James refers to the Sermon on the Mount (see p. 500; Matt. 7:21-29). This qualifies the foregoing precept, to be “swift to hear” (James 1:19). It is not enough to remember what we hear or even to be able to teach it to others. We must systematically and persistently practice the “word of truth” (v. 18) in our personal program of life. Thus the apostle James is in perfect agreement with the teachings of Paul: “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified” (Rom. 2:13).

 This is certainly no condemnation of those who hear the “word of truth” read and explained. The wrong lies in “only” hearing and going no further in applying the “word” to the life (see on Matt. 7:21-27; Rom. 2:13).

Gr. paralogizomai, “to delude,” “to deceive by false reasoning.” The deception is one into which a man betrays himself by false reasoning. The hearer deceives himself when he reasons that mere listening to the word, or much discussion about truth, or membership in the church is sufficient for salvation. There must be a complete transformation of the life by the power of the Holy Spirit, which energizes believers into being “doers of the word.”