Matthew Poole and continuators on James 1:5

5 If any of you lack wisdom , let him ask of God , that giveth to all men liberally , and upbraideth not , and it shall be given him .

If, doth not imply a Doubt, but supposeth something which they themselves would grant; viz. That they did lack Wisdom, either in whole, or in part. It is, as if he had said, Since, or seeing ye lack, &c. See the like, Mal. 1.6.

Though this hold true of Wisdom taken more generally, yet Wisdom here is to be restrained, according to the Circumstances of the Text, and taken for Wisdom or Skill to bear Afflictions, so as to rejoice in them.

By believing, fervent Prayer.

Either to all sorts of Men, Iew, or Gentile, bond or free, &c. or to all that so ask, as appears by the next Verse.

Or, simply, Rom. 12.8. i. e. with an open, free, large Heart, in opposition to the contracted, narrow Spirits of covetous Misers. Our Translation renders it well liberally; and so the word is used, 2 Cor. 8.2. and 9, 13.

Doth not twit them with their Importunity, or Frequency in asking (as Men often do) however he may upbraid them with their Unthankfulness for, or abuse of what they have received.

Matth. 7.7, 8. Iohn 16.23. The Promise is here added to encourage Faith in asking.

Marginal references: Prov. 2.3.; Mat. 21.22. Mark 11.24. Luke 11.9. John 14.13. & 15.7. & 16.26.; Jer. 29.12. 1 John 5.14.