James 1:25

“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, etc.] By which is meant, not the moral law, but the Gospel; for only of that is the apostle speaking in the context: this is no other than the word of truth, with which God begets men of his own will; and is the ingrafted word which is able to save, and of which men should be doers, as well as hearers, (<590118>James 1:18,21,22), and this is compared to a glass by the Apostle Paul, (<470318>2 Corinthians 3:18), and the word here used for looking into it is the same word the Apostle Peter uses of the angels, who desired to look into the mysteries of the Gospel, (<600112>1 Peter 1:12) all which serve to strengthen this sense; now the Gospel is…”

“looketh into--literally, "stoopeth down to take a close look into." Peers into: stronger than "beholdeth," or "contemplated," Jam 1:24. A blessed curiosity if it be efficacious in bearing fruit [BENGEL]. perfect law of liberty--the Gospel rule of life, perfect and perfecting (as shown in the Sermon on the Mount, Mat 5:48), and making us truly walk at liberty (Psa 119:32, Church of England Prayer Book Version). Christians are to aim at a higher standard of holiness than was generally understood under the law. The principle of love takes the place of the letter of the law, so that by the Spirit they are free from the yoke of sin, and free to obey by spontaneous instinct (Jam 2:8, Jam 2:10, Jam…”

“But whoso looketh - (παρακύψας parakupsas). This word means, to stoop down near by anything; to bend forward near, so as to look at anything more closely. See the word explained in the notes at 1 Peter 1:12. The idea here is that of a close and attentive observation. The object is not to contrast the manner of looking in the glass, and in the law of liberty, implying that the former was a “careless beholding,” and the latter an attentive and careful looking, as Doddridge, Rosenmuller, Bloomfield, and others suppose; for the word used in the former case (κατενόησε katanoēse) implies intense or accurate observation, as really as the word used here; but the object is to show that if a man…”

“But he that looketh diligently - Not with a transient glance, but bending down, fixing his eyes, and searching all to the bottom. Into the perfect law - Of love as established by faith. St. James here guards us against misunderstanding what St. Paul says concerning the "yoke and bondage of the law." He who keeps the law of love is free, Joh 8:31, &c. He that does not, is not free, but a slave to sin, and a criminal before God, Jam 2:10. And continueth therein - Not like him who forgot it, and went away. This man - There is a peculiar force in the repetition of the word. Shall be happy - Not barely in hearing, but doing the will of God. James 1:26”

“1:25 law that sets you free: God’s word gives us new birth and salvation (1:18, 21) but demands that we do what it says (1:22-25).”

“looketh: Pro 14:15; Isa 8:20; Co2 13:5; Heb 12:15 the perfect: Jam 2:12; Psa 19:7-10, Psa 119:32, Psa 119:45, Psa 119:96-105; Rom 7:12, Rom 7:22, Rom 7:23 liberty: Joh 8:32, Joh 8:36; Rom 8:15; Co2 3:17, Co2 3:18; Gal 5:1; Pe1 2:16 and: Sa1 12:14; Joh 8:31, Joh 15:9, Joh 15:10; Act 2:42, Act 13:43, Act 26:22; Rom 2:7, Rom 2:8, Rom 11:22; Col 1:23; Ti1 2:15, Ti1 4:16; Jo1 2:24 a forgetful: Jam 1:23, Jam 1:24 this: Psa 19:11, Psa 106:3, Psa 119:2, Psa 119:3; Luk 6:47-49, Luk 11:28; Joh 13:17; Co1 15:58; Rev 14:13, Rev 22:14 deed: or, doing James 1:26”