James 5 (New American Standard Bible)

James 5 and the Misuse of Riches

I. The Test By the Wealthy 5:1-6___________

Verse 1___ “Come now” is a cry to bewail the punishment that is about to come on these people. The landlords think of themselves as wealthy possessing the best that life has to offer including religious and civil preference. James calls for them to “weep” which is the proper response to disaster. The “weeping” is defined as “crying out” (howling) over this divine judgment that is coming. In other words, they appear to be living well but they ought to weep because judgment is on the way. The prophet sees this judgment coming immediately.

Verses 2-3a___ Here is the first reason for weeping. “Your wealth is temporal.” James further defines their position.

1. Their wealth is “spoiled” which means to “rot” or in a state of decay.

2. Their garments are “moth eaten.”

3. Their gold and silver are rusted.

Thus, this passage comments on Matthew 6:20 where Jesus contrasts the stored rusty and moth eaten treasure with the lasing treasure which is in heaven.

Verse 3b___ The second and more important reason for weeping has already been suggested by the first. These people will be judged and condemned by their selfish use of temporal goods. The rust (which includes their waste of garments and other goods) will be a testimony against them. Their very broad hoard of goods and its decay will witness in the last judgment that they failed to share with the poor. Their guilt will be apparent.

Not only guilt but judgment will result, for the “rust will eat their flesh like fire.” This is the image of the last judgment as fire eating one's flesh. The picture is terrifyingly clear. The testimony of wealth will be so damning it will be as if it were a fire burning them.

To this prediction of damnation the author adds a final ironic threat. “You have treasured up.” They did this storing up “in the last days.” The last days here is a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus lived and taught in the last days (Hebrews 1:1,2).

Verse 4___”Behold” the wages of those you wronged cry out against you.”

The “cry of the laborer” would likely be from hunger or money to buy food. This phrase if from Isaiah 5:9 in the LXX. For God to hear of the poor is for him to bring judgment on the oppressors (cf. Ps. 17:1-6; 18:6; 31:2). The term “Lord of Sabaoth” used here refers to the majestic power of God. James sees injustice as part and parcel of why the landowners have their wealth to treasure up: he knows that in those last days the injustice is about to reap its doom.

Verse 5___ James joins the theme of 5:3 to the accusation of injustice in 5:4. These wealthy have lived a life of luxury on the earth in contrast to what they will receive later. This is the lifestyle of the rich man in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Lk. 16:19-31). But this temporal existence is absurd because it is a nourishing of one's heart (i.e. indulging in one's passions) in the day of slaughter. “The day of slaughter” might be translated (you have become ready for the day of slaughter).

Verse 6___James adds one final charge that rounds off the passage. “You have condemned and killed the righteous!” The sense is of judicial murder. They have “killed” the poor righteous Christians but their voice is now still resisting them. This is a cry of doom.

II. Endurance in the Test 5:7-11

Verse 7___ The response of the suffering Christians is given in the sure judgment on the rich. The members of the Christian community are to be “patient.” Patience has already been indicated as a cardinal virtue produced by testing (1:2-4, 12). What is clear here is that James is calling on the community not to take judgment of the wicked in their own hands but to wait for God to avenge them. At the same time, they are not to compromise the faith by giving in to the world. Thay are to be “patient, enduring until the “parousia of the Lord.” (the sudden appearance of the Lord). Here James refers to God in one breath and judge in the next. The Christian hope for James is the coming of Christ when all wrongs suffered will be set right.

But____waiting for the Lord to act could be a long process (see 2^nd Peter 3!). James gives his readers an example from everyday life. The picture is that of a small farmer in Palestine not the hired laborers of 5:4 who were once landowners or dreamed to be landowners. These either were not the first born or had lost their lands. The small farmer plants his carefully saved seed and hopes for a harvest and lives hand to mouth in anticipation of that harvest. His entire livelihood and yes his life depends on that harvest. With no harvest there is no food and the farm is gone and the person may even starve to death. So the farmer “waits.” This patience must last “until he receives the early rains.”

The thing that receives the rain is the “fruit (karpos)

Verse 8___The example is finished. The point is not the length of time one must wait, but one of endurance. What is the “coming of the Lord” mentioned here. Once again, it very well might be a reference to 70 AD.

Verse 9___ James warns against disunity in the community. According to James, the problem arises when one “groans” or “moans” against a member of the congregation. …........This complaining says James will produce judgment, (ie. will produce guilt with which God will deal severely and thus must be avoided).

The reason why such a command is important is “the judge stands at the door.” This judge (Christ) alone has the right to criticize the Christians (4:11-12) and will judge the complaining Christian, standing before the door (as in at the city gate).

Verse 10___ The congregation must “stand fast” under suffering. Now James gives some examples. They are to “receive “ these examples. The first is a reference to the “prophets.” James tells us they suffered because “they spoke in the name of the Lord.”

Verse 11___ Having cited the “Suffering of the prophets” the author makes this point. “We count those who endured blessed.” In other words, the one who endures to the end is the one who is saved. For James, Job was a prime example of enduring under testing. As in the case of Job, the Christian can expect ultimate good. The reason for this hope is clear. God is not vicious: he does not love to watch people suffer. Rather, God is compassionate. God cares for those who suffer; and He will bring a good end to it all (Rom. 8:28ff).

III. The Rejection of Oaths 5:12___

Verse 12___ Now James takes up the matter of taking oaths. This falls in line with his early discussion on the tongue.

The swearing of oaths was limited in the OT to those which one would fulfill (Ex.20:7; Lv. 19:12; Nu. 30:3). In some cases the swearing of oaths was commanded. (Ex. 22:10-11) or even done by God (Nu. 14:21; Dt. 4:31; 7:8). In the NT one can find examples of oaths used or responded to by Jesus (Mt. 26:63) and by Paul (Rom.1:9; Gal. 1:20; 2^nd Cor. 1;23; 11:11; 1^st Thess. 2:5, 10; Phil. 1:18). The Essenes completely prohibited oaths of any fashion. The prohibition found in James is a variant of the one spoken of by Jesus in Mt. 5:33-37.

Several points can be made about this relationship. 1. James does not cite this from Jesus but then he never cites anything as being from Jesus. 2. The text in Matthew is fuller and deeper with more examples. 3. The grammar tells us that James' prohibition was a present practice. The real question then is what is James prohibiting?

James is not prohibiting official oaths as one uses in a court (for none of the background found in Jewish sources touches on this) but the use of oaths in everyday discourse to prove integrity. The members ought not to use oaths for yes or no. They should be totally honest (not deceptive), making oaths unnecessary. Truthfulness is at the heart of this conversation. Since God holds one to this standard, oaths are dangerous, for they make some speech more honest than other speech and that is wrong.

IV. Helping One Another Through Prayer/Forgiveness 5:13-18

Verse 13__ We are reaching the conclusion where James returns to the theme of prayer. In this paragraph, James turns from suffering to joy and then back suffering. The person who is suffering misfortune is to pray. The “misfortune” here is not physical illness but personal situations that cause distress. The “inner experience” is here in view. In the context it is the suffering at the hands of the wealthy. Striking out at others is not in view. One needs to “pray” and bear this suffering with dignity. James wants God remembered in all situations. Turning to God when we are in need is only a half truth expressed. Turning to Him in praise (either alone or when cheerful) is the other half of the coin. God is not just an errand boy to help human needs but One who deserves worship and praise all the time.

Verse 14___Finally, one might find him/herself in a third condition which was neither suffering nor inner cheerfulness, namely illness. In this circumstance, the person is directed to “call on the elders of the church.” For a complete study on the eldership see this index page (Here)

The actions of the elders tell us about their duties. They are to “pray over” the person which was well known among the Jews and simultaneously anoint the person with oil. The anointing with oil is probably not medicinal but is a sign of the inward power of prayer. The “anointing in the name of the Lord” is the same as the calling out of Christ's name in baptism (Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5 and so on). This practice in the early church meant that the one performing the act (baptizing or praying) was in fact acting in behalf of Jesus and calling for the power of God to be displayed. It is God's power that will heal this person. Thus, there are three actions in this healing rite. 1. prayer 2. anointing 3. Calling on the name of Jesus. This is not a magical rite or some kind of exorcism but being open to the power of God to intervene whether or not the demonic is involved. This is unique for Christian elders. This cannot be found in the powers of the Synagogue elders.

Verse 15___”The prayer of faith” is used in the NT twice as vows (Acts 18:18; 21:23). A prayer of faith is a prayer that expresses truth is God. The faith is that of one who prays,  i.e. the elders who have the healing power and not the sick person's faith. That this power is the power of God comes from the statement “the Lord will raise him up.” There is no basis in this for anyone to be charismatic and claim that they have any power.

The rest of the verse connects the possibility of sin to the illness. What certainly one may be sick because of no specific sin in their lives it is just as true that one may be sick because they have been doing something sinful. Such a concept is common in the NT (Mk. 2:5; Jn. 5:14; 9:2-3). In James it is clear that sin is not necessarily behind the illness (IF). But if the person is sick because of sin the healing for which the elders pray will not end with the body. It will be a total healing and include the soul.

Verse 16___Since healing is connected with forgiveness of sins, one is not surprised to see the author discuss that topic next. Here is the essence: Christians are to “confess their sins one to another.” God already knows about the sin. The act of confession was important in the ancient Hebrew religion. Confessing cleanses the inner person. It is an open acknowledgement of guilt, usually in the assembly. This confession purifies the community from sin since the confessor relieves his/her guilty conscience and that in and of itself is sin.

Verses 17-18___Having encouraged Christians to pray, James now produces a powerful example as to how effective prayer may be. Elijah prays and it rains and it does not rain for three years and six months. This is 3 ½ or half of seven which stands for a period of judgment (Dan. 7:25). After this, again Elijah prays and heaven gives rain and the earth brings forth fruit. Here James challenges the righteous members of the congregation to unleash the power of Elijah.

V. The Closing Encouragement__ 5:19-20

Verse 19___”If someone among you.” James indicates that there is a member or members who are in apostasy. This member of the church has "wandered from the truth.” Those in the church who have erred from the truth or are in error with respect to their lifestyle need someone to bring them back.

Verse 20___Such a Christian ought to remember and be aware of the teachings of the Lord. This teaching was that restoring him to the church” will save his soul and cover a multitude of sins. “ Death here is the result of sin.”
by Lane Rogers_______________