James 5 – Ministry of Grace Church

Category: James 5

James 5:20 – A Converted Sinner

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Will

let him know that the one turning a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Truth to Learn

We need to proclaim the truth of God to all people.

Behind the Words

“Sinner” is translated from the Greek word hamartōlos, from the verb hamartanō, meaning “to miss the mark” or “to sin.” The word hamartōlos refers to a person whose life is characterized by sin, one who is constantly sinning.

The word translated “soul” is psuchē (or psyche), which is a derivative of the verb psuchō, meaning “to breath.” Hence, it refers to the immaterial portion of man.

The Greek word kaluptō is translated here as “cover.” This word means “to envelop or wrap around, like the bark of a tree.” That is, it means “to completely cover over” or “to hide.”

“Multitude” is from plēthos, which is derived from the verb plēthō, meaning “to fill.” Hence, plēthos means “fullness” or “a very large number.”

Meaning Explained

Though the previous verse speaks of those who have known the truth (believers) and have turned away from it, this verse seems to be talking about the conversion of the unsaved. Let’s see why this is so. In the previous verse James addressed his audience as “brothers.” He also said in the previous verse, “… if any among YOU should stray …” referring to someone who is part of this group of brothers.

In this verse he starts out with, “let HIM know …” The “him” referred to is the one who causes the conversion, that is, the brother. The next part of this verse literally reads, “… the one turning back a sinner from his wandering way shall save a soul from death …” James is not talking about saving a body from death, but a soul. He is not talking about physical death, but spiritual death. So, either he is proposing that a Christian can lose his or her salvation, or he is talking about an unsaved person. The key can be found just a few words earlier, “… he who converts a sinner from …” This refers to a person whose life is characterized by sin, not a born-again Christian. As the Apostle John teaches us:

Everyone remaining in Him does not sin. Everyone sinning has not seen Him nor known Him. (1 John 3:6)

Now you may say, “But everyone sins, even saved Christians!” And you are correct. What John is talking about (as is James) is a person who continually, or habitually, sins. Now, of the one who does not abide (or remain) John says:

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they were of us, they would have remained (continued) with us. But they went out so that it might be revealed that they are not all of us. (1 John 2:19)

In other words, James is telling us that there are people who call themselves Christians who know the truths of God’s word but who have never truly submitted to the will of God. These who have called themselves “brothers” have wandered away after erroneous doctrines. James tells us that if we bring them back to the truth and to a saving faith, we are doing a great work (actually, God is doing a great work through us) in the plan of salvation!

Application

We need to reach out, not just to those who have never heard the message of salvation, but also to those who have heard the word but have turned away. We will not reach them through fighting and arguing. We must reach out to them with the Word of truth proclaimed graciously, in love, for God’s glory.

In God's service, for His glory,

James 5:19 – Wandering from the Truth

Posted on July 6, 2015 by Will

My brothers, if anyone among you should stray from the truth, and someone should turn him back,

Truth to Learn

We need to lovingly reach out to those who have strayed from the truth.

Behind the Words

There are a couple of words we want to look at in this verse. The first is “stray.” Some translations have this as “err” or “wander.” The Greek word is planaō which means “to stray,” “to roam,” “to wander,” or “to be out of the way.” The implication is that this person knew the truth and has since changed direction and has wandered into something that is not the truth. This word is expressed in the subjunctive mood as part of a 3^rd class conditional clause, indicating that it is possible, but there is no assumption as to whether it is true or not.

The other word we want to look at is “turn” which comes from the Greek epistrephō, which is made up of epi, meaning “upon” or “over” and strephō, meaning to turn. Hence, epistrephō literally means “to turn upon” or “to turn toward.” Here it carries the meaning “to turn back around to the original way.” This again emphasizes the fact that the person was originally going the correct way, has since turned away, but has now turned back around to the truth.

Meaning Explained

This verse does not stand on its own, but needs the next verse to make complete sense. We as Christians need to be ever on the guard against seducing doctrines that draw us away from the truth. That’s why it is so important for us to be reading the Bible daily and listening to doctrinally sound preachers, always seeking confirmation from the Spirit of God and the Bible itself as to the things that are being taught. Look at what was said of the believers in Berea concerning the teaching of Paul and Silas. These believers went directly to the Word to verify what they were being taught.

And the brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who having arrived went into the synagogue of the Jews. And these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:10,11)

Today’s verse is not talking about salvation, even though the word “convert” is used in some translations rather than “turn … back.” It is talking about a believer who has been led into false doctrine.

People who are trained to spot counterfeit money are not taught what all the various fakes look like, instead they are taught in excruciating detail what the real thing looks like. Likewise, we will be able to detect false doctrine only when we know without a doubt what true Biblical doctrine is. In the next verse we will see that James speaks very strongly about the effect of false doctrine.

Application

You obviously want to know the truth of God’s Word, otherwise you wouldn’t be going through these daily devotional verse studies. But it can’t stop here. You need to be reading your Bible daily and regularly hearing good sound preaching based on God’s Word and nothing else. Only by thoroughly knowing the true doctrines taught in the Bible will you be able to detect false doctrine.

In God's service, for His glory,

James 5:18 – The Rainmaker’s Prayer

Posted on July 3, 2015 by Will

And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the land produced its fruit.

Truth to Learn

Fervent prayers from a humble, submitted servant are powerful.

Behind the Words

The word translated “again” is palin, which is most likely derived from palē, meaning “to shake” or “to vibrate.” It is the notion of back and forth motion which repeats itself. Hence, palin means that something has been repeated or done again.

The word “rain” in this verse is from the Greek noun hueton, meaning a rain shower. This is a different word from the one translated “rain” in the previous verse; that one was the verb brechō, which means “to moisten” or “to make wet,” as by rain.

Meaning Explained

This verse talks about how Elijah prayed again (after the 3 ½ years) and it began to rain. The point from the previous verse is that he was a righteous man and that he prayed energetically, or earnestly. Let’s see what that looks like – 1 Kings 18:42-46:

And Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he stretched himself out on the ground and put his face between his knees.

And said to his servant, "Go up now, look intently toward the sea."

So he went up and looked intently and said, "There is nothing."

And he said, "Go back" seven times.

It came about at the seventh time, that he said, "Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is coming up out of the sea."

And he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare and go down, so that the rain shower does not stop you.'"

And it came to pass in the meantime, that the sky became black with thick clouds and wind, and the rain was heavy. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and outran Ahab to Jezreel.

Although we are not told what the words of his prayer were, notice these characteristics:

Elijah’s position – one of humility and intensity.
His persistence – he told his servant to go check seven times. He didn’t give up.
His faith – Once the first little cloud appeared he knew what was coming even though it hadn’t rained for 3 ½ years!
The results – Not just a little rain.

Do these things characterize your prayers?

One word of caution – Often after such a spiritual victory we are physically and spiritually weak. We need to be extra careful when we see God’s victory in our lives that we don’t stumble and become afraid like Elijah did. Read about it in 1 Kings 19:1-13.

Application

When you pray, do you pray with unwavering faith, as we were instructed in James 1:6, 7? And, do you pray fervently and persistently from an attitude of humility like Elijah? May God grant to you and to me prayer lives that are as energized and as effective as Elijah’s.

In God's service, for His glory,

James 5:17 – Powerful Prayer Warrior

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Will

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly for it not to rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.

Truth to Learn

The heartfelt prayers of a submitted Christian are powerful.

Behind the Words

The word translated “with a nature like” is homoiopathēs, which is a compound word made up of homoios, meaning “similar” and a form of pathos, which comes from paschō meaning “suffering,” but which can refer to strong emotion either pleasant or painful. Hence, here it means that Elijah had strong emotions just like you and I do.

The expression “he prayed earnestly” is from the Greek proseuchē prosēuxato, which literally means “he prayed with prayer.” It is a Greek way of saying that he prayed with intensity or that he prayed earnestly.

“Land” is from the Greek word ghay, which refers to the dirt under our feet. By extension, it refers to a region of land either locally, regionally, or world-wide.

Meaning Explained

James now gives us an example of a righteous man whose prayer had great force. He starts off by telling us that Elijah had strong emotions just like you and I do. We sometimes think of the Old Testament prophets as men who were so controlled by God that not only did they speak the words of God, but they behaved like Spirit controlled robots. We tend to lose sight of the fact that they were not altogether different from you and me. They experienced spiritual highs and lows. Like Jonah, they were sometimes obedient and sometimes stubbornly disobedient. Like Elijah, they were sometimes firm and confident in their faith and sometimes weak and lacking in faith. They were real people just like us.

When Elijah was standing up to evil King Ahab and his wicked wife Jezebel, he prayed to God that it would not rain. These were his words spoken to Ahab:

… As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these three years, except according to my word. (1 Kings 17:1)

You will notice if you read 1 Kings, chapter 16 that the reason for this prayer on the part of Elijah was not for personal gain. Rather, it was performed as punishment on the land of Israel for the idolatry which prevailed at that time. The culmination of this period of drought was the confrontation between Elijah and the Prophets of Baal on top of Mount Carmel. This was one of Elijah’s greatest spiritual victories for God because of his complete obedience to God. Read it in 1 Kings 16-18.

When we are being obedient to God, when we have our sins confessed, when we are following his leading, and when we are humbled before Him, the works that we do, and prayers that we pray, for His glory, will have great effect!

Application

God may not have called upon us to pray for a drought as He did Elijah. However, He definitely has commanded us to pray for each other, as James has just told us. And you may not have the training or talents to be in a visible leadership position in your church, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have a vital part in the success of God’s work. Your prayers could be the very power behind the successful spreading of the gospel. If God calls on you to be a prayer warrior, don’t hold back!

In God's service, for His glory,

James 5:16 – Energetic, Healing Prayer

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Will

Therefore, confess the faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. An effectual petition of a righteous man has great force.

Truth to Learn

In the body of Christ we all need to support each other with prayer.

Behind the Words

“Confess” is translated from exomologeō, which is a double compound word made up of ex, meaning “out” or “out of,” homou, meaning “together with” or “all the same” (as in homogenized), and legō, meaning “to say.” Homologeō means “to agree with,” being translated as “confess” in 1 John 1:9. With the “ex” added, it means “to confess out” or “to admit.” It is expressed here in the imperative mood, commanding us to admit our faults to one another.

The word translated “faults” is different depending on which translation you are reading from. Some translations have the Greek word hamartia, which means “sins,” whereas others have the Greek word paraptoma, which means “trespasses” or “offenses” (literally side-slips). Either way, when you take this in context with the preceding verses, it is clear that James is still talking about the person who is sick, which he indicates in this verse with the phrase, “that you may be healed.”

“Effectual petition” is translated from deēsis energoumenē Deēsis refers to a prayer or a petition regarding a particular need for oneself or someone else, and energoumenē refers to something that is effective or that is working.

The words “great force” are from the Greek words polu ischuei. Polu means “many” or “much” and ischuei refers to “strength, ability, or power.”

Meaning Explained

What we can deduce from this and the preceding two verses is that unconfessed sin can be the cause of sickness, and even death. The apostle Paul refers to this in I Corinthians 11:30 where he is talking about those who partake of communion with unconfessed sins:

For this reason many are weak and sickly among you, and many die.

This passage in James is one from which Roman Catholics base their doctrine of “auricular confession,” or verbal confession made to a priest who supposedly can then absolve (forgive) you of your sin. Notice a few things, however:

The confession talked about in the current verse is not made by just any person, but by a sick person.
This confession is to be made to an elder, not a priest (see verse 14).
Mutual confession is commanded here. If this pertained to auricular confession, then the priest would be as bound to confess to the people as the people are to the priest.
There is no mention here of “absolution,” only healing.

The last half of this verse talks about the “effectual petition …” The word rendered “effectual” is a form of energeō, which could also be rendered as “energetic,” as it refers to that which has power or energy. We have all uttered prayers that aren’t really from our heart, such as, “Now I lay me down to sleep…” What James is talking about are those prayers that we labor over, that are filled with intensity and emotion, like someone having a heart-to-heart discussion with his or her Father. James says that this type of prayer has great force.

Application

The body of Christ (the church) is made up of many members. And, just as the various parts of a body support and nurture the whole, we are to support and nurture each other. Admitting our faults to one another and praying for each other is essential for the health of the Church. Who are you praying for today?

In God's service, for His glory,

James 5:15 – Chastening Love

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Will

And the prayer of faith will save the sickly, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he may have committed sin, it will be forgiven him.

Truth to Learn

God chastens those whom He loves and He forgives those who submit to Him, confessing their sins.

Behind the Words

The word translated “prayer” is not proseuchomai which was translated “prayer” in the previous two verses. This is a similar but different word, euchē. It refers to “a wish” or “a vow.” Since it is used in such obvious connection with proseuchomai, it is clear that James is referring to something other than simply a prayer. This word only appears in two other places in the New Testament (Act 18:18 and Act 21:23), both of which specifically refer to a “vow.”

The word translated “sickly” in this verse is also different from the word translated “sick” in the previous verse. Here it is kamnō, which refers to “one who is faint, weary, or sickly.” This implies that this is an ongoing sickness, producing weariness.

“Has committed” is translated from a form of poieō, meaning “to make” or “to do.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense indicating past action with an ongoing effect with the emphasis on the effect. Hence, this implies that the ongoing sickness is the result of past sins that have not been dealt with.

Meaning Explained

James is not simply saying that a salvation prayer or a prayer of regaining ones salvation (if you believe one can lose one’s salvation, which the Scriptures do not teach) will produce the sought after healing in this verse. He’s talking about a vow of commitment to change one’s ways. It is apparently a vow that is made in the presence of spiritual leaders of the church and implies that the person knows the reason for the sickness (being the direct, chastening hand of a loving Heavenly Father).

Though not all unpleasant events in our lives are the direct result of chastening, we all need to learn to be sensitive to the disciplining God provides. In Hebrews 12:5, 6 it says:

… my son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be faint when you are being admonished by him; for whom the Lord loves he chastens …

We choose how we react to such chastening. We can either be like the children of Israel as they wandered in the wilderness being stiff necked and resisting such chastening, or we can humble ourselves before the hand of Almighty God and in due time He will lift us up. Personally, I don’t like the way God’s chastening feels, but I praise Him for it, because I know it is applied in love with the intent of making me more like His Son.

James tells us that sickness which is the result of refusal to deal with sin in one’s life can be healed. He clearly says that God will raise up such a person when he wholeheartedly vows to change his or her ways and submit to God.

Application

The worst thing a Christian can do is to resist God. If you are a born-again Christian and you are refusing to deal with sin in your life, God will chasten you, because He loves you. And, if this describes you, my dear brother or sister in Christ, I beg of you to humble yourself before God. Confess your sin and deal with it. You will discover that His mercy is great and His love is sure!

In God's service, for His glory,

James 5:14 – Call for Healing

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Will

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

Truth to Learn

When we are sick we need to call for help.

Behind the Words

The word translated “sick” is astheneō, which is made up of the privative a, meaning “not” or “without” and a form of stenos, meaning “strength.” Hence, it literally means “to be without strength,” which is interpreted as feeble, diseased, or sick.

“Let him call” is translated from proskaleomai, which is made up of pros, meaning “to” or “toward” and a form of kaleō, meaning “to call.” Hence, it means “to call toward” or “to call for.” It is expressed in the imperative mood which, as we have learned, means it is a command.

The word translated “elders” is presbuteros, which literally means “older ones” or “mature ones.” This could be a group in your church formally recognized as “elders” but more likely James is referring to those older people in the church who are spiritually mature.

The word aleipho is translated here as “anointing.” This Greek word means “to rub, to smear, or to cover over.”

“Oil” is from the Greek noun elaion, which specifically means “olive oil.” The use of olive oil, both applied externally and consumed internally, was a common medicinal remedy in the ancient world. Even today, it is known that olive oil is an effective antibiotic when applied topically and has health giving properties when taken internally.

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse we were admonished to pray when undergoing hardships, but this verse specifically addresses sickness, when we may feel unable to pray as we should. This was written in a day when doctors were available only for the wealthiest. Today, we call a doctor when we are sick. James is not teaching that we shouldn’t see a doctor when we are sick, but we need to remember that God is the great physician.

James says that we should call for the elders of the church. This verse specifically says that we are to “call” for them to come. It does not say that we are to wait patiently at home for their visitation as if they had a sixth sense about who in the church needs to have a visit. After all, we don’t just wait at home and expect the doctor to know when we are sick, so why should we think that our elders in the church are any different.

These elders are to be the spiritual leaders of the church and their task is to pray and anoint. Oil was used much by the ancients both in health and in sickness. The oil typically was olive oil, which does have medicinal value, but it is symbolic as well. Anointing also involves touching the sick person, and even modern science attests to the fact that the simple act of touching a person can have a healing effect both emotionally and physically.

We must be careful again that we don’t look simply at the form described here without recognizing the spiritual purpose. This is not a “magic formula” that we are to follow for guaranteed results. The elders are to pray and anoint “in the name of the Lord.” That is, they are to recognize that the true healing comes from God as He sees fit. Whether through physicians or through prayer, it is God who gives life and health.

Application

Often, when we are sick physically or spiritually, we are unable to pray as we ought. Calling on someone who is both healthy and mature (physically and spiritually) is not only reasonable, but wise. It demonstrates our willingness to submit to God, as well as others in the church, and to admit our need. And that’s exactly where God wants us!

In God's service, for His glory,

James 5:13 – Prayer and Praise

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Will

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.

Truth to Learn

Prayer and praise should be our natural responses to life.

Behind the Words

The word translated “suffering” is kakopatheō which we looked at back in verse 10. It refers to extreme hardship of any kind, be it sickness, bereavement, disappointment, persecutions, or loss of health or property.

“Pray” is translated from the Greek word proseuchomai, which is a compound word made up of pros, meaning “to” or “toward” and euchomai, which literally means “to speak out” or “to utter out loud” and thus, “to express a wish or desire.” Hence, proseuchomai means “to express a desire to someone.” It is expressed here in the imperative mood, indicating a command.

The word translated “cheerful” is euthumeō from eu, meaning good or well, and thumos, meaning “mindset” or “temperament.” Hence, it means “to have the mind well” and denotes “cheerful, pleasant, or agreeable.” It is applied to a state of mind free from trouble – the opposite of suffering.

James tells us that when we are in such a state of mind we should psallō, which literally means “to pluck or play a stringed instrument.” It also carries with it the notion of singing and making music of celebration and praise. This verb is also expressed in the imperative mood, indicating a command.

Meaning Explained

No matter what the hardship, James tells us that it is always appropriate to pray. We know that God can deliver us from any hardship that we suffer. But just because we pray about it and really believe, doesn’t mean that God WILL deliver us from the hardship. It could be that it is the very thing that He is using to make us more like His Son. God knows what is best for us and we need to trust that He loves us so much that He will only allow such hardship if it will ultimately bring glory to Himself.

When we do suffer from a hardship, James doesn’t tell us to just “suck it up” and endure it silently. He tells us that under such circumstances we are to express our thoughts toward God. Our Heavenly Father wants a close personal relationship with us! When we have hardships and a troubled soul we are not supposed to call our best friend on the phone and talk it out, we are to get on our knees and talk to our real best friend and Lord who hears us when we pray.

In the same way, when we are in a good state of mind, we should recognize that it is a blessing from God. The result of recognizing such blessing should be to perform music to His glory and to praise Him, both with instruments and singing. Is God blessing you? Don’t wait for Sunday morning to worship Him in song. I heard a preacher recently who said, “Don’t come to church to praise God, come to church praising God.”

Application

Throughout this letter James has been teaching us to “consider it joy when we are undergoing trials.” He has also told us that we need to endure these times (remain under the load). But we don’t have to do so alone. Pray your way through such times because God loves you!

And when the times of joy come (for they will come) rejoice, knowing that God is behind them. Give Him praise! Have you allowed your joy in the Lord to express itself in song lately? Now would be a good time, wouldn’t it!

In God's service, for His glory,

James 5:12 – Only the Truth

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Will

But before all things, my brothers, do not swear, neither by heaven nor by earth nor with any other oath. But let your "Yes" be "Yes," and your "No," "No," that you might not fall under judgment.

Truth to Learn

We are not to swear an oath just to prove our word is truth.

Behind the Words

The word translated “swear” is the Greek word omnuō, which means “to take an oath or declare on an oath.” It does not refer to what we call cussing or cursing; it simply refers to taking an oath as one would do in a court of law.

The word “oath” is translated from the Greek word horkos. This word, according to James Strong in Strong’s Greek Dictionary, is derived from herkos, meaning “a fence.” It refers to a limit or a restraint, such as that which is the result of a sacred oath. Hence, the word has come to mean “an oath.”

In the phrase, “let your yes be yes,” the verb “let … be” is translated from the Greek word ētō, which is a form of the verb “to be.” It is expressed here in the imperative mood, indicating that it is a command. James is not suggesting that we allow our “Yes” to be “Yes.” He is commanding us to make our “Yes” be “Yes.” In other words, declare the truth all the time and you will not need to swear an oath to convince others.

“Judgment” is translated from krisis, is the noun form of the verb krinō, meaning “to separate” or “to distinguish between good and evil.” Thus, krisis refers to an judgment that is made.

Meaning Explained

James is now going to bring his letter to a close. Here he is following a common practice in such letters to close with a few snippets of information, not necessarily related to the former subject matter.

In Lev 19:12, the Jews were warned about falsely swearing by the name of the LORD.

And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you pollute the name of your God: I am the LORD.

To get around this, it became the practice to swear by the temple, by one’s own head, by heaven, by Jerusalem, or by the earth. These so called oaths became part of daily conversation and were not binding in the eyes of first century Jews, so that the whole concept of swearing an oath lost its impact. In fact, it was said by one of their teachers (Rabbi Akiba), “a man might swear with his lips, and annul it in his heart; and then the oath was not binding.” Such action is nothing short of hypocrisy. Jesus himself taught:

But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, because it is God's throne; nor by the earth, because it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. (Matthew 5:34-37)

Instead of swearing an oath, Jesus (and here James) taught that our word should be rock solid without swearing at all. What James is teaching here is that in our everyday conversation we should do what we say we are going to do and we should not do what we say we are not going to do. It’s as simple as that!

Application

We Christians are charged with spreading the good news of Jesus Christ throughout the world. As bearers of the Word of truth, all things that we say should simply be true, no exceptions! Is your “word” as solid as that?

In God's service, for His glory,

James 5:11 – Blessed Endurance

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Will

Indeed we count blessed those who are enduring. You heard of the perseverance of Job and saw the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

Truth to Learn

Enduring hardship is not easy, but it will be rewarding.

Behind the Words

The expression “count blessed” is from the Greek word makaridzō, a verb form of the noun makarios, meaning “possessing the favor of God” or “blessed.” Hence, the word makaridzō means “to declare someone’s blessedness because of God’s favor shown to them.”

The words “enduring” and “perseverance” are both forms of hupomonē, which we saw earlier meaning “to remain under.” It is the picture of a beast of burden that faithfully remains under a burdensome, heavy load even when tempted to dump the load. Hence, hupomonē means “to patiently endure.”

“Very compassionate” is translated from polusplagchnos, made up of polus, meaning “much” and splagchnon, which literally refers to “the bowels.” Though it may sound strange to our way of thinking, in the first century it was thought that the bowels, the intestines, were the seat of our emotions and it was from our “gut” that we expressed our love and compassion. Indeed, science has recently discovered that the cell structure of our intestines are closely linked to our brain cells and that they are, in fact, at least partially responsible for our emotional response.

The word “merciful” is from the Greek oiktirmōn. This is the adjective form of oikteirō, which refers to showing a sympathetic feeling of pity or compassion. Oiktirmōn and splagchnon are very closely related words, both expressing sympathy and concern for a loved one.

Meaning Explained

James has been speaking of enduring trials and persevering patiently. Here he says that those who endure are counted happy (or blessed because of God’s favor shown to them). Earlier James said,

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for having been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12)

Knowing that they shall receive such a reward, James says we count them as blessed already.

Here he now gives us an example, that of Job. The expression, “and saw the end intended by the Lord” is thought by some to refer to the death of Christ. That, however, does not fit with the point that James is making here (that of compassion and mercy toward those who endure). Instead, this expression most likely refers to the end state of Job provided by the Lord, showing His compassion and tender mercy toward Job for his patient suffering. James uses this to encourage us as we, too, endure times of trial and learn patience in the midst of suffering.

James’ point is that this end state of Job, the fact that his health, his wealth, and most importantly his family were restored to him was a blessing. And, if we patiently endure to the end, we will be blessed by God as well.

Application

Does this now make the trial you are enduring seem less burdensome? It should! Dear brother or sister in Christ, you are loved by the God of all creation. He cares dearly about you and wants to bless you, even in the midst of the current hardship you are going through. Hang in there and give Him praise!

In God's service, for His glory,