James 2:16

16 If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that?

James 2:16 Meaning and Commentary

James 2:16

And one of you say unto them
That is, one of the same faith, and in the same communion and church fellowship.

Depart in peace;
wishing them all prosperity and happiness, inward and outward:

be ye warmed and filled;
clothed and fed; signifying, that they wished them all the accommodations of life:

notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful for
the body;
neither clothes to wear, nor food to eat; nothing to warm their bodies, or fill their bellies:

what doth it profit?
the Ethiopic version reads, "what doth it profit them?" either the poor brother, or sister, to whom these good words are given, and nothing else; for these will neither warm them, nor fill them; or the persons themselves, that say these tidings to them: and the apostle, by this instance, shows, that as that charity which lies only in words, and in tongue, and not in deed, and in truth, is unprofitable, and good for nothing, even to them that profess it; so that faith, which a man says he has, and yet is without works, is alike unprofitable unto him.

James 2:16 In-Context

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

16 If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that?

17 So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.