James 1:24

24 For he beheld himself and went his way and presently forgot what manner of man he was.

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 But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if a man be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he shall be compared to a man beholding his own countenance in a glass.

24 For he beheld himself and went his way and presently forgot what manner of man he was.

25 But he that hath looked into the perfect law of liberty and hath continued therein, not becoming a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work: this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 And if any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue but deceiving his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.