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James 1:21 commands us, “Put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (ESV). The key phrase here is implanted word. It’s a reference to the transformative power of God’s Word when it takes root in our hearts.
God has in some manner sown His Word in our hearts—through an evangelist, a friend, a book, etc. Speaking of the “implanted word” echoes the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1–23, where the seed represents God’s Word and the soil symbolizes our hearts. In this context, the heart receives the implanted word, which then sinks in, grows, and produces fruit. However, James says the implanted word cannot thrive unless we “put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness.” This calls us to repent and cleanse ourselves from spiritual impurities (Galatians 5:19–21). By doing so, we prepare ourselves to “receive with meekness the implanted word.”
The implanted word should be received with humility or meekness. Humility indicates a teachable and submissive spirit; meekness carries no pride or resistance. The implanted word cannot thrive in a prideful heart; it can only flourish in a heart that willingly submits to God’s authority. We must hear God’s Word and allow it to take root in our hearts. We must “let the word of Christ dwell in [us] richly” (Colossians 3:16, ESV). Then we must let it grow and bring forth the fruit God intends.
In Jeremiah 31:33, God declares, “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (ESV). Christ fulfilled Jeremiah’s prophecy by sending the Holy Spirit (John 14:16). The Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence shapes our thoughts, actions, and character. Through His presence, we can receive with meekness the implanted word.
We naturally try to gain wisdom and spiritual insight through our own efforts, but the “implanted word” in James 1:21 is a gift from God. First Peter 2:23 explains that believers are “born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God” (ESV). The implanted word is “living and abiding.” It sanctifies believers to become more like Christ (see John 17:17).
The implanted word brings about a transformed life. A transformed life signifies that we are both hearers and doers of God’s Word, as James 1:22 exhorts us to be. God’s Word urges us to align our will with His, engage in good works, and reflect His character. Romans 12:2 reminds us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (ESV). The process of renewing our minds begins with receiving the implanted word.
The implanted word empowers us to make a positive impact on others. According to 2 Timothy 3:16–17, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (ESV). Good works involve sharing the gospel, discipling others, and upholding God’s truth. In doing so, we fulfill our roles as ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).
Finally, the implanted word can save our souls (James 1:21). Salvation includes justification, sanctification, and glorification. Hebrews 4:12 declares, "The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword" (ESV). God’s Word actively sustains us as we persevere through trials and tribulations: “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him" (James 1:12, ESV).
If the heart is a garden, then the gospel is the tree that must be implanted in it. We should do all we can to allow that tree to take root, flourish in our souls, and bear the “peaceable fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11).
