Bible Commentaries

Pattern of patience

James 5:7-12

James 5:7. When the apostle addressed the rich professors of religion who lived in luxury and greed, kept back the honest wages of their servants and treasured up gold and silver instead of using it for the glory of God and the good of men, he did not call them brethren. Here he addresses the poor who were oppressed by the rich, and these he calls ‘brethren’! He advises them to ‘be patient’ under their suffering and afflictions until death or the coming of the Lord, when he will take vengeance on all their oppressors and deliver them from all their troubles. While we are on earth the Lord would have us to hear our trials patiently, not murmur against his providence, nor seek vengeance on men (Romans 12:19-21; Hebrews 10:30-31). ‘Be like the farmer who sows precious seed and then waits patiently and expectantly for the harvest.’ He waits for the early rains and the latter rains. He does not fret because the earth does not immediately yield the ripe fruit.

James 5:8. Like the farmer who waits patiently for all the means that are necessary for a full and fruitful harvest, let us wait patiently for the means of divine grace which are necessary to try our faith, work God’s will and bring forth the ripe fruit of grace. Our Lord is mindful of our situation and circumstances. They will all work together for our good (Romans 8:28).

‘Establish your hearts,’ which are prone to doubt, to fear and to question God’s love and providence (Psalms 103:13-14). The heart is established by the word of God, prayer, gospel ordinances and the fellowship and encouragement of other believers. We must make use of these in order to take heart, be of good cheer and not be discouraged or dismayed. ‘Lift up your heads and hearts for the coming of the Lord draweth near!’ At his coming, we shall enter into the joys of our Lord and be for ever free from all sin, sorrow and suffering (Revelation 21:1-7).

James 5:9. ‘Grudge not against one another.’ Complain not against one another on account of another’s riches, gifts or prosperity (either temporal or spiritual). ‘A man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven.’ Do not envy one another or secretly complain and condemn one another, lest you be condemned openly at the bar of God by the Judge of the whole earth, who looks upon the heart and is aware of the murmurings, grumblings and envious thoughts of men (1 Samuel 16:7).

Don’t set yourself up as a judge of men or your own state. There is but one Judge of all the earth, and he is at the door. He is just and righteous and will set all things right.

James 5:10. ‘Look upon the prophets. They walked with God, were highly favored of God; God revealed the mysteries of his will to them, and they spoke for God. Still, though they enjoyed God’s favour, they suffered much, being ridiculed, mocked, hated of men and even put to death. Their afflictions and trials were great, yet they were very patient through them. These people are examples and patterns for us! (Hebrews 11:35-40; 2 Corinthians 11:23-30.)

James 5:11. We look back at the courage, faith and patience of these believers and call them blessed! They are happy now; the glory of God rests upon them. They felt honoured to be counted worthy to suffer for Christ’s sake. Now they are glorified with him (Matthew 10:16-22).

‘You have heard especially of the patience and endurance of Job in the book that bears his name.’ Though he was severely tried in the loss of all temporal comforts, possessions and friends, he did not murmur against God or charge him foolishly (Job 1:21-22). ‘You have also seen the Lord’s purpose in all this and how he richly blessed Job, for the Lord is full of pity, tenderness and mercy.’ The Lord loves his children and all that he brings to pass in their lives is for their eternal good (Job 42:10; Psalms 111:4).

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;

The clouds you so much dread

Are big with mercy, and shall break

In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

But trust him for his grace;

Behind a frowning providence

He hides a smiling face.

William Cowper, 1774

James 5:12. Impatience and murmuring against the providence of God should not manifest themselves in secret envy, sighs and groans. Especially they should not break forth in rash oaths, or in profane swearing.

‘Above all things.’ The profanation of God's name is a serious offence (Exodus 20:7; Matthew 5:33-37). The Lord strictly commands us to reverence his holy name. Nor are we to swear by heaven or earth, because the glory of God is everywhere shining forth, and when angry men swear by heaven or earth, they only designate the Worker by his works!

It has been a common vice in all ages to find ways to curse or swear while not mentioning the name of God. Men imagine that there is no evil as long as they do not mention the name of God. This is deception and delusion, for the angry, rebellious spirit and attitude are present, whatever the words that come forth! We are not to swear out of passion, anger or habit.

There is a form of swearing that is not sinful. There are illustrations in scripture of men who took lawful oaths in the fear of the Lord for his sanction and glory (Deuteronomy 6:13; 1 Kings 17:1; Galatians 1:20; 2 Corinthians 1:23). The apostle is warning against a careless, profane use of God’s name, works or kingdom in our conversation. A ‘yes’ or ‘no’ is usually sufficient for an honest believer; anything more than this puts us in grave danger of God’s wrath.

The prayer of faith shall save the sick

James 5:13-20

James 5:13. ‘Is any among you afflicted?’ The people of God generally are poor and afflicted. Those whom the Lord loves, as he loved Lazarus, are not free from sickness, sorrow and trials (John 16:33; Hebrews 12:5-8). Times of affliction and trial are times to pray (2 Corinthians 12:7-10), not to murmur or despair. Let us then pray for patience, wisdom and deliverance (James 1:5-6).

‘Is any merry? Let him sing psalms.’ As afflictions ought to stimulate us to pray, prosperity and blessings ought to lead us to praise God. Let us be thankful to God for his many mercies, temporal and spiritual. Such is the perverseness of men that times of blessings and prosperity find them forgetting him who is the source of all blessings (James 1:17).

James 5:14. ‘Is any sick among you?’ The bodies of believers (as well as others) are liable to a variety of diseases (Philippians 2:25-27; 2 Timothy 4:20). ‘Let him call for the elders of the church.’ This may mean those who hold that office by the authority of the church, or the older men of the church, sound in faith, men of gravity and long experience. ‘And let them pray over him.’ Let them pray for his comfort, his recovery and the grace of God to strengthen him in his need. ‘Anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.’ Some suggest that this means to use ordinary medicine, as well as prayer. Some suggest that this ought not to be done today because the extraordinary gift of healing in the church has ceased (Mark 6:13). Others say that the oil is symbolic of the Spirit of God and should be applied as this scripture commands. Whether we anoint with oil or whether we pray for them without the anointing, let all be done in the name of, for the glory of, and according to the will of our Lord Jesus (John 14:13-14; Hebrews 4:16; 1 John 5:14-15).

James 5:15. James emphasizes the importance of faith in praying. He calls it the ‘prayer of faith,’ faith on the part of the elders and on the part of the sick brother. When we doubt God, we close the door of prayer (Hebrews 11:6; James 1:6-7; Matthew 21:22). We cannot say that God will heal everyone for whom we pray. It may be his will for that one to die or to bear an affection longer, for his good and God’s glory, but we can certainly say faithless prayer will not be heard or answered. ‘If he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.’ No man lives without sin; but the sense is that if this brother has been guilty of offences which God has taken particular notice of, and on account of which he has brought him down, in order that he might acknowledge them and repent, God will heal him and forgive him (Psalms 51:3-4; Psalms 51:7-11).

James 5:16. It is not profitable to us, nor to anyone else for us to name, number and confess all our sins to one another. Only the Lord is to hear our confessions, and only before him are we to expose our hearts. But we are to acknowledge together (mutually confess) that we are sinners, that we are not without fault or the potential to commit sin. When we have openly offended a brother, confession and repentance are in order, that we may be reconciled. Pray one for another that we may be healed, not just in body but in Spirit, fellowship and attitude.

‘The effectual, retreat prayer.’ That is, the prayer that is put up with power, energy and life, that is truly from the heart, put forth with ardor and importunity, from a man who by faith is justified and clothed in the righteousness of Christ, avails much. God hears not cold, formal prayers from profane and false professors.

James 5:17-18. Elijah was truly a human being, born in sin, by nature no better than others, subject to like passions (both in soul and body) as we are. He was not free from sinful passions, such as impatience, fear and unbelief. Yet he prayed to God in earnestness, with his understanding; heart and spirit engaged therein, that it might not rain; and he was heard. He was also heard three years later when he prayed for rain. The point is that we are not to imagine that Elijah was heard by God because of his own merit or goodness, but because of the grace of God and the merit of Christ. We must not imagine that men like Elijah and Moses were half-gods or that they had a peculiar, personal line to God; they were men like you and me, who found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

James 5:19-20. ‘Brethren, if any one among you strays from the truth of Christ and falls into error, and another believer (by prayer, teaching and solemn warning) is the means the Holy Spirit uses to bring the fallen one back to God, let that faithful witness understand that when he preaches, teaches and faithfully witnesses to sinners, he will be the means of turning them from eternal death and procuring the pardon of all their sins’ (1 Corinthians 1:21; Romans 10:13-15).