James Part 12
James 1:26-27 NASB
If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Isaiah 1:10-17
Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah! 11 “What are your many sacrifices to Me?” says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened cattle; and I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats. 12 When you come to appear before Me, who requires of you this trampling of My courtyards? 13 Do not go on bringing your worthless offerings, incense is an abomination to Me. new moon and Sabbath, the proclamation of an assembly— I cannot endure wrongdoing and the festive assembly. I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, they have become a burden to Me; I am tired of bearing them. 15 So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; yes, even though you offer many prayers, I will not be listening. Your hands are covered with blood.
16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil, 17 Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor, obtain justice for the orphan, plead for the widow’s case.
Isaiah 58:3-4, 5b-8
Why have we fasted and You do not see? why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?’ Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire, and oppress all your workers. 4 Behold, you fast for contention and strife, and to strike with a wicked fist. You do not fast like you have done today to make your voice heard on high! Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the Lord? 6 Is this not the fast that I choose: to release the bonds of wickedness, to undo the ropes of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to break your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will spring up quickly.
Amos 5:21-23
“I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your festive assemblies. 22 Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them;
And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fattened oxen. 23 Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps.
Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Matthew 12:36-37
But I tell you that for every careless word that people speak, they will give an account of it on the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Psalm 68:5
A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is God in His holy dwelling.
Psalms 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight,
Proverbs 6:12-15
A worthless person, a wicked man, Is one who walks with a perverse mouth, 13 Who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, who points with his fingers; 14 Who, with perversion in his heart, continually devises evil, who spreads strife. 15 Therefore his disaster will come suddenly; Instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing.
Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
James 1:27
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.