Knowledge And Deeds

Scienti ergo bonum facere et non facienti, peccatum est illi.   Per totum hujus Epistolae textum beatus Jacobus ostendit quod hi quibus scripsit scientiam boni faciendi habebant, simul et fidem rectam didicerant, ita ut et aliis se magistros fieri posse praesumerent, nec tamen operum prefectionem, neque mentis humiliatatem, neque contitentiam adhuc sermonis erant adepti. Unde illos modo inter alia increpationis et exhortationis verba non minimum terret in eo, quod scientem bona facere, et non facientem quae novit, majus dicitur habere peccatum, quam illum qui ignoranter delinquit. Tametsi nec ille prorsus a reatu liber esse possit qui nesciens erravit, cum ipsa boni ignorantia non parvum sit malum. Hinc etenim Dominus ait: Servus qui cognovit voluntatem domini sui, et non fecit secundum voluntatem ejus, vapulabit multis. Qui autem non cognovit, et fecit digna plagis, vapulabit pacuis. Sanctus Beda, Super Divi Jacobi Epistolam, Caput IV Source: Migne PL 93 35b-c

Knowing, therefore, what is good to do and not doing it, it is a sin to you. 1 Through all the words of his letter the blessed James shows that those to whom he wrote possessed the knowledge of what it is to do good, and at the same time they taught the faith, that thus they were able to set themselves up as teachers before others, yet they did not have that perfection of works, or humility of mind, nor continence, as skill in words. Whence, among other things, with words of reproof and exhortation he strikes great fear into them, that knowing how to do good and not doing what they know, it is said they have greater sin than those who err in ignorance. For it is not that he is able to be absolutely free from guilt who unknowingly strays, when the very ignorance of good is not a small evil. Thus even the Lord says: 'A servant who knows the will of his lord and does not act in accordance with it shall receive a severe beating. He who does not know it, and has done what is worthy of blows, shall receive a lighter beating.' 2 Saint Bede, from the Commentary on the Letter of Saint James, Chapter 4   1 Jam 4.17 2 Lk 12. 47-48