James 4:17
If, however, a man knows what it is right to do and yet does not do it, he commits a sin.
Weymouth NT (1912)
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, as the case stands, it is in mere self-confidence that you boast: all such boasting is evil.
Cross References
John 9:41"If you were blind," answered Jesus, "you would have no sin; but as a matter of fact you boast that you see. So your sin remains!"
John 15:22"If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have had no sin; but as the case stands they are without excuse for their sin.
Romans 1:32In short, though knowing full well the sentence which God pronounces against actions such as theirs, as things which deserve death, they not only practise them, but even encourage and applaud others who do them.
Romans 7:13Did then a thing which is good become death to me? No, indeed, but sin did; so that through its bringing about death by means of what was good, it might be seen in its true light as sin, in order that by means of the Commandment the unspeakable sinfulness of sin might be plainly shown.
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 →