james-5:13-18:8-esv

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 5:13

1. The way of release 5:13Prayer to God, not profanity, is the proper outlet for feelings of sadness caused by suffering as we patiently endure."James’s emphasis on prayer in this section is especially noteworthy since few things undergird perseverance more effectively than prayer. In the final analysis, a persevering life is also a prayerful life." [Note: Hodges, The Epistle . . ., p. 113.] The right way to express joy is by praising God, not swearing. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 5:13-18

C. The Proper Action 5:13-18James encouraged his readers to pray, as well as to be patient, to enable them to overcome the temptation to live only for the present and to stop living by faith. James not only begins and ends his epistle with references to trials, but he "also begins (James 1:5-8) and ends (James 5:13-18) with prayer as the instrumental means for managing trials." [Note: C. Richard Wells, "The Theology of Prayer in James," Criswell Theological Review 1:1 (Fall 1986):86.] read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:1-20

Rebuke and Encouragement2. Are corrupted, etc.] prophetic tense, in which the future is spoken of as though it were already come to pass. 3. For the last days] RV ’in the last days.’ The warning was fulfilled during the siege of Jerusalem, when many rich Jews were slain by Zealots (Jos. ’Wars,’5. 10). 4. Lord of Sabaoth] an OT. phrase = ’Lord of Hosts.’ It is not found elsewhere in the NT., except once in a quotation (Romans 9:29). 5. As in a day of slaughter] omit ’as,’ and cp. Jeremiah 12:3;... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - James 5:13

(13) We now pass on to advice of different kinds—to the heavy-laden or light-hearted, to the suffering and afflicted. Prayer is to be the refuge of one, praise the safeguard of another; the whole life is to revolve, as it were, around the throne of God, whether in the night of grief or day of joy.Let him pray.—No worthier comment can be found than Montgomery’s hymn—“Prayer is the burden of a sigh,The falling of a tear,The upward glancing of an eye,When none but God is near.”Long petitions, or... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - James 5:1-20

James 5:1 'I had an hour's baiting from Mrs. yesterday. She got upon political preaching abused it very heartily acknowledged that religion had to do with man's political life, but said a clergyman's duty is to preach obedience to the powers that be was rather puzzled when I asked her whether it were legitimate to preach from James 5:1 , "Go to, now, ye rich men, weep and howl," etc. asked whether it was possible for old women and orphans to understand such subjects; to which I replied, "No;... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - James 5:13

Chapter 26WORSHIP THE BEST OUTLET AND REMEDY FOR EXCITEMENT-THE CONNECTION BETWEEN WORSHIP AND CONDUCT.James 5:13THE subject of this verse was probably suggested by that of the preceding one. Oaths are not a right way of expressing one’s feelings, however strong they may be, and of whatever kind they may be. There is, however, no need to stifle such feelings, or to pretend to the world that we have no emotions. In this respect, as in many others, Christianity has no sympathy with the precepts... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - James 5:1-20

V. THE COMING OF THE LORD AND THE LIFE OF FAITH CHAPTER 5 1. The oppression by the rich and their coming doom (James 5:1-6 ) 2. Be patient unto the coming of the Lord (James 5:7-12 ) 3. The prayers of faith and the life of faith (James 5:13-20 ) James 5:1-6 The two classes whom James addresses stand out very prominently in this final chapter of his Epistle. The rich oppressors certainly are not believers but the unbelieving rich; they are not addressed as “brethren”; but others are in... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - James 5:13

5:13 {8} Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.(8) He shows the best remedy against all afflictions, that is, prayers which have their place both in sorrow and joy. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:1-20

Verses 1 Timothy 6:0 are addressed to rich men, and no doubt specially to those who make some claim of having the knowledge of God. They are bidden to weep and howl for the miseries that will take them, in contrast to their present living in luxury. How transient and empty are earthly richest God sees them as corrupted, decaying, and quickly at an end; and the garments of wealth as moth-eaten, not won from use, but from hanging, disused, in a closet. The language here is sharp and scathing.... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - James 5:1-20

WORLDLY MINDEDNESS Like other divisions of this epistle this is so connected with the last, and grows out of it so naturally, that it is difficult to say where the division occurs. The writer had been speaking of envying and strife in expression through the tongue, and now puts in his plow deeper to show their source in the antecedent condition of the heart. “Lust” is not to be taken in the limited sense of sensuality, but in the broader sense of worldly pleasure or gratification of any kind.... read more