Verses 1-3 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
Of all the verses in the Bible about coming judgement, these are this writer’s favorites. Knowing how the banking cartels and corporations work today and have worked in the past to take the people’s hard earned money and property and keep them in bondage to the “system”, while a small percentage of individuals and family dynasties get richer and richer through their corrupt practices, these verses promise God will revenge the poor and the innocent. These rich men’s acquired wealth will witness against them. And if they lose their wealth, they will suffer greatly because when money and power is their god, they have nothing when it is gone away. And eternal life for these corrupt men will be in the Lake of Fire. The old saying, “You can’t take it with you”, is true and there are no exceptions.
Application: Just to be clear, James is not against people having wealth, but he is against people who gain their wealth through corrupt practices and at the expense of others. God has allowed some Christian men and women to become rich and these people have used their honestly acquired riches to bless others. Money is a tool, and if used wisely and according to God’s will, it will be a blessing to others. If not used wisely and according to God’s will, it will be a curse. “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:10
Verse 4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
In God’s economy, there are no taxes. There is giving to support ministries and to help those less fortunate, but that which a man or woman earns with their hands belongs to them and there are no kickbacks to a man-made government entity with threat of arrest and prison if the tax is not paid. James says it is fraud to not pay laborers or to keep part of the earnings of the laborer. The entire structure of life here on Earth has become one of slavery for all but the very rich. But the LORD knows, keeps track of, and will judge righteously in His time.
Verses 5-6 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. 6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
The Greek word translated as “wanton” is “spatalao” and it means to live luxuriously, to lead a voluptuous life, or to give one’s self to pleasure. This describes most politicians, royalty, earthly leaders, judicial members, and many other categories of people living today. Unfortunately, there are also people calling themselves “ministers of the Gospel” who also live in a wanton fashion while fleecing their flocks of their money. Like the Apostle John wrote in 1 John 5:19, “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” These words of James may seem depressing, but truth is truth, and the Christian believer may live in poverty while in the flesh on this Earth, but their riches are in the LORD Jesus Christ and reserved for them in Heaven. “Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5
Verses 7-8 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:6-9
The early Church often wrote that “the Lord draweth nigh” or that He was coming back soon. And of course, almost 2000 years have come and gone and His Church is still on Earth and looking for His return. But Jesus does “draweth nigh” to His people. The Greek word translated as “draweth” is “eggizo” and it means to be at hand, to come near, to join one thing to another, or to approach. Jesus does this all the time. He approaches the sinner. He joins Himself to the repentant believer through His Holy Ghost/Spirit. He is always at hand or near through His Spirit and through prayer. So even though Jesus has yet to return to this Earth to end time, bring righteous judgement, usher in eternity and to establish the new Heavens and the new Earth, He is always with His people.
Verse 9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
Because no one knows when time will end, the Christian believer should always treat others in a Christ-like fashion because to not do so will lead to condemnation from the only one who can judge, the LORD Jesus Christ.
Verses 10-11 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Application: The Christian walk is hard work. Believers are always going against the tide of sin in this world and therefore they receive persecution. Christians were never/are not hated because of what they do, but because of what they will not do. They stand out at the office party when they do not drink and tell jokes that are in poor taste. They stand out when they refuse to engage in immoral behavior while all their peers are engaging in unrighteous behavior. They stand out when they refuse to get angry or use foul language. The people of the world will tease, torment, and ridicule the Christian believer at every opportunity. And in some countries, believers are arrested, jailed and executed for their Faith. But as James states above, the prophets suffered also at the hand of the unrighteous, but they endured. The Christian walk is one of learning and practicing patience.
Verse 12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
The Greek word translated as “swear” is “omnuo” and it means to swear, or to affirm, promise, or threaten with an oath. A Christian believer’s yes or no should be all that is necessary. Jesus said in Matthew 5:34-37, “But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” James is repeating what Jesus said.
Verse 13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
The Greek word translated as “afflicted” is “kakopatheo” and it means to suffer or endure evils, hardships or troubles. James’ advice is to pray. The affliction may have to run its course but the LORD helps each of His children through whatever difficulty they are facing. Remember the Apostle Paul and his affliction in the form of an evil spirit harassing him. “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Verses 14-15 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
The majority of churches teach this verse as referring to physical sickness. The Greek word translated as “sick” is “astheneo” and it means to be weak, feeble, to be without strength, powerless, needy, poor, or sick. So physical sickness may not be the only thing James is discussing here. There are many authentic healing ministries today that do not involve the church setting with church elders praying and anointing people with oil. Any believer in Jesus can pray for another’s physical healing either in person by laying hands on the individual or by distance healing where there is no touching or oil applied. Oil was used like an antiseptic for wounds and skin issues. So the practice of anointing with oil is not a rigid commandment. Doing anything in faith is what gets the LORD’s attention. So if in a church setting and there are elders to anoint and pray for an individual, it is good and proper. If a Christian believer is praying for someone in the grocery store that is physically hurting and there are no elders or oil, it is good and proper. It is the “prayer of faith” that reaches the throne room of God that should be the focus, not the technique.
Application: Sometimes, an individual’s problem is rooted in sin. For instance a poor diet, lack of exercise, and lack of sleep and bodily rest can lead to physical ailments. If the individual doesn’t repent of abusing his/her body, healing won’t help. Or if an individual is in financial stress and needy because of excess spending or gambling and does not repent of misusing that which God has put into his/her hands, healing won’t help. But repentance and forgiveness from God is available along with healing through the power of prayer.
Verses 16-18 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
James uses the example of the Old Testament prophet Elijah who knew the power of prayer. His story is recorded in the books of 1 and 2 Kings. He prayed for miracles and got them. He confronted kings and the prophets of Baal and was victorious because of the power of prayer. There are many more Bible heroes who served the LORD and who knew how to pray and get answers to their prayers. The Psalms of King David contain many prayers. This writer will use some of these prayers in a personal manner because they are so appropriate and so powerful. Psalm 19 is an example. “Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:12-14
Application: The Greek word translated as “confess” is “exomologeo” and it means to confess, to profess, to acknowledge openly and joyfully, to profess that one will do something, or to promise, agree,or engage. The Greek word translated as “faults” is “paraptoma” and it means to fall beside or near something, a lapse or deviation from truth and uprightness, or a sin or misdeed. Verse 16 above doesn’t mean that every time a believer sins, they must tell another believer. Telling the LORD and asking for forgiveness is the important and appropriate action. But sometimes, it is helpful to confide in another Christian believer so that the believer in error or sin can be prayed for and overcome that which may be negatively affecting their life and walk with the LORD.
Verses 19-20 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. (James 5)
The Greek word translated as “err” is “planao” and it means to cause to stray, to lead astray, to go astray, wander, roam about, or to be led aside from the path of virtue. This verse from James shows that Christian believers can be led into sin and fall away from the truth. This is because there are three enemies constantly warring against the believer: the flesh, the world and the Devil. Any one of these enemies or a combination of them can cause the believer to stray. It is the rare Christian believer who has not, at some time in their earthly life, strayed from the Gospel and from Jesus. Usually, the Holy Ghost/Spirit prompts the believer into returning to the truth, but sometimes another believer is needed to gently and lovingly confront and guide the straying believer back into right relationship with God and with other believers.
Application: This writer’s father intended to be a missionary to Africa, but because of the horrors of a war, he rejected all that was of God. He was considered to have backslidden. But this writer’s family continued to pray and expect a miracle. Throughout his adult life, he behaved in a Christian manner as God had His hand on him. When he was near 80 years old, a death in the family and meeting the pastor who did the funeral service prompted him back into church. This writer had never seen him in a church before. He never missed a service until his last few days on this Earth. During the few years he had before leaving for Heaven, he helped establish a new church and he was an inspiration to all who knew him. But it was the pastor and his gentle approach, seasoned with humor and love that saved His soul from eternal death. This writer will always be grateful to this pastor, who, unfortunately for his congregation, passed on to glory in 2019 after years of faithful service for the LORD Jesus Christ, where he would have heard the words of Jesus, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over mamy things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matthew 25:21