James 1:24

24 They see their faces and then go away and quickly forget what they looked like.

James 1:24 Meaning and Commentary

James 1:24

For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way
He takes a slight glance of himself, and departs:

and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was;
he forgets either his spots, blemishes, and imperfections; or his comeliness and beauty; the features of his face, be they comely or not: so a bare hearer of the word, who is not concerned to practise what he hears, while he is hearing, he observes some things amiss in himself, and some excellencies in Christ; but, when the discourse is over, he goes his way, and thinks no more of either.

James 1:24 In-Context

22 Do what God's teaching says; when you only listen and do nothing, you are fooling yourselves.

23 Those who hear God's teaching and do nothing are like people who look at themselves in a mirror.

24 They see their faces and then go away and quickly forget what they looked like.

25 But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God's teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy.

26 People who think they are religious but say things they should not say are just fooling themselves. Their "religion" is worth nothing.