Matthew Poole and continuators on James 1:21

21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engraffed word which is able to save your souls .

Not only restrain it, and keep it in; but put off, and throw it away as a filthy rag, Isa. 30.22. see Ephes. 4.22. Col. 3.8. and 1 Pet. 2.1.

Of every kind.

Or, sordidness; a Metaphor borrowed from the filth of the Body, 1 Pet. 3.21. and thence transferred to the Soul; and it here seems to imply not only Sensuality or Covetousness, but all sorts of Lusts, whereby Men are defiled, 2 Cor. 7.1. and 2 Pet. 2.20.

i. e. That naughtiness which is superfluous: That is said to be superfluous or redundant, which is more than should be in a thing; in which respect all Sin is superfluous in the Soul, as being that which should not be in it; and so this intimates that we are not only to lay apart more gross pollutions, but all the Lusts of the Flesh, and relicts of old Adam, as being all superfluities which may well be spared, or excrements (as some render the word agreeably to the former Metaphor) which should be cast away.

Not only into your Heads by Knowledg, but into your Hearts by Faith.

With humility, modesty and gentleness, which makes Men submissive to the truth of the Word, and ready to learn of God even those things which are above their natural capacity, Psal. 25.9. Isa. 66.2. Matth. 11.5, 27. this is opposed to Wrath which makes Men unteachable.

Either which is engrafted or implanted, viz. Ministerially by the Preachers of the Gospel, 1 Cor. 3.6, 7. principally by the Spirit of God, who writes it in the heart, Ier. 31.33. And thus it may be taken particularly for the Word of the Gospel, in opposition to the Law which came to Mens ears from without, and admonished them o[illegible: 1 letter] their Duty, but was not wri[illegible: 1 letter] in their hearts, or engrafted thereto from them unto obedience to it. Or, that it may be engraffed, i. e. Intimately united to, or rooted in the heart by a vital union, or made natural to it (as some render the word) the heart being transformed by the power of it, and conformed to the Precepts of it, 2 Cor. 3.18. Rom. 6.17.

Viz. when received by Faith.

Instrumentally, as being the means wherein God puts forth his power in saving them, Rom. 1.16.

Your selves, the Soul as the noblest part, is by by a Synecdoche, put for the whole person. See 1 Pet. 1.9.