James 4:2

You continually crave and do not obtain; you are killing and coveting and cannot acquire; you are fighting and at war. You do not have, because you do not ask.

Montgomery New Testament

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

1Where do the conflicts and quarrels that go on among you come from? Do they not come from your passions which are always making war among your bodily members?

3You continue to ask and do not receive, because you are asking with a wrong purpose, in order to spend it upon your pleasures.

Read all of James 4

Cross References

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

John 16:24"Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.

James 1:5If any one of you is lacking in wisdom, let him ask it from the God who gives to all men freely and without upbraiding; and it will 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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