James 5:1-9 NIV

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:3

Your gold and silver is cankered - Instead of helping the poor, and thus honoring God with your substance, ye have, through the principle of covetousness, kept all to yourselves. The rust of them shall be a witness against you - Your putrefied stores, your moth-eaten garments, and your tarnished coin, are so many proofs that it was not for want of property that you assisted not the poor, but through a principle of avarice; loving money, not for the sake of what it could procure, but for... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:4

The hire of the laborers - The law, Leviticus 19:13 , had ordered: The wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning, every day's labor being paid for as soon as ended. This is more clearly stated in another law, Deuteronomy 24:15 ; : At his day thou shalt give him his hire; neither shall the sun go down upon it; - lest he cry against thee unto the Lord, and it be sin unto thee. And that God particularly resented this defrauding of the hireling we see... read more

Adam Clarke

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

Ye have lived in pleasure - Ετρυφησατε . Ye have lived luxuriously; feeding yourselves without fear, pampering the flesh. And been wanton - Εσπαταλησατε· Ye have lived lasciviously. Ye have indulged all your sinful and sensual appetites to the uttermost; and your lives have been scandalous. Ye have nourished your hearts - Εθρεψατε· Ye have fattened your hearts, and have rendered them incapable of feeling, as in a day of slaughter, ἡμερᾳ σφαγης , a day of sacrifice, where... read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:4

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

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