Daily Bible Verse - 11/19/2007 - James 1:27

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.

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.

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

James 1:27

Commentary
Pure (Gk. katharos) versus impure is the issue, not true versus false. Some people go through religion (Gk. thrēskos), or the external aspects of worship, with an unclean heart. James is confirming that the externals of religious activities are not acceptable to God unless accompanied by a holy life and loving service. Rites and rituals have never been an adequate substitute for service and sacrifice. Corporate worship within the church cannot take the place of individual works outside the church. Private profession must be coupled with the public expression of one's faith. To visit comes from the Greek word usually translated bishop, a person who oversees God's people (1 Tim. 3:1).
Orphans and widows were among the most unprotected and needy classes in ancient societies (Ezek. 22:7). Pure religion does not merely give material goods for the relief of the distressed, it also oversees their care (Acts 6:1-7; 1 Tim. 5:3-16).

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Jas 1:26-27). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

Daily Bible Verse - 11/18/2007 - Proverbs 15:17

Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

Better is a dish of vegetables where love is Than a fattened ox served with hatred.

Proverbs 15:17

Commentary

A plate of vegetables in an atmosphere of love is better than a filet mignon roast where there is strife. Moffatt says, "Better is a dish of vegetables, than the best beef served with hatred."

A fatted calf is one that has been raised in a stall and given the best feed; its meat is tender and delicious.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Pr 15:17). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Did you know?

One had to be wealthy, as Abraham was, to keep many cattle (Gen. 12:16; 21:27). Being larger animals, they needed more and better pasture than goats or sheep.

Packer, J., Tenney, M. C., & White, W. (1997, c1995). Nelson's illustrated manners and customs of the Bible (216). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.