James 5:7-8 NIV

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

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:7

Be patient, therefore - Because God is coming to execute judgment on this wicked people, therefore be patient till he comes. He seems here to refer to the coming of the Lord to execute judgment on the Jewish nation, which shortly afterwards took place. The husbandman waiteth - The seed of your deliverance is already sown, and by and by the harvest of your salvation will take place. God's counsels will ripen in due time. The early and latter rain - The rain of seed time; and the rain... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:8

Be ye also patient - Wait for God's deliverance, as ye wait for his bounty in providence. Stablish your hearts - Take courage; do not sink under your trials. The coming of the Lord draweth nigh - Ηγγικε· Is at hand. He is already on his way to destroy this wicked people, to raze their city and temple, and to destroy their polity for ever; and this judgment will soon take place. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:7

Verse 7 7Be patient therefore. From this inference it is evident that what has hitherto been said against the rich, pertains to the consolation of those who seemed for a time to be exposed to their wrongs with impunity. For after having mentioned the causes of those calamities which were hanging over the rich, and having stated this among others, that they proudly and cruelly ruled over the poor, he immediately adds, that we who are unjustly oppressed, have this reason to be patient, because... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:8

Verse 8 8Stablish your hearts. Lest any should object and say, that the time of deliverance was too long delayed, he obviates this objection and says, that the Lord was at hand, or (which is the same thing) that his coming was drawing nigh. In the meantime, he bids us to correct the softness of the heart, which weakens us, so as not to persevere in hope. And doubtless the time appears long, because we are too tender and delicate. We ought, then, to gather strength that we may become hardened... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 5:7

Be patient therefore . In his concluding remarks St. James reverts to the point from which he started (comp. James 1:3 , James 1:4 ). ΄ακροθυμεῖν is here given a wider meaning than that which generally attaches to it. As was pointed out in the notes on James 1:3 , it ordinarily refers to patience in respect of persons. Here, however, it certainly includes endurance in respect of things, so that the husbandman is said μακροθυμεῖν where we should rather have expected ... read more

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

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

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

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:8

The Pulpit Commentary - James 5:7

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