14th Sunday after Pentecost James 1:17-27

Preaching Commentary

Summary of the Text

James, the brother of Jesus, the leader of the earliest Christian church in Jerusalem, writes this letter to scattered Jewish believers who are going through very difficult times. My mom would say “They are going through the ringer.” (Ringer: a hand-cranked device to squeeze the last drop of water out of rinsed, cleaned clothes before hanging them out to dry.) To put your hand in the ringer was to enjoy great pain. His first admonishment (v. 2) is “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” He then adds (v. 12), “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial.” The scattered, strewn, tossed-about young believers are under great…