"THE EPISTLE OF JAMES"
Chapter Five
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THE CHAPTER
1) To appreciate the need for patience in times of oppression
2) To see the value of prayer and confessing sins in times of sickness
SUMMARY
The final chapter opens with a strong condemnation toward the rich who
were oppressing the poor while living in pleasure and luxury. Most
likely these were rich unbelievers such as those mentioned earlier (cf.
2:6-7). The Lord heard the cries of those defrauded, and judgment was
to come upon the rich who had condemned and murdered the just. This
passage may be an allusion to the destruction of Jerusalem foretold by
Jesus in Matthew 24 and fulfilled in A.D. 70. James counsels his
brethren to patiently wait for the coming of the Lord and to establish
their hearts. Appealing to the farmer, the prophets, and to Job as
examples of patience, he also warns against grumbling against one
another and swearing rash oaths (1-12).
The last half of the chapter provides a call to prayer and praise. The
suffering are to pray, the cheerful are to sing praises, and the sick
are to call for the elders of the church. The elders were to pray over
the sick and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. What is
uncertain is whether the anointing was sacramental or medicinal.* In
answer to the prayer of faith, the Lord will raise the sick and also
forgive sins if they had been committed. In this context James
encourages Christians to confess their sins to one another and pray for
one another that they may be healed. He reminds them of the value of
fervent prayer by the righteous, using Elijah as an example of how God
answers prayer providentially. The epistle then closes with a reminder
that turning a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from
death and cover a multitude of sins (13-20).
OUTLINE
I. TRUE RELIGION DISPLAYS PATIENCE UNDER OPPRESSION (1-12)
A. GOD'S ANGER AT RICH OPPRESSORS (1-6)
1. The rich are called to weep and howl for the miseries to come
upon them
a. Their riches are corrupted
b. Their garments are moth-eaten
c. Their gold and silver are corroded
1) Which will be a witness against them
2) Which will eat their flesh like fire
d. They have heaped up treasure in the last days
2. The reasons for God's anger against the rich
a. They have defrauded the laborers who mowed their fields
1) Keeping back wages owed them
2) The cries of the reapers have been heard by the Lord of
Sabaoth (Hosts)
b. They have lived in pleasure and luxury, fattening their
hearts as in a day of slaughter
c. They have condemned and murdered the just man who does not
resist them
B. A CALL FOR PATIENCE UNDER OPPRESSION (7-12)
1. Be patient until the coming of the Lord
a. Consider the patience of the farmer
b. Establish your hears, for the coming of the Lord is at hand
2. Do not grumble against one another
a. Lest you be condemned
b. The Judge is standing at the door
3. Remember the examples of suffering and patience
a. Such as the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord and
are blessed for their endurance
b. Such as the perseverance of Job, to whom the Lord proved
very compassionate and merciful at the end
4. Above all, do not swear
a. Either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath
b. Let your "Yes" mean "Yes" and your "No" mean "No"
c. Lest you fall into judgment
II. TRUE RELIGION BLESSED THROUGH PRAYER, SINGING, AND CONCERN FOR THE
ERRING (13-20)
A. THE BLESSING OF PRAYER AND SONG (13-18)
1. If anyone is suffering, let him pray
2. If anyone is cheerful, let him sing psalms
3. If anyone is sick, let him call for the elders of the church
a. Let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name
of the Lord
b. The prayer of faith will save (heal) the sick, and the Lord
will raise him up
c. If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven
d. Confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one
another
1) That you may be healed
2) For the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man
avails much
a) The example of Elijah, a man with a nature like ours
b) He prayed that it would not rain, and no rain fell
for three years
c) He prayed again, the heaven gave rain, and the earth
produced its fruit
B. THE BLESSING OF LOVE FOR ERRING BRETHREN (19-20)
1. He who turns back one who wanders from the truth will save a
soul from death
2. He who turns a sinner from the error of his way will cover a
multitude of sins
*"Some commentators consider this anointing with oil to be a
sacramental anointing, but others consider it a medicinal anointing.
In defense of the medicinal anointing, Burdick wrote the following:
'There are a number of reasons for understanding this application of
oil as medicinal rather than sacramental. The word aleipsantes
("anoint") is not the usual word for sacramental or ritualistic
anointing. James could have used the verb chrio if that had been what
he had in mind. The distinction is still observed in modern Greek,
with aleipho meaning "to daub," "to smear," and chrio meaning "to
anoint." Furthermore, it is a well-documented fact that oil was one
of the most common medicines of biblical times. See Isaiah 1:6 and
Luke 10:34. Josephus (Antiquities, 17, 172 [vi. 5]) reports that
during his last illness Herod the Great was given a bath in oil in
hopes of effecting a cure. The papyri, Philo, Pliny, and the
physician Galen all refer to the medicinal use of oil. Galen
described it as "the best of all remedies for paralysis" (De
Simplicium Medicamentorum Temperamentis, 2.10ff.). It is evident,
then, that James is prescribing prayer and medicine.'" (New
Commentary, James, Fausset, and Brown)
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
Move your mouse pointer underneath each question to see the answer.
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
2) Who is being condemned in verses 1-6 of this chapter? (1)
3) What sort of miseries were to come upon them? (1-3)
4) Why is God so angry at these rich people? (3-6)
5) What are Christians to do in response to such oppression? (7-12)
6) What three examples does James provide to encourage patience? (7-11)
7) What does James encourage one to do when suffering? When cheerful?
(13)
8) What is one who is sick to do? (14)
9) What are they to do? (14)
10) What will save (or heal) the sick? Who will raise him up? (15)
11) What if the one who is sick has committed sins? (15)
12) What are Christians to do? Why? (16)
13) What avails much? Who is a good illustration of this? (16-18)
14) What happens when one turns a sinner from the error of his way?
(19-20)
