James - Chapter 5

JAMES 5:1-20

Misusing wealth & power brings God’s judgment (1-6)

James continues on the path of discussing wealth. He points out that wealth is ultimately worth little in terms of the coming judgment. Christians are warned not to covet wealth, as it is an illusion bringing a false sense of security. As he spoke previously of the merchants, now he speaks of the landowners, who were largely not Christian and were prone to oppress those of lesser means.

5:1

James begins harshly by issuing a command for those who are rich that they should weep and wail. Misery is coming upon them in the day of judgment and all that they may have now will be valuable only momentarily and will prove worth nothing in eternity, when living faith will be the only possession that matters.

5:2-3

James points out that the forms of wealth, clothes, and precious metals will be spoiled by moths and cankered by rust. These things will actually witness against the person who has gathered them at the expense of gathering good graces by using their wealth to help others. In a striking image, James says these things will eat their flesh like fire, turning against their owner in the fire of the judgment to come.

5:4-6

James now becomes very specific as to his condemnation of those who are landowners and have heaped injustice upon those who work their land.

The rich do not always pay the wages promised and at times do not pay wages on time. James also says these rich men also actually defraud their workers. But the cries of those who have been mistreated have been heard by the ears of the Lord.

James also uses a very unique title for God here as he refers to Him as “the Lord of the Sabbath” which is only found in one other NT verse, Romans 9:29. Perhaps James is using an OT thought he found in Isaiah 5, which brings the same concerns that the writing of James brings.

James also brings one added condemnation that these rich men have actually brought death to those poor workers at times. Notice James calls these who have been killed as “just” and notes that they have not resisted.

This thought is taken directly from Amos 5:11-12.

Patience in suffering (7-12)

James has essentially finished his thoughts on testing & trials, wisdom & speech, and generosity vs. oppression. Now he begins his conclusions about these ideas and rounds off his earlier thoughts by emphasizing several of them again.

5:7-8

Patience is the focus for James as he compares the waiting for the coming of the Lord to those who await the fruit of the earth to come in as crops after the rain helps produce the hoped for fruit after long patience.

Just as the farmer is subject to weather and things he cannot always control, so is the Christian subject to fate that cannot be hurried. We simply must wait after we have done all we can to prepare the way of our life to bring spiritual fruit.

5:9

James once more comments upon speech. While awaiting the coming of the Lord patiently, James teaches that there should not be grumbling or groaning. There should be no bickering not arguing as believers are to behave well as the judge (Jesus) stands at the door. James uses this term to teach that the coming of the Lord is close.

5:10-11

Now James moves from speech back to the themes of testing and trials. He also moves his teaching from the passive word of patience to the active idea of endurance of suffering. James introduces the story of Job, who endured so much more suffering than most examples in scripture and yet, through all, did not lose his patience and never betrayed his faith.

James also reminds that to those who stand fast and endure, the reward is good and of tender mercy.

5:12

James moves quickly into the teaching of avoidance of swearing. We should note this lesson is not about cursing, but rather warning not to take oaths. In these days in Jewish society, taking an oath under the name of God made God a sort of partner in the promise and it was binding. Oaths taken without His name were not binding. Christians are to be honest, and need no oath to assure their word of promise. It was those of the world, that is non believers, who needed oaths to be seen to be trusted to do what they say.

Prayer of faith and healing (13-20)

5:13-15

Are you sick? If so pray for healing. Are you happy? If so, sing psalms in praise.

There is a long tradition of healing within the Christian church. Jesus and His apostles healed the sick and those afflicted. One hundred years after Christ ascended, Irenaeus wrote of healing by Christian ministers using the laying on of hands. Two hundred years after Christ ascended, Tertullian wrote that the Roman emperor, Alexander Severus, was healed by a Christian minister by anointing.

James now teaches this very lesson that the sick shall be saved by the prayer of faith. By this same prayer, the sins of the one sick may be forgiven by the Lord as well. Remember that the Jews believed that a direct connection existed between sin and illness.

5:16

Confessing sin to one another brings believers closer and promotes more honesty within the community. Note the direct lesson that sins are to be confessed one to another, not just to elders, not just to ministers, and not just when one may be sick and in need of prayer. Prayer is noted to be effectual AND fervent. It is not the prayer that brings the results, but is always the Lord after He hears and accepts the prayer. Remember that the use of the word effectual returns us to Isaiah 59:2, which teaches that prayers are only accepted after sin has been confessed.

5:17-18

James brings back the story of Elijah and reminds us that the definition of effectual was seen in the prayer of this prophet. 1st Kings 17 & 18 reveal just how effectual prayer can be. Note James portrays the prophet’s prayer as earnest (like fervent in verse 16) and that through his prayers, rain was withheld and then after he again asked in prayer, rain was returned. Again, notice that the prayer did not give the rain, heaven did.

5:19-20

Christian truth captivates not only the mind of the believer, but his whole life, including how one lives. This is the point of the book of James.

James holds out the assurance that both the converted and the converter are to be blessed. The act of conversion is of mutual benefit. The man who is turned from error is delivered from eternal death, and the man who reclaims him finds his own sins forgiven, even a multitude of sins shall be hidden away (forgiven forever and remembered no more).

Peter teaches this same lesson in 1st Peter 4:8:

“And above all things have fervent charity (love) among yourselves: for charity (love) shall cover the multitude of sins”.