PURE AND UNDEFILED RELIGION - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B)

Homily  for the 22^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B)

Based on  Mk 7:1-8,14-15,21-23 (Gospel),Dt 4:1-2, 6-8 (1st Reading);Jas 1:17-18,21-22, 27 (2^ndReading)

From the Series: “Reflections and Teachings of the Desert”

PURE AND UNDEFILED RELIGION

Today’s gospel reading is taken fromMk 7:1-8,14-15,21-23.Verse 1 says:The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered round him…

Parallel texts are:

a.       Mt 15:1-9 - Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem then came to Jesus and said (v.1), ‘Why do your disciples break away from the tradition of the elders?^a They do not wash their hands when they eat food^b (v. 2). And why do you’ he answered ‘ break away from the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? (v. 3) For God said: Do your duty to^c your father and mother and: Anyone who curses father or mother must be put to death (v. 4). But you say, “If anyone says to his father or mother: Anything I have that I might have used to help you is dedicated to God”^d (v.  5), he is rid of his duty to father or mother.^e In this way you have made God’s word null and void by means of your tradition (v. 6). Hypoctites! It was you Isaiah meant when he so rightly prophesied (v. 7): This people honors me only with lip-service, while their hearts are far from me (v. 8) The worship they offer me is worthless; the doctrines they teach are only human regulations’ (v. 9).Footnote^a - Oral tradition which, to safeguard the observance of the written Law, make many additions to it. According to the rabbis this tradition went back through the ‘elders’ to Moses himself; Footnote ^b - Lit. ‘eat bread’; Footnote ^c says“Lit “Honor”, but implying a reverence shown in practical ways”; Footnote ^dsays“Vulg. Interprets ‘Every gift I make (to God) is useful to you’; and Footnote^esays“Because property thus made over by vow assumes a sacred character which precludes all claims made by the parents. Such a vow was in fact only a legal fiction involving no sacrifice of ownership: it was no more than a despicable way of escaping the duty of filial piety. Though the rabbis acknowledged its impiety they sustained its validity”.

b.      Ac 21:21…and they have heard that you instruct all Jews living among the pagans to break away from Moses,^h authorizing them not to circumcise their children or to follow customary practices.Footnote^h says “Paul’s doctrine of faith as the one source of justification, cf. Rm 1:16+; 3:22+, did indeed lead to this, since it meant that the Mosaic Law no longer gave the Jews superiority over the gentile. But Paul’s purpose in expounding this principle was to leave converts from paganism free of Jewish observance, cf. Ga. 2:11f, not to dissuade devout Jews from it.”

Verse 2 says: And they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with unclean hands, that is, without washing them.

Parallel text is Lk 11:38 that says: The Pharisees saw this and was surprised that he had not first washed before the meal.

Verses 3 and 4  say: For the Pharisees and the Jews in general, follow the tradition of the elders^a and never eat without washing their arms as far as the elbow; And returning from the marketplace they never eat without first sprinkling^b themselves. There are also many other  observances which has been handed down to them concerning the washing of cups and pots and bronze dishes. Footnote^a says “The ‘tradition of the elders’ comprises the injunctions and practices added by the rabbis to the Mosaic Law”; Footnote^b says “Var. ‘bathing’. Or they never eat what comes from the market without having sprinkled it’.”

Parallel texts for verse 3 are:

a.       Jn 2:6 - There were six stone jars standing there, meant for the ablution that are customary among the Jews: each could hold twenty or thirty gallons.

b.      Ga 1:14 - …how I stood out among other Jews of my generation, and how enthusiastic I was for the traditions of my ancestors.

Verses 4, 5 and 6 say:  And returning from the marketplace they never eat without first sprinkling^bthemselves. There are also many other observances which has been handed down to them concerning the washing of cups and pots and bronze dishes. So these Pharisees and scribes asked him, ’Why do your disciples not respect the tradition of the elders but eat their food with unclean hands?’ He answered, ‘It was of you hypocrites that Isaiah so rightly prophesied in this passage of scripture: This people honor me only with lip service, while their hearts are far from me. Footnote ^b says “Var. ‘bathing’. Or they never eat what comes from the market without having sprinkled it’.”

Parallel text for verse 6 is Is. 29:13 that says: Yahweh has said: Because this people approaches me only in words, honors me only with lip-service while its heart is far from me, and my religion, as far as it is concerned, is nothing but human commandments, a lesson memorized.

Verses 7 and 8 are: The worship they offer me is worthless; the doctrines they teach are only human regulations. You put aside the commandment of God to cling to human traditions.’

Verses 14 and 15 say: He called the people to him again and said, ‘Listen to me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that goes into a man from outside can make him unclean; it is the things that come out of a man that make him unclean.

Verses 21, 22 and 23 say: For it is from within, from men’s hearts, that evil intentions emerge: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, malice, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within and make a man unclean.’

Parallel text for verse 21 are:

a.       Jr 17:9 - The heart is more devious than any other thing, perverse too: who can pierce its secret?

b.      Rm 1:29 - So they are steeped^r in all sorts of depravity rottenness, greed and malice,^s and addicted to envy, murder, wrangling, treachery and spite.Footnote ^r says  “Here, as he frequently does elsewhere, Paul uses lists of vices taken from current pagan and (even more so) Jewish  literature: 13:13; 1 Co 5:10-11; 6:9-10; 2 Co 12:20; Ga 5:19-21; Ep 4:31; 5:3-5; Col 3:5-8; 1 Tm 1:9-10; 6:4; 2 Tm 3:2-5; Tt 3:3; Cf. also  Mt 15:19p; 1 P 4:3; Rv 21:8; 22:15”; Footnote ^s –says “Add ‘fornication’.”

The First Reading for this Sunday is Dt 4:1-2, 6-8.

Verse 1 says:And now, Israel, take notice of the laws and customs that I teach you today, and observe them, that you may have life and may enter and take possession of the land that Yahweh the God of your fathers is giving you.

Parallel texts are:

a.       Dt 5:1 - Moses called the whole of Israel together and said to them: Listen Israel, to the laws and customs that I proclaim in your hearing today. Learn them and take care to observe them.

b.      Dt 6:1 - These then are the commandments, the laws and the customs^a which Yahweh your God has instructed me to teach you that you may observe them in the land which you are going to make your own.  Footnote ^asays “The laws and customs’ properly so called are not enumerated until after the discourse, 12:1f”.

c.       Lv 18:5 - You must keep my laws and my customs. Whoever complies with them will find life in them. I am Yahweh.

d.      Rv 22:18-19 - This is my solemn warning to all who hear the prophecies in this book: if anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him every plague mentioned in the book (v. 18); if anyone cuts anything out of the prophecies in this book, God will cut out his share of the tree of life and of the holy city, which are described in the book (v. 19).

Verse 2 says: You must add nothing to what I command you, and take nothing from it, but keep the commandments of Yahweh your God just as I lay them down to you.

Parallel text for verse 2 is Nb 25:1-18 that says: Israel at Peor^a - Israel settled at Shittim.^bThe people gave themselves over to debauchery with the daughters of Moab^c (v. 1). These invited them to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate^d and bowed down before their gods (v. 2). With Israel thus committed to the Baal of Peor, the anger of Yahweh blazed out against them (v. 3). Yahweh said to Moses, ‘Take all the leaders of the people. Impale them for Yahweh, here in the sun; then the burning anger of Yahweh will turn away from Israel (v. 4). Moses said to the judges in Israel, ‘Every one of you must put to death those of his people who have committed themselves to the Baal of Peor’ (v. 5). A man of the sons of Israel came along, brining the^eMidianitewomaninto his family, under the very eyes of Moses and the whole community of the sons of Israel as they wept at the door of the Tent of Meeting (v. 6). When he saw this, Phinehas the priest, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, stood up and left the assembly, seized a lance (v. 7), followed the Israelite into the Alcove, and there ran them both through the Israelite and the woman, right through the groin. And the plague that had struck the sons of Israel was arrested (v. 8). In the plague twenty-four thousands of them had died (v. 9). Yahweh spoke to Moses and said (v. 10), Phinehas the priest, son of Eleazar son of Aaron, has turned my wrath away from the sons of Israel, because he was the only one among them to have the same zeal as I have; for this I did not make an end, in my zeal, of the sons of Israel (v. 11). Proclaim this, therefore: To him I now grant my covenant of peace (v. 12). For him and for his descendants after him, this covenant shall ensure the priesthood for ever. In reward for his zeal for his God, he shall have the right to perform the ritual of atonement^f over the sons of Israel’ (v. 13). The Israelite who was killed (he who had been killed with the Midianite woman) was called Zumri son of Salu, leader of one of the patriarchal Houses of Simeon (v. 14). The woman, the Midinaite who was killed, was called Cozbi, daughter of Zur, chief of the clan, of a patriarchal House of Midian (v. 15). Yahweh spoke to Moses and said (v. 16), ‘Harry the Midianites and strike them down (v. 17), for they have harassed you with their guile in the Peor affair and in the affair of Cozbi their sister, daughter of the prince of Midian, the woman who was killed the day the plague came on account of Peor’ (v. 18). Footnotes ^a says “Continuing the story of Israel’s contact with her neighbors. The passage, ‘Priestly’ in outlook, establishes the right of Phinehas to the priesthood; it is therefore a sequel to 20:22-29.  Footnote ^bsays “On Shittim or Abel-hash-shittim see Jos 2:1+; Footnote ^c says “What follows concerns the Midianites rather than the Moabites”; Footnote ^d says “The sacred banquet of semitic communion sacrifices; Footnote ^e says “She is presumed known”;  and Footnote ^f says “Alternative translation ‘It is the reward of his zeal for his God and of having made atonement’”.

Verse 6 says: Keep them, observe them, and they will demonstrate to the peoples your wisdom and understanding. When they come to know of all these laws they will exclaim, “No other people is as wise and prudent as this great nation”.

Parallel texts are:

a.       Tb 4:19 - Bless the Lord God in everything; beg him to guide your ways and bring your paths and purposes to their end. For wisdom is not given to every nation: the Lord himself gives all good things. At his will he lifts up^c or he casts down to the depths of the dwelling of the dead. So now, my child, remember the precepts and never let them fade from your heart. Footnote ^a  says: “Whereas the other Pentateuchal traditions emphasize the distance between God and man, cf. Ex. 33:20+, Dt calls attention to God’s loving intimacy with his people in whose midst he dwells, 12:5. This same outlook is found in the narrative of the dedication of the Temple, 1 K 8:10-29 and the idea recurs in Ezk 48:35. The NT gives it supreme expression, cf. Jn 1:14+.”

b.      Jb 28:28 - And he said to man, ‘Wisdom? It is fear of the Lord. Understanding? – avoidance of evil.

c.       Ps 19:8 - The precepts of Yahweh are upright, joy for the heart; the commandments of Yahweh is clear, light for the eyes.

d.      Pr 1:7 - The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge;^a fools spurn wisdom and discipline.

e.      Pr 9:10 - The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom; the knowledge of the Holy One – perception indeed!

f.        Si 1:14-16 - To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, she is created with the faithful in their mother’s womb; she has made a nest among men, an age-old foundation, and to their offspring she will cling faithfully.

g.       Lm 2:9 - Her gates have sunk into the ground; he has shattered their bars. Her king, her nobles, are now with the pagans, the Law is no more. Even her prophets receive no further vision from Yahweh.

Verses 7 and 8 say : And indeed, what great nation is there that has its gods so near as Yahweh our God is to us whenever we call to him?^a And what great nation is there that has laws and customs to match this whole Law that I put before you today? Footnote ^a says “Whereas the other Pentateuchal traditions emphasize the distance between God and man, cf. Ex. 33:20+, Dt calls attention to God’s loving intimacy with his people in whose midst he dwells, 12:5. This same outlook is found in the narrative of the dedication of the Temple, 1 K 8:10-29 and the idea recurs in Ezk 48:35. The NT gives it supreme expression, cf. Jn 1:14+”.

Parallel texts for verse 7 are:

a.       Dt4:32f - Put this question, then, to the ages that was past, that went before you, from the time God created man on earth: Was there ever a word so majestic; from one end of heaven to the other? Was anything ever heard?

b.      Lv 16:16 - This is how he is to perform the rite of atonement over the sanctuary for the uncleanness of the sons of Israel, for their transgressions and for all their sins.

c.       Lv 26:11-12 - I will set up my dwelling among you, and I will not cast you off. I will live in your midst; I will be your God and you shall be my people.

d.      2 S 7:23 -Is there another people on the earth like your people Israel, with a God setting out to redeem them and make them his people, make them renowned, work great and terrible things on their behalf, drive nations out and gods before his people?^k Footnote ^k says “To avoid giving the impression that these gods actually existed, the scribal tradition modified the Hebr. text (here restored in accordance with Ch and versions), eliminating even the suggestion that false gods could do for their own people what Yahweh could do for Israel.”

e.      Jdt 8:27 - For as these ordeals were intended by him to search their hearts, so now this is not vengeance God exacts against us, but a warning inflicted by the Lord on those who are near his heart.

f.        Ps 145:18 - …standing close to all who invoke him, close to all who invoke Yahweh faithfully.

g.       Ps 147:19f  -He reveals his word to Jacob, his statutes and rulings to Israel.

h.      Ps 148:14 - …raising the fortunes^b of his people, to the praises of the devout, of Israel, the people dear to him.  Footnote ^bsays  “Lit. ‘raising a horn for’.”

i.         Is 55:6 - Seek Yahweh while he is to be found, call to him while he is still near.

The Second Reading for this Sunday isJas 1:17-18, 21-22, 27.

Verse  17 says: It is all that is good, everything that is perfect, which is given us from above; it comes down^h from the Father of all light;ⁱ with him there is no such thing as alteration, no shadow of a change. Footnote ^h says “Om. (Vet. Lat.) ‘from above’”; Footnote ⁱ says “Lit. ‘the Father of the lights’, i.e. the maker of the stars, Gn 1:14-18, and the source of spiritual light, cf. 1 P 2:9; 1 Jn 1:5. The imagery following this phrase is suggested by astronomy. Var. ‘no such thing as alteration due to the movement of a shadow’.”

Parallel texts are:

a.       Jn 8:12+ - When Jesus spoke to the people again, he said: ‘I am the light of the world; anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark; he will have the light of life’.

b.      1 Jn 1:5 - This is what we have heard from him, and the message that we are announcing to you: God is light; there is no darkness in him at all.

Verse 18 says: By his own choice he made us his children by the message of the truth^j so that we should be a sort of first-fruits of all that he had created.  Footnote ^j says “Lit. ‘He deliberately teemed us forth by a word of truth’. This ‘word of truth’ is everything.”

Parallel texts are:

a.       Jn 1:12-13 - But to all who did accept him he gave power to becomeⁱ children of God, to all who believe in the name of him^j (v. 12) who was^k born not of human stock or urge of the flesh or will of man but of God himself.^l Footnoteⁱ says “Var. ‘to be called’; Footnote ^jsays ‘to those who believe in his name’ omitted by many of the Fathers; Footnote ^ksays“Lit. ‘who was born of not of blood or the will of the flesh or the will of man’. Var. (the commonly accepted reading) ‘those who are born’, ‘not of blood…man’; the shorter reading ‘not of flesh or blood’ is perhaps the original one; Footnote ^l says “Allusion to the eternal generation of the Word but also, as it seems, to Christ’s virgin birth, cf. Mt 1:16,18-23 and Lk 1:26-38.”

b.      1 P 1:23 - …your new birth was not from any mortal seed but from the everlasting word of the living and eternal God.^g Footnote^g says “Or ‘the living and eternal Word of God’”; Footnote^esays “Metaphorically in the OT, marital infidelity is a metaphor of idolatry, cf. Ho 1:2+, in this case the worship of the beast.”; Footnote ^f says “Just as Israel followed Yahweh at the Exodus, so the new Israel, newly redeemed, follows the Lamb into the desert, cf. Jr 2:2-3, where the marriage rites are renewed (Ho. 2:16-25).

c.       Rv 14:4 - These are the ones who have kept their virginity^e and not been defiled with women; they follow the Lamb wherever he goes;^f they have been redeemed from amongst men to be the first-fruits for God and for the Lamb.

Verse 21 says: so do away with all impurities and bad habits that are still left in you- accept and submit to the word which had been planted in you and can save your souls.

Parallel texts are:

a.       Ga 5:19 - When self-indulgence is at work the results are obvious: fornication, gross indecency and sexual irresponsibility; idolatry and sorcery; feuds and wrangling, jealousy, bad temper and quarrels…

b.      Jn 3:11 - I tell you most solemnly, we speak only about what we know and witness only to what we have seen and yet you people reject our evidence. ^eFootnote ^esays “Jesus does not speak on his own initiative, 7:17-18; he declares what he has seen ‘with the Father’, 1:18, 3:11, 8:38, cf. 8:24+; it is the Father’s words and teaching that he hands on to man, 3:34, 8:28, 12:49,50, 14:24, 17:8,14; he is himself the Word, 1:1,14. This Word is not idle: it calls all things from nothing, 1:1+, it calls the dead from the tomb, 11:43,44, 5:28-29; it gives life to the soul, 5:24, 6:63, 8:51; it confers the Spirit, the source of immortality, 1:33+; 20:22, and so makes men children of God, 10:35, 1:12. It is required only than man should have faith in the Word, 1:12, ;dwell’ in it, cf. 8:31, ‘keep’ it, 8:51,55, 12:47, 14:23, 15:20, 17:6, obey its command which is love, 13:34. Nevertheless, the Word is enigmatic, 2:20+, and difficult, cf. 6:60, 7:36; it makes its way only into humble hearts. Those who hear it, therefore, respond differently, 7:43, 10:19; some believe, 4:41, 7:40f,46, 8:30, others go away disappointed, 6:66, in spite of the ‘signs’, 2:11+; this same rejected Word will judge them at the last day, 12:48.”

Verse 22 says: But you must do what the word tells you, and not just listen to it and deceive yourselves.

Parallel texts are:

a.       Mt 7:24-27 - Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock (v. 24). Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall; it was founded on rock (v. 25). But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand (v. 26). Rain came down; floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had (v. 27)!

b.      Lk 8:21 - But he said in answer, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put them into practice.

c.       Rm 2:13 - It is not listening  to the Law but keeping it that will make people holy in the sight of God.

d.      1 Jn 3:17 - If a man who was rich enough in this world’s goods saw that one of his brothers was in need, but closed his heart to him, how could the love of God be living in him? (v. 17). My children, our love is not to be just words or mere talk, but something real and active…

Verse 27 says: Pure, undefiled religion, in the eyes of God our Father is this: coming to the help of the orphans and widows when they need it, and keeping oneself uncontaminated by the world.

Parallel text isEx 22:21 that says:You must not be harsh with the widow, or with the orphan; if you are harsh with them, they will surely cry out to me, and be sure I shall hear their cry.

The gospel narrative for this 22^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time talks about the discussion between the Scribes and Pharisees and Jesus Christ concerning eating with unclean hands. This attitude of Jesus’ disciples which the scribes and Pharisees tried to point out to Jesus Christ contravened the rabbi’s injunctions and practices that constituted the Mosaic Law, which are based merely on human traditions.

In verse 4 of this scripture, the exact infractions of Jesus Christ’s disciples that the scribes and Pharisees were complaining about were listed. The exact complaint of the scribes and Pharisees is stated in verse 5.

Verses 14 to 23 contain Jesus Christ’s teaching to the people on what are to be considered by all as unclean, impure and defiled.

This point brings us to the teaching of the Second Reading for this Sunday from James (1:7-18, 21-22, 25) concerning the pure and undefiled religion that is pleasing to God.

“Pure, undefiled religion, in the eyes of God our Father is this: coming to the help of the orphans and widows when they need it, and keeping oneself uncontaminated by the world” (James 1:27, Jerusalem Bible).

Verse 21, James says “so do away with all impurities and bad habits that are still left in you…” because these are what make a man impure and defiled, constituting contamination from the world that disregards the practice of that pure and undefiled religion that is pleasing to God.

Verse 27 of James ch. 1 lists the two acts that constitute the pure and undefiled religion that is pleasing to God; first act is coming to the help of the orphans and widows when they need it; and, second, is keeping oneself uncontaminated by the world. These two acts is what constitute the pure and undefiled religion that is pleasing to God, and not the Jewish religion being practiced by the scribes and Pharisees that were merely based on the human traditions of the Mosaic Law.

The following extensive quotations are some of the opinions of writers taken from some online articles (accessed 2 May 2014).

An online article “Pure and Undefiled Religion,” frombiblehub.com says:

“Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible -

Pure religion and undefiled,.... That which is sincere and genuine, and free from adulteration and hypocrisy:

before God and the Father; or in the sight of God the Father of Christ, and all his people; that which is approved of by him, who is the searcher of hearts, and the trier of the reins of men, "is this": not that the apostle is giving a full definition of true religion; only he mentions some of the effects of it, by which it is known, and without which it cannot be true and genuine; and they are these:

to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction; and not only to see them, and speak a word of comfort to them, but to communicate to them, and supply their wants, as they may require, and according to the ability God has given: where there is true religion in the heart, there is love to God; and where there is love to God, there is love to the saints; and this will show itself to them, in times of affliction and distress; and where this is wanting, religion itself is not pure and undefiled:

and to keep himself unspotted from the world: from the men of the world, who defile by their evil communications; and "from the vices of the world", as the Arabic version renders it, which are of a defiling nature; and, where religion is in its power and purity, and the Gospel of the grace of God comes with efficacy, it teaches to separate from the rest of the world, and to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

27. Pure … and undefiled—"Pure" is that love which has in it no foreign admixture, as self-deceit and hypocrisy. "Undefiled" is the means of its being "pure" [Tittmann]. "Pure" expresses the positive, "undefiled" the negative side of religious service; just as visiting the fatherless and widow is the active, keeping himself unspotted from the world, the passive side of religious duty. This is the nobler shape that our religious exercises take, instead of the ceremonial offices of the law.

before God and the Father—literally, "before Him who is (our) God and Father." God is so called to imply that if we would be like our Father, it is not by fasting, etc., for He does none of these things, but in being "merciful as our Father is merciful" [Chrysostom].

visit—in sympathy and kind offices to alleviate their distresses - the fatherless—whose "Father" is God (Ps 68:5); peculiarly helpless.

and—not in the Greek; so close is the connection between active works of mercy to others, and the maintenance of personal unworldliness of spirit, word, and deed; no copula therefore is needed. Religion in its rise interests us about ourselves in its progress, about our fellow creatures: in its highest stage, about the honor of God.

keep himself—with jealous watchfulness, at the same time praying and depending on God as alone able to keep us (Joh 17:15; Jude 24).”

From gibbons.8m.com (The Sword and Staff) “A STATEMENTABOUT “PURE RELIGON”, this article says:

“From our study, we find that the word translated “religion” basically means worship as publicly displayed in ritual and ceremony. James, in keeping with the Old Testament prophets (Micah 6:6-8; Isaiah 1:11-17), points his readers (who have a Jewish background, 1:1) away from this concept to a more spiritual and genuine meaning of the word. In saying “pure” and “undefiled,” he is saying the same thing from a positive and a negative viewpoint for sake of emphasis. “Before God” tells us that God sees, and that this is the way He looks upon it. God is spoken of as “the God and Father” (one article, “the,” and the order of these words in the original language). “Father” is added to define the character of God. He is “Father” in reference to the fatherless and widows (Psalms 68:5) who are mentioned next.

                Now the essence of “pure religion” is laid out before us: “To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself [oneself] unspotted from the world.” The word for “fatherless” is found one other place in the New Testament where it is translated “comfortless” (John 14:18, KJV). We get our word orphan from this word. It means to be deprived of one or both parents. The word “widows” indicates a gap, a deficiency or the lack or loss of one’s husband. Not cushioned by government sponsored social security as in our modern world, to be fatherless and widows in ancient times, indeed, for the most part, was to be in “affliction.” Being vulnerable, they became the objects of mistreatment and abuse.

To “visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction” meant not only to personally visit them, but, as the word “visit” in the original language implies, to look over their situation with the view to helping them and actually doing it. “And to keep himself [oneself] unspotted from the world” rounds out the two pronged emphasis of “pure religion.” The word “keep” means to guard by keeping an eye on. “Unspotted” means unstained, not blemished Consider 2 Corinthians 7:1. The “world” means the present order of things, as controlled and motivated by the flesh. John gives us a little more information on this (John 2:15-17).”

From http://asimpleandspirituallife.blogspot.com, "Pure Religion and Undefiled"! (James 1:27), it says:

"Pure Religion and Undefiled before Our Father and GOD is this! To visit The Fatherless (those who have no relationship with The GOD and FATHER{Creator} of ALL), and widows (those whose "bridegroom" has not risen from among the dead) in their affliction and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the world!" (James 1:27)

Simply, ALL other religion IS "IMPURE and DEFILED"!

Simply, corporate "religion" is pagan and of this wicked world!

History has revealed, and yet reveals, that multiplied billions have been killed and enslaved (in physical chains at times, yet primarily in the chains of strong delusion that are the commandments and doctrines of men) in the name of the god(s) of this, or that religion!

Proving that the fruit of death and enslavement are borne of religion's way, because life is but a pawn in the wicked game they play!

Once again, there is but One "Pure Religion and Undefiled"! (James 1:27)

Not a system! But "The Family of Our Father and GOD"....... (Ephesians 3:15)

ALL other religions, self-worshiping atheists inclusive, are of "the father of lies" and but carry on the legacy of the Pharisees (John 8:44)! 

Yet because of pagan Catholicism and her harlot Christian daughters "The Way of Truth is evil spoken of"! (II Peter 2:1-3).

 

Dr. Paul Chappel, “Pure Religion” From: thebaptistvoice.com:

Generally, the word religion has a different connotation than what we are seeking. In fact, the Bible never calls the Christian faith a religion. It is a miracle, a new birth, a divine life with a personal relationship with God—but not a system.

Religions tend to promote self-sufficiency and self-righteousness. True spirituality, however, encourages humility and dependence on God. So when James defines “pure religion,” he isn’t about to list several more rules to add. He’s talking about what pleases God.

Often it is those who “seem to be religious” who are putting on a surface appearance of something they are not. Outwardly, they are committed and wise—and they are only too eager to help those who are using “old methods.” But the fact is, they have no personal fruit.

The first indicator that a person who seems to be religious is really walking in false piety is that he can’t hold his tongue… We must be so careful with our words. Remember, written words are recorded permanently.

Pure religion is clean—free from every admixture of pretension. It is sincere and real to the core. Our church is not perfect—by any stretch.

Someone who is living a pure life of spiritual growth demonstrates it by compassion toward others—specifically, toward the fatherless and the widows.

If we attempt to engage in the compassion of pure religion while neglecting consecration, we set ourselves up for moral failure and public reproach of Christ. We must have both, and we must live both from a genuinely pure heart.

Pure religion is not a matter of forms, church attendance, and ceremonies. It’s not pompous nor contentious. It is a matter of a controlled tongue, sacrificial service, and a clean heart. None of us will be perfect this side of Heaven, but we can be genuine. While some may “seem to be religious,” we can ask God for His power to exercise the compassion and consecration of pure religion.

The Expository Files www.bible.ca, “Keeping Yourself Unspotted From The World”:

In verse 26, James gives one example of useless religion: thinking you are religious while not controlling the tongue, thus deceiving your own heart. In verse 27, James gives two three examples of pure and undefiled religion: (1) visiting orphans, (2) visiting widows and (3) keeping oneself unspotted from the world. James - in verse 26 - does not cite every possible example of useless religion.

In the Scriptures, "world" is used in different contexts. The term is used in at least three ways: (1) The physical world, composed of water, soil, atmosphere, vegetation, etc. {example: Nahum 1:5}. (2) The human world, made up of people; "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son," {Jno. 3:16}. (3) The world in the moral sense, which is composed of all those things that attract us away from God {see 2 Pet. 1:4; Tit. 2:12; Rom. 12:2; 1 Jn. 2:15-17}. The teaching of James 1:27 requires that we shun any and every form of attitude, action or association that would move us away from God. Because of the influence of God's grace in my life, I should be determined to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and therefore - keep myself unspotted from the world.

Bridle your tongue; do not deceive your heart; personally take up the cause of orphans and widows in their trouble.

Being unspotted from the world is defined within the book of James - before Jas. 1:27 and after. Before the verse, in James 1:21 - "Lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness." After the verse, in James 4:7,8 - "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." To keep myself unspotted from the world, I must lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and I must purify my heart and cleanse my hands. This is all about personal repentance and determination to avoid all sin and error.

I'm afraid, when most people think of religion, they do not think of God the Father. They do not think first of Him and the spiritual blessings He provides in Christ.

Right religion is man's response to Him. When man's response is in keeping with His instructions and is expressive of faith in His Son - then you have "pure and undefiled religion." Anything else is vain.