James 1:17

Every. God is the only source of moral and physical benefits, whether given to Christians or to non-Christians.

Good. The contrast between this word, which describes God’s dealings with men, and the “temptations” and “lusts” in vs. 14, 15, is obvious. God does not give to men gifts that will harm them (see on Matt. 7:11).

Gift. Gr. dosis, literally, “the act of giving.” Every impulse to give is from God. It is God’s nature to give (see v. 5), and it is in response to His Spirit and example that men share their possessions with one another.

Perfect. Every element of evil is excluded.

Gift. Gr. dorema, “present,” “benefaction,” “gift.” The word occurs in the NT only here and in Rom. 5:16.

From above. That is, from God (see on John 3:3, 31). God works through men, and as far as their thinking is true they reveal a portion of the fuller truth that God is anxious for man to comprehend (cf. Ed 14).

Cometh. This is James’s final argument against the fallacy that God, either directly or indirectly, is the source of temptation. The “perfect” goodness of God is man’s assurance that He does not send the problems of life that arise from without or the temptations that come from within.

Father. Here in the sense of “Creator” (see Mal. 2:10; Heb. 12:9; Job 38:28).

Lights. In view of the context, it seems that the heavenly bodies are here indicated (see Ps. 8:3; Amos 5:8). So far as our earth is concerned, the most prominent of these is the sun, an indispensable source of blessing to our world. However, the splendor of heavenly bodies is only a faint illustration of the nature of God, who dwells “in the light which no man can approach unto” (1 Tim. 6:16). “Light” is frequently equated with “life” to describe in feeble terms of human understanding the surpassing splendor of God (see on Matt. 5:14; John 1:4, 9).

No variableness. Physical sources of light vary in intensity. Even the sun appears to change from sunrise to sunset and from season to season. But with God there is no change of mood or purpose. He is ever the immutable God, forever anxious to save lost men in a lost world, through every possible means. This is in happy contrast with the fickleness and alternating moods attributed to heathen gods.

Shadow of turning. Not only is there no variableness in God, there is not even the very least plausible excuse for men to charge Him with fickleness.