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Jas 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful
hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

But whoso looketh into (parakupsas: having stooped over and examined) the perfect (telios) law of
liberty, and continueth (parameno: continue closely beside, alongside) therein . . .

The law of God is perfect (Psalm 19:7). It is what brings us into perfection (maturity). To shoot for
perfection in our own lives, we must have a goal of perfection in front of us. We become more like the
Word as we look intently into it each day. Looking into the Word is being a hearer of the Word. Being a
doer of the Word is continuing by taking the Word alongside of us throughout the day into the world.
Working the Word is a continuation of study.

The looking in this verse is not a casual but a penetrating look. This is not simply reading the Word; it is
studying the Word (2 Timothy 2:15). The continuing in this verse does not mean staying with your Bible
all day, but continuing, after you have closed its pages, to walk in his commandments as you live your life
before unbelievers.

. . . he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work (ergon: doer that works), this man shall be
blessed in his deed (doing of it).

To keep from forgetting the Word, we must apply it each day. A doer of the Word is a doer who works.
The greatest blessing in life is not just the study and revelation that comes from the Word, but the
application of it to see the lives of others changed. This is the blessing James is speaking of to his
congregation. James is also stressing the correct order. Working for the Lord does not come first. We are
not blessed because we work for the Lord, but because we study His Word, know His grace and our
authority, and then work. This is when we are blessed in our working for the Lord. The attitude behind
work is more important than the work itself. Attitudes created by the Word cause our efforts to be
blessed.

Jas 1:26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his
own heart, this one's religion is useless.

If any man (tis: anyone) among you seem (dokei: thinks himself) to be religious (threskos: outwardly
religious), and bridleth (chalinagogeo: hold in check with a bridle) not his tongue, but deceiveth his own
heart, this man’s religion is vain (mataios: empty, non‐productive). James now adds another warning to
the believer who wants to be a doer of the Word. It does no good to say and do good works if the tongue
is undisciplined. A gossip who helps believers in need and witnesses to the sinner is a contradiction. He
may be doing good works, but they are all nonproductive. All this person is doing is stacking up a pile of
wood, hay and stubble for the judgment seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:12‐15). When the words of the
mouth, as well as natural works, are under the control of the indwelling Word, this man is mature and can
look forward to great rewards. Sins of the tongue are high on God’s list of abominations (Proverbs 6: 16‐
19). The man who may be filled with the Word and good works, but cannot control his tongue is said to
“deceive his own heart.” He may be under the illusion that he is blessing the Lord and those around him,
but he is not. Many believers today do not consider sins of the tongue to be evil, but they are not looking