James 1:27

“Pure religion and undefiled, etc.] That which is sincere and genuine, and free from adulteration and hypocrisy: before God and the Father; or in the sight of God the Father of Christ, and all his people; that which is approved of by him, who is the searcher of hearts, and the trier of the reins of men, “is this”: not that the apostle is giving a full definition of true religion; only he mentions some of the effects of it, by which it is known, and without which it cannot be true and genuine; and they are these: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction; and not only to see them, and speak a word of comfort to them, but to communicate to them, and supply their wants, as they may…”

“Pure . . . and undefiled--"Pure" is that love which has in it no foreign admixture, as self-deceit and hypocrisy. "Undefiled" is the means of its being "pure" [TITTMANN]. "Pure" expresses the positive, "undefiled" the negative side of religious service; just as visiting the fatherless and widow is the active, keeping himself unspotted from the world, the passive side of religious duty. This is the nobler shape that our religious exercises take, instead of the ceremonial offices of the law. before God and the Father--literally, "before Him who is (our) God and Father." God is so called to imply that if we would be like our Father, it is not by fasting, &c., for He does none of these things,…”

“Pure religion - On the word here rendered “religion” (θρησκεία thrēskeia), see the notes at Colossians 2:18. It is used here evidently in the sense of piety, or as we commonly employ the word religion. The object of the apostle is to describe what enters essentially into religion; what it will do when it is properly and fairly developed. The phrase “pure religion” means that which is genuine and sincere, or which is free from any improper mixture. And undefiled before God and the Father - That which God sees to be pure and undefiled. Rosenmuller supposes that there is a metaphor here taken from pearls or gems, which should be pure, or without stain. Is this - That is, this enters into it;…”

“The only true religion in the sight of God, is this, to visit - With counsel, comfort, and relief. The fatherless and widows - Those who need it most. In their affliction - In their most helpless and hopeless state. And to keep himself unspotted from the world - From the maxims, tempers, and customs of it. But this cannot be done, till we have given our hearts to God, and love our neighbour as ourselves. Next: James Chapter 2”

“Pure: Jam 3:17; Psa 119:1; Mat 5:8; Luk 1:6; Ti1 1:5, Ti1 5:4 To visit: Job 29:12, Job 29:13, Job 31:15-20; Psa 68:5; Isa 1:16, Isa 1:17, Isa 58:6, Isa 58:7; Mat 25:34-46; Gal 5:6, Gal 6:9, Gal 6:10; Jo1 3:17-19 to keep: Jam 4:4; Joh 17:14, Joh 17:15; Rom 12:2; Gal 1:4, Gal 6:14; Col 3:1-3; Jo1 2:15-17; Jo1 5:4, Jo1 5:5, Jo1 5:18 Next: James Chapter 2”