James 5:18

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 5:16-18

5:16-18 Confess your sins to each other, and pray for each other, that you may be healed. The prayer of a good man, when it is set to work, is very powerful. Elijah was a man with the same emotions as ourselves, and he prayed earnestly that it should not rain, and for three years and six months no rain fell upon the earth. And he prayed again and the heaven gave rain; and the earth put forth her fruit. There are in this passage three basic ideas of Jewish religion. (i) There is the idea... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 5:18

And he prayed again ,.... 1 Kings 18:42 . Here also is no express mention of his prayer, but it may be concluded from his gestures; and so the Jewish interpreters understand these words, "Elijah went up to the top of Carmel", להתפלל , "to pray, and he cast himself down upon the earth", להתפלל על הגשמים , "to pray for rain; and he put his face between his knees", והתפלל , "and prayed, and said to his servant, go up now, look toward the sea"; and this he said while he was בתפילתו ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:18

And he prayed again - This second prayer is not mentioned in the history in express words, but as in 1 Kings 18:42 , it is said, He cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees; that was probably the time of the second praying, namely, that rain might come, as this was the proper posture of prayer. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 5:7-20

CONCLUDING EXHORTATIONS read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 5:13-18

The life in God. The guiding thought of these verses is the intimacy of connection between our life and God. And the Christian, above all, should realize this truth, so attested in the incarnation and ascension of our Lord. For heaven has come down to earth; nay, earth has been raised to heaven. So, then, according to these verses, our sorrowing and rejoicing are to be "in the Lord;" in sickness we are to seek our restoration from the Lord; at all times our effectual prayer is to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 5:13-20

Exhortations with respect to practical conduct in health and sickness. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 5:14-18

The power and value of intercessory prayer I. THE POWER AND VALUE OF INTERCESSORY PRAYER , enforced by the instance of the effect of Elijah's prayers—the petitions of a man who was of like passions with us , and therefore one from whose ease it is fair to argue to our own. Intercessory prayer may be viewed as a privilege and work in which all can have their share. While Joshua is down in the valley fighting with Amalek, Moses in the mount must lift up holy hands to God in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 5:16-18

Mutual confession and prayer. In the latter part of James 5:15 the apostle has hinted at the connection between sin and suffering. He proceeds now to urge upon the sick and the erring, on proper occasions to acknowledge to their brethren the sins of which they may have been guilty, if they would be "healed" in body and soul, as a result of the intercessions offered on their behalf. I. THE DUTY . ( James 5:16 ) It is twofold. 1. Mutual confession. The subject here is not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 5:17-18

Illustration of the last statement of James 5:16 , from the case of Elijah, "a righteous man" under the old covenant, but one "of like passions with us," and therefore one from whose case it is lawful to argue to our own. Subject to like passions as we are . ὁμοιοπαθὴς ἡμῖν : simply "of like passions with us;" cf. Acts 14:15 , where it is used in just the same way. In the LXX . only in Wis. 7:3. He prayed earnestly. προσευχῇ προσηύξατο : a Hebraism , not infrequent in... read more

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