James
Chapter 5
So, now, regarding the wealthy, cry and weep for the troubles coming upon you.
Your wealth is fading, and your clothes are being eaten by moths.
Your silver and gold have corroded, and their corrosion will stand as a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire because you have accumulated riches for these last days.
Listen! You deceived the workers who harvested your fields, but now, their wages cry out to the heavens. The reapers’ complaints have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
You lived in luxury and pleasure in this world, thus preparing yourselves for the day of slaughter.
You have readily condemned and killed the innocent who offers you no resistance.
Patience and Prayer
Be patient, then, beloved, until the Lord’s coming. See how the sower waits for the valuable fruits of the earth, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.
You, too, be patient and do not give up, because the Lord’s coming is near.
Beloved, do not argue with one another, or you will be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors.
Take as an example of patience the suffering of the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name.
See how those who are patient are called blessed. You have heard of the patience of Job and know how the Lord dealt with him in the end. For the Lord is merciful and compassionate.
Above all, my beloved, avoid swearing by heaven or earth, and don’t develop a habit of swearing. Let your ‘Yes’ be yes and your ‘No’ be no, so you won’t be subject to judgment.
The Sick Person
Are any of you suffering? They should pray. Are any of you feeling happy? They should sing songs of praise.
If any of you is sick, let him call on the elders of the church. They will pray for him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
The prayer offered in faith will heal the sick person; the Lord will raise him up, and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.
Confess your sins to each other and pray for one another, and there will be healing. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Elijah was a human being just like us, and when he earnestly prayed that it might not rain, no rain fell for three and a half years.
Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
My brothers and sisters, if any of you wanders from the truth, and is brought back by another,
you should know that the one who turns a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Commentaries
Rich and Satisfied.
James clearly condemns the arrogant attitude of those who dedicate their lives solely to getting rich, ignoring God and their fellow humans. This is followed by a prophetic (Is 13:6; 15:3) and apocalyptic (Rev 18:11-19) lament about the threat of divine judgment, which will be against the wealthy who unjustly gain their wealth through extortion and exploitation of workers (Dt 24:14ff; Lv 19:13). The wealthy condemn and kill the innocent when they deprive them of a fair wage, steal their possessions through manipulation of the courts, or use violence via mercenaries, among other things.
Patience and Prayer.
This passage links to the beginning of the letter (1:2-4) by emphasizing patience or perseverance through trials. Now is not the time for harvest but for patient, alert waiting to ensure good, abundant results in life. This farming example shows that patience is not passive or inactive; instead, Christians must stay active, doing their part and letting God work (7).
The Sick Person.
The author stresses the importance of both personal and communal prayer. Prayer provides strength during suffering, a song of praise in times of joy, and the power to heal and restore—bringing the sick back to life. It also has the power to forgive sins. Prayer for the sick’s health is a communal act led by the Church elders, who pray for the ill, anoint them with oil (Mk 6:13), and invoke the healing name of Jesus (Lk 10:17; Acts 3:6, 16).
The final teaching is very supportive: we must care for our brothers and sisters who stray from the truth so they can return to God’s plan. Those who do so will gain life and forgiveness for their sins.