1:19,20
“Quick to listen, slow to speak”. Almost everyone would agree with the desirability and rightness of this phrase, though far fewer of us follow this wisdom! “Slow to become angry”. Note that the Bible does not tell us that anger is absolutely wrong. Anger is dangerous for it so easily gets out of control and leads us to do wrong or stupid things. That is why we must be “slow to anger”, but there are times when it is right to be angry in a controlled manner. “Human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires”. “Righteous anger” so rarely is.
1:21
“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth ...” This seems a bit of a jump from the “slow to anger” injunction, but it isn’t really. What causes so much unrighteous anger? Sin. We get angry if we are told that something we are doing is wrong. Witness the reaction against Christians (or anyone else for that matter) who says abortion is wrong, or who dares to question the wisdom of transgenderism. “And humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you”. We get angry when we are fighting against the word of God, and there are times when we all do this! If instead we humbly accept the word we find a harvest of peace and righteousness.
1:22
Listening to the word is not enough. Listening to good stuff can sometimes give us a good feeling, but that in itself does no good. Yet we can deceive ourselves that we are better just for hearing the word. We need to do the word if we are to receive its benefit. The Jews took a very down to earth and realistic approach to things.
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