Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
An example of doing work.
religious . . . religion—The Greek expresses the external service or exercise of religion, "godliness" being the internal soul of it. "If any man think himself to be (so the Greek) religious, that is, observant of the offices of religion, let him know these consist not so much in outward observances, as in such acts of mercy and humble piety (Micah 6:7-8) as visiting the fatherless, etc., and keeping one's self unspotted from the world" (Matthew 23:23). James does not mean that these offices are the great essentials, or sum total of religion; but that, whereas the law service was merely ceremonial, the very services of the Gospel consist in acts of mercy and holiness, and it has light for its garment, its very robe being righteousness [TRENCH]. The Greek word is only found in Acts 26:5, "after the straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee." Colossians 2:18, "worshipping of angels."
bridleth not . . . tongue—Discretion in speech is better than fluency of speech (compare James 3:2-3). Compare Psalms 39:1. God alone can enable us to do so. James, in treating of the law, naturally notices this sin. For they who are free from grosser sins, and even bear the outward show of sanctity, will often exalt themselves by detracting others under the pretense of zeal, while their real motive is love of evil-speaking [CALVIN].
heart—It and the tongue act and react on one another.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing James 1:26:
Psalms 39:1
Proverbs 10:19
Galatians 6:3
James 1:19
James 2:12
James 3:17
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