James 4:2

You lust and you do not have. You murder and are jealous and you cannot obtain. You fight and make war. You do not have because you do not ask.

English Majority Text (NT)

In The King James Version

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

In Context

1From where come wars and disputes among you? Is it not from here, from your lusts, which war in your members?

3You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend it in gratifying your lusts.

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Cross References

Luke 11:9“So I say to you, ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.

John 16:24Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 1 Peace for the Disciples

James 1:5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it shall be given to him.

Matthew Henry on James 4:2-11

Origin of War and Contention; Against Pride; Submission to God. ( a. d. 61.) 1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever… Read the whole commentary →

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