James 4:17 Cross References

James 4:17

17: Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

"If you were blind, you wouldn't be guilty," Jesus replied. "But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.

It would be better if they had never known the right way to live than to know it and then reject the holy commandments that were given to them.

They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin.

The servant will be severely punished, for though he knew his duty, he refused to do it.
"But people who are not aware that they are doing wrong will be punished only lightly. Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given.

They are fully aware of God's death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway. And, worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.

If you are a Jew, you are relying on God's law for your special relationship with him. You boast that all is well between yourself and God.
Yes, you know what he wants; you know right from wrong because you have been taught his law.
You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a beacon light for people who are lost in darkness without God.
You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that in God's law you have complete knowledge and truth.
Well then, if you teach others, why don't you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal?

From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.
Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused.

But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my doom? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God's good commandment for its own evil purposes.

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