James 4:17
The man who has knowledge of how to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Bible in Basic English
In The King James Version
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
In Context
16But now you go on glorying in your pride: and all such glorying is evil.
Cross References
John 9:41Jesus said to them, If you were blind you would have no sin: but now that you say, We see; your sin is there still.
John 15:22If I had not come and been their teacher they would have had no sin: but now they have no reason to give for their sin.
Romans 1:32Who, though they have knowledge of the law of God, that the fate of those who do these things is death, not only go on doing these things themselves, but give approval to those who do them.
Romans 7:13Was then that which is good, death to me? In no way. But the purpose was that sin might be seen to be sin by working death to me through that which is good; so that through the orders of the law sin might seem much more evil.
Matthew Henry on James 4:12-17
Caution against Slander; Caution against Presumption. ( a. d. 61.) 11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? 13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get… Read the whole commentary →