Self-Delusion (22-24): James now explains that receiving the implanted Word (1:21) is the practice[1] of living by the word of God. This is a doer of the word, distinct from a hearer-only.[2] This second person is dishonest with himself and sees himself right with God, while all along he continues to live in disobedience. This is a self-deluded man,[3] who is like a person who looks at his face in the mirror, then does nothing about the mess on his face. Hearing of the word profits nothing if the hearer does not repent and obey.
Forgetfulness (24-25): Forgetfulness is not an option for the man who takes the word of God seriously (cf. Psalm 119). It is sheer foolishness to forget what needs fixing when you’ve seen the problem. James has a remedy. Look closer (“intently”) into the word of God and be a man who stays near the Word (“abides by it”), not skimming over it, but meditating on it (Psalm 1:2). The object of our intense gaze is to be the law which Christ gave, the completed revelation of God (“the perfect law”)[4], the law of God that frees us from our sins (“the law of liberty”)[5]. A disciple of Christ does not let the evil one continually snatch the Word so that it bears no fruit (Matt. 13:19). Our enemy would love to rob us of our joy (“blessed”) of abiding in Christ (John 15:8-11).
[1] The verb “be [gi-no-mai (γίνομαι)]” (ESV, NKJV) is imperfective, a habit, a lifestyle of doing the word.
[2] NASB’s “merely hearers” is literally “only hearers [mo-non a-kro-a-tai (μόνον ἀκροαταὶ)].”
[3] NASB’s “delude” is pa-ra-lo-gi-zo-mai (παραλογίζομαι) which is to miscalculate or reason falsely, even to mislead (Col. 2:4). Hearing the Word and not doing it leads one to miscalculate his true condition before God. He assumes he is right with God (because He has heard) when his actions show he is clearly not. Obedience is the true gauge of one’s spiritual condition, not knowledge alone (what one has heard).
[4] This is the “perfect” law in that it is the completion of the law, as the adjective “perfect” or “complete” (te-lei-os [τέλειος]) indicates. Jesus spoke of His own teaching that it is the filling up of the Law of God in Matt. 5:17. James also calls this “the royal law” (2:8), because this is the law of king Jesus.
[5] The law of liberty is the law of Christ that liberates people from their sins. Cf. John 8:31-32; Rom. 8:2.