and everything that is so is by them called by this name: hence we find the doctrine of the Messiah, which is no other than the Gospel, is in the Old Testament called the law of the Lord, and his law, ( Isaiah 2:2 42:4) and in the New Testament it is called the law, or doctrine of faith, ( Romans 3:27) and this doctrine is perfect, as in ( Psalm 19:7), it being a perfect plan of truths, containing in it all truth, as it is in Jesus, even all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; and because it is a revelation of things perfect; of the perfect righteousness of Christ, and of perfect justification by it, and of free and full pardon of sins through him, and of complete salvation by him; and because it directs to Christ, in whom perfection is: and it is a law or doctrine of liberty; ton thv eleuyhriav , that which is if liberty; which has liberty for its subject, which treats of it, even of the liberty wherewith Christ makes his people free: the Gospel proclaims this liberty to captive souls; and is the word of truth, which makes them free, or is the means of freeing them from the slavery of sin, from the captivity of Satan, and from the bondage of the law; and is what gives souls freedom and boldness at the throne of grace; and is that which leads them into the liberty of grace here, and gives them a view and hope of the glorious liberty of the children of God hereafter. This doctrine is as a glass to look into; in which is beheld the glory of Christ's person and office, and grace; and though by the law is the knowledge of sin, yet a man never so fully and clearly discovers the sin that dwells in him, and the swarms of corruption which are in his heart, as when the light of the glorious Gospel shines into him, and when in it he beholds the beauty and glory of Jesus Christ; (see Isaiah 6:5) and looking into this glass, or into this doctrine, is by faith, and with the eyes of the understanding, opened and enlightened by the Spirit of God; and the word here used signifies a looking wistly and intently, with great care and thought, and not in a slight and superficial manner; and such a looking is designed, as is attended with effect; such an one as transforms into the same image that is beheld, from glory to glory; and happy is the man that so looks into it. And continueth therein ; is not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, nor carried about with divers and strange doctrines; but is established in the faith, stands fast in it, and abides by it; or continues looking into this glass, and to Christ, the author and finisher of faith, who is beheld in it; and keeps his eye upon it, and the object held forth in it; and constantly attends the ministration of it: he being not a forgetful hearer ; but takes heed to the things he hears and sees, lest he should let them slip; and being conscious of the weakness of his memory, implores the divine Spirit to be his remembrancer, and bring to his mind, with fresh power and light, what he has heard: but a doer of the work ; of the work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope, and of every work and ordinance the Gospel ministry points unto; doing and being subject to all in faith, from a principle of love, and with a view to the glory of God and Christ. This man shall be blessed in his deed ; or doing, and while he is doing; not that he is blessed for what he does, but in what he does; (see Psalm 19:11) he having, in hearing the word, and looking into it, and in submitting to every ordinance of the Gospel, the presence of God, the discoveries of his love, communion with Christ, and communication of grace from him by the Spirit; so that Wisdom's ways become ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace; (see Psalm 65:4 84:4,5), moreover, in all such a man does, he is prosperous and successful; in all he does he prospers: and so he is blessed in his deed, by God, whose blessing makes rich, both in spirituals and temporals: there seems to be an allusion to the blessed man in ( Psalm 1:1,3).
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
ο 3588 δε 1161 παρακυψας 3879 5660 εις 1519 νομον 3551 τελειον 5046 τον 3588 της 3588 ελευθεριας 1657 και 2532 παραμεινας 3887 5660 ουτος 3778 ουκ 3756 ακροατης 202 επιλησμονης 1953 γενομενος 1096 5637 αλλα 235 ποιητης 4163 εργου 2041 ουτος 3778 μακαριος 3107 εν 1722 τη 3588 ποιησει 4162 αυτου 846 εσται 2071 5704
Vincent's NT Word Studies
25. Whoso looketh (o parakuyav). Rev., more strictly, he that looketh. See on 1 Pet. i. 12. The verb is used of one who stoops sideways (para) to look attentively. The mirror is conceived as placed on a table or on the ground. Bengel quotes Wisdom of Sirach xiv. 23: "He that prieth in at her (Wisdom's) windows shall also hearken at her doors." Coleridge remarks: "A more happy or forcible word could not have been chosen to express the nature and ultimate object of reflection, and to enforce the necessity of it, in order to discover the living fountain and spring-head of the evidence of the Christian faith in the believer himself, and at the same time to point out the seat and region where alone it is to be found" ("Aphorisms"). Into (eiv). Denoting the penetration of the look into the very essence of the law.
The perfect law of liberty (nomon teleion ton thv eleuqeriav). Lit., the perfect law, the law of liberty. So Rev. The law of liberty is added as defining the perfect law.
Continueth therein. Better, Rev., so continueth; i.e. continues looking. Forgetful hearer (akroathv epilhsmonhv). The latter word only here in New Testament. Lit., a hearer of forgetfulness; whom forgetfulness characterizes. Rev., very happily, a hearer that forgetteth; a rendering which gives the proper sense of forgetfulness as a characteristic better than A.V., a forgetful hearer.
Doer of the work. Lit., of work, as the noun has no article. Rev., a doer that worketh.
In his deed (en th poihsei autou). More correctly, as Rev., in his doing. Only here in New Testament. The preposition ejn (in) marks the inner connection between doing and blessedness. "The life of obedience is the element wherein the blessedness is found and consists" (Alford).
