James 5:1-11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 5:4

Behold the hire of the labourers, which have reaped down your fields ,.... The wages agreed for by the day, with the labourers in their fields, particularly their reapers; which one instance serves for many others; and is the rather mentioned, because reaping is a laborious work, and those who are employed in it have nothing to live upon but their hand labour; and especially because they are made use of in cutting down the corn when it is fully ripe, and in great plenty; wherefore, to detain... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 5:5

Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth ,.... This is said of other rich men; for all that is here said is not to be understood of the same individuals, but some things of one, and some of another; some made no use of their riches, either for themselves, or others; some did make use of them, and employed the poor, and then would not give them their wages; and others lived a voluptuous and luxurious life, indulged themselves in carnal lusts and pleasures, and gratified the senses by eating,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 5:6

Ye have condemned and killed the just ,.... Meaning not Christ, the Just One, as some have thought; whom the Jewish sanhedrim condemned as guilty of death, and got the sentence passed upon him, and him to be crucified by Pontius Pilate, on the day of slaughter, at the time of the passover, as some connect the last clause of the preceding verse with this; since the apostle is not writing to the Jerusalem Jews, nor to unbelievers, but to professors of religion; though he might say they did it,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 5:7

Be patient therefore, brethren ,.... The apostle here addresses himself to the poor who were oppressed by the rich men, and these he calls "brethren" of whom he was not ashamed; when he does not bestow this title upon the rich, though professors of the same religion: these poor brethren he advises to be patient under their sufferings, to bear them with patience, unto the coming of the Lord ; not to destroy Jerusalem, but either at death, or at the last, judgment; when he will take... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 5:8

Be ye also patient ,.... As well as the husbandman, and like him; and wait for the rains and dews of divine grace to fall, and make fruitful, and for the ripe fruit of eternal life; and in the mean while cheerfully and patiently bear all injuries, and oppressions: stablish your hearts ; though the state of the saints is stable, they being fixed in the everlasting love of God, in the covenant of grace, in the hands of Christ, and on the rock of ages; yet their hearts are very unstable,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 5:9

Grudge not one against another, brethren ,.... On account of any happiness, temporal or spiritual, which another enjoys; do not inwardly repine at it; or secretly sigh and groan in an envious manner at it, though nothing may be said, as the word used signifies; much less complain of, accuse, and condemn one another, or meditate and seek revenge: lest ye be condemned ; hereafter, at the bar of Christ, by the Judge of the whole earth, who is privy to the secret murmurings and grumblings,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 5:10

Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord ,.... Men who have been highly honoured of God, with a gift of prophesying, or foretelling things to come; to whom God revealed his secrets, doing nothing without acquainting them with it; and who were sent forth by him, and prophesied in his name what were made known unto them; and yet, though these were his favourites, they suffered much; as cruel mockings, scourgings, imprisonment, famine, nakedness, and death in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 5:11

Behold, we count them happy which endure ,.... Affliction, with courage, constancy, and patience, and hold out to the end; for such shall be saved; theirs is the kingdom of heaven; they are happy now, and will be so hereafter: the Spirit of God, and of glory, now rests upon them; and it is an honour done them that they are counted worthy to suffer for Christ; and they will be glorified with him to all eternity; the consideration of which may serve to encourage and increase patience. Ye... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:1

Go to now - See on James 4:13 . Weep and howl for your miseries - St. James seems to refer here, in the spirit of prophecy, to the destruction that was coming upon the Jews, not only in Judea, but in all the provinces where they sojourned. He seems here to assume the very air and character of a prophet; and in the most dignified language and peculiarly expressive and energetic images, foretells the desolations that were coming upon this bad people. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:2

Your riches are corrupted - Σεσηπε· Are putrefied. The term πλουτος , riches, is to be taken here, not for gold, silver, or precious stones, (for these could not putrefy), but for the produce of the fields and flocks, the different stores of grain, wine, and oil, which they had laid up in their granaries, and the various changes of raiment which they had amassed in their wardrobes. read more

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