James 5:7-12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - James 5:1-11

The apostle is here addressing first sinners and then saints. I. Let us consider the address to sinners; and here we find James seconding what his great Master had said: Woe unto you that are rich; for you have received your consolation, Luke 6:24. The rich people to whom this word of warning was sent were not such as professed the Christian religion, but the worldly and unbelieving Jews, such as are here said to condemn and kill the just, which the Christians had no power to do; and though... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - James 5:12-20

This epistle now drawing to a close, the penman goes off very quickly from one thing to another: hence it is that matters so very different are insisted on in these few verses. I. The sin of swearing is cautioned against: But above all things, my brethren, swear not, etc., Jas. 5:12. Some understand this too restrictedly, as if the meaning were, ?Swear not at your persecutors, at those that reproach you and say all manner of evil of you; be not put into a passion by the injuries they do you,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 5:7-9

5:7-9 Brothers. have patience until the coming of the Lord. Look you, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, patiently waiting for it until it receives the early and the late rains. So do you too be patient. Make firm your hearts for the coming of the Lord is near. Brothers, do not complain against each other, that you may not be condemned. Look you, the judge stands at the door. The early church lived in expectation of the immediate Second Coming of Jesus Christ; and James... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 5:7-9

We may now gather up briefly the teaching of the New Testament about the Second Coming and the various uses it makes of the idea. (i) The New Testament is clear that no man knows the day or the hour when Christ comes again. So secret, in fact, is that time that Jesus himself does not know it; it is known to God alone ( Matthew 24:36 ; Mark 13:32 ). From this basic fact one thing is clear. Human speculation about the time of the Second Coming is not only useless, it is blasphemous; for... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 5:10-11

5:10-11 Brothers, take as an example of patience in hardship the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Look you, we count those who endure blessed. You have heard of Job's steadfast endurance and you have seen the conclusion of his troubles which the Lord gave to him, and you have proof that the Lord is very kind and merciful. It is always a comfort to feel that others have gone through what we have to go through. James reminds his readers that the prophets and the men of God could... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 5:12

5:12 Above all things, my brothers, do not swear, neither by heaven nor by earth nor by any other oath. Let your yes be a simple yes and your no a simple no, lest you fall under judgment. James is repeating the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount ( Matthew 5:33-37 ), teaching which was very necessary in the days of the early church. James is not thinking of what we call bad language but of confirming a statement or a promise or an undertaking by an oath. In the ancient world,... 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

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