James the Just – Chapter 1

1 Yaakov, an eved of vuvh and the Master gauvh ha Moshiach to the twelve tribes who are scattered abroad among the nations in the galut. Shalom. 2 My Yisraelite brothers… All 12 tribes – reveals the majority of the so called ‘Jews’ were in fact the synagogue of S.a.tan, ‘those who say they are Jews and are not’. If the real Jews had all returned in 520 BCE in the days of Ezra, as sacred history espouses then James would be addressing nine tribes still in dispersion, but recorded history reveals twelve tribes were still scattered outside Judea mid First Century! The Sermon on the Mount background V.2 get a proper perspective: count it all simcha when you fall into divers trials; (V.2 – Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are those who are persecuted for tzedakah’s sake: for theirs is the malchut ha shamayim. 11 Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.) This isn’t talking about giving in to sin. The Greek word for ‘fall’ is used in Luke 10:30 where a man ‘fell’ among the thieves and was beaten until nearly dead – it wasn’t something of his own making or choosing – he didn’t fall into sin but he fell into circumstances unavoidably and unexpectedly – falling into a situation of outward trials. ‘Diverse trials’ in V.2 is speaking to the Malki-Tzedik- Joseph generation – because the Gk word ‘poikilos’ for ‘diverse’ is used in LXX Genesis 37:3 to describe the ‘diverse’ colours of the Malki-Tzedik – Joseph robe! V.3 begins the six basic tests for proving our faith: faith will be tested in response to YHWH’s word -Vs.19-27. faith will be tested in how it responds to societal gulfs. faith will be tested by its production…..production of works. faith will be tested by its exercise of self control. faith will be tested by how it interacts with the world – its reaction to worldliness. faith will be tested on how it turns to prayer in all things. V.3 the five virtues of faith: patience endurance fortitude steadfastness perseverance V.3 Knowing this, that the trying (dokimion) of your emunah produces patience. 4 But let patience be a perfect (teleios), work, that you may be perfect and complete, wanting nothing. (V. 4 – Matthew 5:48 Therefore become perfect/teleios, even as your Abba who is in the shamayim is perfect/teleios,). Perfect>Gk: teleios>Heb:tamim which is tied directly to the priesthood and used to speak of the quality of the sacrifices. Yaakov is speaking as the Malki-Tzedik to the priesthood that they now are to be blameless or as Shaul said, ‘live as sacrifices’. teleios – submitting to the will of יהוה in completion, maturity and perfection. Wholeness, undamaged, intact. V.5 If any of you lack chochmah, let him ask of vuvh who gives to all men liberally, without reproach; and it shall be given to him.(V.5- Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you). ‘The Fear of יהוה is the genesis of wisdom’….Proverbs 9:10. LXX Proverbs: 27:21 fire is the trial (dokimion) for silver and gold, and a man is tired (dokimazo). Faith – Emunah – LXX Pistis – fidelity, commitment. Yaakov’s commitment to faith is what drives the whole homily. V.6 But let him ask in emunah, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive anything from the Master vuvh. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 1Chronicles 12:33 & Psalms 12:2 ‘a man with a heart within a heart.’ V.9 Let the brother of low degree gilah in that he is exalted: (V.9-Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in ruach: for theirs is the malchut ha shamayim) 10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, so that it withers the grass, and the flower falls, and the pretty appearance of it perishes: so also shall the rich man fade away in the