James 5:1-2 WEB

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

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - James 5:1-20

Curious Identifications Jam 5:11 Let us notice how very curiously, and in some cases how very eccentrically and frivolously, some men are identified in Holy Scripture. The texts might be a hundred in number: one will do to start with "Ye have heard of the patience of Job." Thus we hear of men in little points, striking aspects, wise or silly anecdotes. Who knows anything about Job, except his patience? Who can quote any argument of the great sufferer? Who can recite his curse upon his... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - James 5:1

CONTENTS The Church is here taught, in the Opening of this Chapter, the short-lived Enjoyments of the Wicked. God's faithful Ones are reminded of the Blessedness of Patience; and what precious Advantages arise from Prayer. read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - James 5:1-6

Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. (2) Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. (3) Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. (4) Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - James 5:1-6

Go now rich men, &c. In the first six verses, he gives admonitions to those among the Christians who were rich, not to rely on riches, nor value themselves on this account. You must look upon your riches and treasures as if they were already putrefied and corrupted, your gold and silver eaten and consumed with rust: and their rust shall rise in testimony and judgment against you, for not making better use of them. As your coin is eaten with rust, so shall your bodies be hereafter as it... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - James 5:1-6

1-6 Public troubles are most grievous to those who live in pleasure, and are secure and sensual, though all ranks suffer deeply at such times. All idolized treasures will soon perish, except as they will rise up in judgment against their possessors. Take heed of defrauding and oppressing; and avoid the very appearance of it. God does not forbid us to use lawful pleasures; but to live in pleasure, especially sinful pleasure, is a provoking sin. Is it no harm for people to unfit themselves for... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - James 5:1-99

James 5 IN THE CLOSING verses of chapter 4 James was addressing those of his own people belonging to the prosperous commercial class, who professed to receive Jesus as their Lord. In the opening of the fifth chapter his thoughts turn to the rich Jews, and these, as we have before mentioned, were almost to a man found amongst the unbelieving majority. In the first six verses he has some severe and even scorching things to say about them, and to them. The accusation he brings against them is... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - James 5:1-6

Various Admonitions in View of the Nearness of the Judgment. Exhortation to the rich: v. 1. Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. v. 2. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. v. 3. Your gold and silver is cankered, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. v. 4. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - James 5:1-6

IX. SEVENTH ADMONITIONDENUNCIATION AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE IMPENDING JUDGMENT ON THE RICH I. E., THE JUDAISTS PROPER COUCHED IN PROPHETIC STYLE. EXHORTATION TO REPENTANCE OR TO THE PRESENTIMENT OF THE JUDGMENTJames 5:1-61 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.1 2Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver Isaiah 3:0 cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh2 as it... read more