4:2 murder. The ultimate result of thwarted desires.

James had in mind actual murder, and the gamut of sins (hate, anger, bitterness) leading up to it. The picture is of unbelievers so driven by their uncontrollable evil desires that they will fight to the death to fulfill them. you do not ask. True joy, peace, happiness, meaning, hope, and fulfillment in life come only from God. Unbelievers, however, are unwilling to ask for them on His terms. They refuse to submit to God or acknowledge their dependence on Him. MacArthur, John (2005). The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Kindle Locations 6335363357). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. This refers to acting in an evil manner, motivated by personal gratification and selfish desire. Unbelievers seek things for their own pleasures, not the honor and glory of God. MacArthur, John (2005). The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Kindle Locations 6337863379). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. James teaches a lesson on prayer. He asserts that even when we pray, we fail to receive an answer. The cause for this failure lies not in God but in man. When the believer asks Jesus anything in his name, Jesus will honor that request (John 14:13-14). The context in which Jesus makes this promise, however, speaks of faith in Jesus on the one hand and of glory to God the Father on the other. That is, when the believer prays to God in the name of Jesus, he must not only believe that God will hear and answer his prayer. He must also ask himself whether his request will hallow God's name, further the cause of God's kingdom, and be in harmony with God's will (Matt. 6:9-10). If these are the believer's motives when he prays, God will prosper him by granting his request. Many people do not even bother to pray. If they do pray, they come to God with wrong motives. They lack faith. Says Paul, Everything that does not come from faith is sin (Rom. 14:23). The writer of Hebrews is even more to the point: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Heb. 11:6). How can a person be sure that he has faith in God if he never prays to God? How can he expect God to answer his prayers if he refuses to heed the apostolic injunction to pray continually (I Thess. 5:17)? God refuses to listen to men who eagerly pursue selfish pleasures. Greed is idolatry and that is an abomination in the sight of God. God does not listen to prayers that come from a heart filled with selfish motives. Covetousness and selfishness are insults to God. World: world orderof things; human kind This means to slander or defame. James does not forbid confronting those in sin, which is elsewhere commanded in Scripture (Matt. 18:1517; Acts 20:31; 1 Cor. 4:14; Col. 1:28; Titus 1:13; 2:15; 3:10). Rather, he condemns careless, derogatory, critical, slanderous accusations against others (cf. Ex. 23:1; Pss. 50:20; 101:5; 140:11; Prov. 10:18; 11:9; 16:28; 17:9; 26:20; Rom. 1:29; 2 Cor. 12:20; Eph. 4:31; 1 Tim. 3:11; 2 Tim. 3:3; Titus 2:3; 3:2). speaks evil of a brother . . . speaks evil of the law. Those who speak evil of other believers set themselves up as judges and condemn them (cf. 2:4). They thereby

defame and disregard Gods law, which expressly forbids such slanderous condemnation. judges the law. By refusing to submit to the law, slanderers place themselves above it as its judges. MacArthur, John (2005). The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Kindle Locations 6342463430). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. 4:14 know what will happen. See Proverbs 27:1. James exposes the presumptuous folly of the practical atheists he condemned in verse 13those who do not know what the future holds for them (cf. Luke 12:1621). God alone knows the future (cf. Is. 46:9, 10). vapor. This refers either to a puff of smoke or ones breath that appears for a moment in cold air. It emphasizes the transitory nature of life (cf. 1:10; Job 7:6, 7; 9:25, 26; 14:1, 2; Pss. 39:5, 11; 62:9; 89:47; 90:5, 6, 10). 4:15 If the Lord wills. The true Christian submits his plans to the lordship of Christ (see note on v. 7; cf. Prov. 19:21; Acts 18:21; 21:14; Rom. 1:10; 15:32; 1 Cor. 4:19; 16:7). 4:16 boasting. Arrogant bragging about their anticipated business accomplishments (see note on v. 13 ). 4:17 sin. The implication is that they also did what they shouldnt do. Sins of omission lead directly to sins of commission. MacArthur, John (2005). The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Kindle Locations 6346163470). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. The general principle is here stated: knowledge without practice is imputed to a man as presumptuous sin. James reverts to James 1:22-24. Nothing more injures the soul than wasted impressions. Feelings exhaust themselves and evaporate, if not embodied in practice. As we will not act except we feel, so, if we will not act out our feelings, we shall soon cease to feel.