See on v. 21. Rahab cast her lot with the people of God and demonstrated her faith in Israel’s God by jeopardizing her life to save the spies. James implies that if she he had professed faith in the God of Israel and yet had not hidden the spies, her faith would have been barren and dead.

 See on Joshua 2:1; Heb. 11:31. Abraham was noted for piety; Rahab for immorality. Abraham believed for many years before the offering up of Isaac; Rahab possessed a young faith. But both proved their faith by their utter disregard for personal security and by casting their lot with God’s program. James shows that the most venerated of the faithful and the most despised of the Gentiles alike find justification through a faith that works.

James cites another well-known OTincident to illustrate the principle of faith demonstrated by good works. The lesson is parallel with that drawn from Abraham’s experience, though the supreme act of faith in each case differed much from the other.