James 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 1. Unbelievers, though they may receive something, yet they can expect nothing from God. They are under a double misery. (1) They can lift up no thoughts of hope and comfort, for they are not under the assurance of a promise. (2) If they receive anything, they cannot leek upon it as coming by promise, or as a return of prayers. 2. Men usually deceive themselves with vain hopes and thoughts; they are out in their thinking (Matthew 3:9). 3. The cause why we receive not upon asking is not from God, but ourselves; He "giveth liberally," but we pray doubtingly. He would give, but we cannot receive. We see men are discouraged when they are distrusted, and suspicion is the ready way to make them unfaithful; and, certainly, when we distrust God, it is not reasonable we should expect aught from Him. 4. From that "anything" — neither wisdom nor anything else — that God thinketh the least mercy too good for unbelievers: He thinketh nothing too good for faith, nod anything too good for unbelief. 5. From that "from the Lord," that the fruit of our prayers is received from the hands of Christ; He is the middle person by whom God conveyeth blessings to us, and we return duty to Him. (T. Manton.) Parallel Verses KJV: For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.WEB: For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord. |
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