Hearers and Doers

Knowing what the Bible says and doing what it says are two different things.

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; or the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

James 1:19-25

James is the little brother of Jesus. He is writing to Jewish Christians living among Gentiles (non-believers) outside Palestine. The community was marked by poverty, persecution, and factions in the church (1). Sound familiar? Many historians have pointed out that James came to faith in his big brother some time after Jesus's resurrection.

Knowing what the Bible says and doing what it says are two different things.

James admonishes his readers, “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22)

Perhaps as James is writing his epistle, he is reflecting many years in the past to the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said, "“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”" (Matthew 19:16-22)

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man... And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man."

“be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

3 Questions:

1. What does it mean to deceive yourself?

2. What does it mean to be a hearer of the word only?

3. What does it mean to be a doer of the word?

What does it mean to deceive yourself?

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9 )

If you can come to church everyday and listen to the Word of God… Yet, it never changes you. You may be deceived.

You may be able to quote the Bible chapter and verse… Yet, it does not result in fruitfulness. You may be deceived.

We are prideful - pride blinds us.

We deceive ourselves. We are all self-deceived deceivers!

What does it mean to be a hearer of the word only?

The Rich young ruler was a hearer of the word only.

“And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” (Matthew 19:16-22)

One time Jesus was teaching His disciples, some chose to stop following.

“On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” ... From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” (John 6:60, 66)

Some disciples were ONLY hearing the word. Being a hearer of the word only means one may have an intellectual ascent and agree with what the Bible commands, but no action or life transformation occur.

What does it mean to be a doer of the word?

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

We’re NOT saved by good works… We are saved FOR good works! We are justified by faith… not by works. Good works are the fruit of faith in Christ. The proof of saving faith in Christ will be a transformed life! The fruit of faith will result doing what he commands… good works.

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Good works (obedience) serve as a witness to a lost world. Devoid of good works, talk is cheap (the world knows this).

Where is the blessing?

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves… being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

James is getting at what it means to be a follower (disciple) of Jesus Christ.

Disciples obey.

To do is to obey.

To be a doer of the Word is to put faith into action.

“he will be blessed in his doing.”

There is a blessing in doing… (obedience).

At the Last Supper in the Upper Room in John 13, Jesus washes the feet of the disciples. He ends his teaching by saying, “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them…" (John 13:17)

Where is the blessing, in knowing or doing?

Is your life transformed?

If you were dragged into a court of law and accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? What if attending church services on Sunday was inadmissible as evidence? Would there be enough evidence to convict you?

When we live out our faith, we will stand out. We will be unique… different. Yes, we'll appear to be weird to the unbelieving world.

We have a choice. We can be self-deceived deceivers and only hear Gods Word and never allow it to change us… Or we can allow God’s Word to transform us by the power of the Holy Spirit as doers of His Word. It won’t be easy but their is joy and blessing in being a doer of our Savior’s word!

Knowing what the Bible says and doing what it says are two different things.

Reflections for today:

In what ways can you put your faith into action today?

How will you commit to obey God’s word today?

With whom will you share what you have learned from God’s Word today?

Footnotes:

1. NIV Study Bible notes (James 1:19-25)