James 1:23

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James 1:21–25 · Berean Standard Bible

21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.

22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.

23 For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror,

24 and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.

Greek words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

James 2:14

What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

James 2:15

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

James 2:16

If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that?

James 2:17

So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.

James 2:18

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

James 2:19

You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

James 2:20

O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless?

James 2:21

Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

James 2:22

You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.

James 2:23

And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.

James 2:24

As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.

James 2:25

In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route?

James 2:26

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Jeremiah 44:16

“As for the word you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you!

Ezekiel 33:31

So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.

Ezekiel 33:32

Indeed, you are to them like a singer of love songs with a beautiful voice, who skillfully plays an instrument. They hear your words but do not put them into practice.

Matthew 7:26

But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

Matthew 7:27

The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!”