Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. See verse in context And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. See verse in context And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.īut the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive and let thy widows trust in me. Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep. Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them. Their priests fell by the sword and their widows made no lamentation.Ī father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation. Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation. (To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.) My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf. If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. James was written about AD48, with some believing that it is the first New Testament book.We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows. 27 A religion that is pure and stainless according to God the Father is this: to take care of orphans and widows who are suffering, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. 25 But the one who looks at the perfect law of freedom and remains committed to it-thereby demonstrating that he is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of what that law requires-will be blessed in what he does.Ģ6 If anyone thinks that he is religious and does not bridle his tongue, but instead deceives himself,k his religion is worthless. 23 For if anyone hears the word but is not obedient to it, he is like a man who looks at himself in a mirror 24 and studies himself carefully, and then goes off and immediately forgets what he looks like. 21 Therefore, rid yourselves of everything impure and every expression of wickedness, and with a gentle spirit welcome the word planted in you that can save your souls.Ģ2 Keep on being obedient to the word, and not merely being hearers who deceive themselves. 20 For human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 18 In accordance with his will he made us his children by the word of truth, so that we might become the most important of his creatures.ġ9 You must understand this, my dear brothers. 17 Every generous act of giving and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father who made the heavenly lights, in whom there is no inconsistency or shifting shadow.
Background Reading: Practical Christian Livingġ:16 Do not be deceived, my dear brothers. And includes these words - Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. And he carries on writing that we must not merely listen to the word but Do what it says. James gives practical advice on things like quick to listen and slow to speak or become angry. James’s letter is very practical for Christian living. James wrote about looking after the weak in the body of the church.