September 14, 2025 // James 5
APPLICATION: Read & watch/listen to James 5
Sermon: James 5
The Corruption of the Wicked Wealthy
Their Possessions
Rotting
Rusting
Ruining
Their Practices
Their Cheating
The People's Crying
The Lord’s Hearing
Their Pleasures
Their indulgence
Their Injustice
The Call of the Faithful Follower
Wait Like a Farmer
Plant the Seeds
Patience in the Seasons
Prepare for the Harvest
Watch for the Judge
Don’t Grumble!
Don’t Miss It!
Witness of Others
The Speech Prophets
The Steadfastness of Job
The Purpose of the Lord
The Confidence of the Righteous
Our Speech
Our Sincerity
Life Application:
Changing Other People
In 1840, forty-seven-year-old General Sam Houston, recently retired president of the Republic of Texas, married twenty-one-year-old Margaret Moffette Lea. She was the daughter of a minister from a staid south Alabama community. No one gave the marriage much chance due to the difference in age and previous lifestyles of the couple.
After the wedding Margaret Lea Houston began to work diligently at producing change in her husband. She remained at home, continually assuring him of her love and interest. Lovingly, but firmly, she insisted on his abstinence from the alcohol which threatened to shorten his life. Slowly but surely, his health improved, and his lifestyle mended.
After nearly a decade of marriage, Houston described his appreciation for Margaret in a letter to a cousin:
It has been my lot to be happily united, to a wife that I love, and so far we have a young scion of the old stock. My wife is pious, and her great desire is that Sam [the newborn son] should be reared, in the fear and admonition of the Lord. It is likewise my desire.… You, have, I doubt not, heard that my wife controls me, and has reformed me, in many respects? This is pretty true.… She gets all the credit for my good actions, and I have to endure all the censure of my bad ones (William Seale, Sam Houston’s Wife).
In 1854, Houston was baptized near Independence, Texas, by a pioneer preacher. After the baptism someone asked Houston if his sins were washed away. Houston reportedly replied, “I hope so, but if they were all washed away, the Lord help the fish down there.”
Although we would have wanted Houston to give God the credit for the change, we can observe that his wife made the spiritual conversion of Sam Houston a goal of her life. Her actions helped to reclaim him from the error of his way. She provided for him a sense of security and encouragement which attracted him to her Savior. Peter’s appeal to wives to live so that their husbands “may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives” (1 Pet. 3:1) outlined Margaret Houston’s method. We help best to bring change to others when we live to show the reality of our faith.[1]
Digging Deeper :
A. The Lord Almighty (v. 4)
The expression, the Lord Almighty, is a translation of a term meaning literally, “the Lord of Hosts.” This was a popular term for Old Testament writers (see 1 Sam. 1:3, 11; 4:4; 6:2; 17:45; 2 Sam. 5:10; 6:2; Ps. 24:10; 46:7, 11; 89:8). The phrase pictured God as the commander of the armies of heaven. It shows that God has majesty and power both as ruler of the world and as the protector of his people. The phrase reminded the readers of James that the unlimited resources of God were available for the care of his people.
In this context it encouraged the poor and the helpless to believe that the one on their side was a God who could overpower the wicked deeds of unjust landlords and punish their evil.
B. The Day of Slaughter (v. 5)
This phrase carries at least two applications. First, it reminds us that God will correct injustices on the day of final judgment. The wealthy may think that God has overlooked their sins, but they face future judgment from God.
Second, it carries a vivid picture of the force feeding of cattle in preparation for their slaughter as food. The wealthy are as morally insensitive as beasts who eat greedily, not knowing their owners are fattening them for the kill. The entire picture is a vivid way of calling the wealthy to repentance before they experience God’s judgment and more especially of calling believers to endure oppression from the wealthy in light of God’s sovereign control of the future.
C. Innocent Men (v. 6)
The literal translation of the Greek (dikaios) is “the just one,” a title used for Christ (Acts 3:14, “the righteous one”). Some interpreters see this as an accusation that James was accusing the wealthy of having murdered Christ. In this context, however, James was describing the tyranny of the rich against the poor. James pictured the poor believers as innocent people who responded to afflictions with meekness and obedience to Christ. The heartless actions of the wealthy only made their evil deeds more culpable.
D. Patient, Patience, Perseverance (vv. 7–11)
This section uses words with similar meanings to show the need for restraint and stamina in the face of persecution. Patient (makrothumeo, vv. 7, 8) and patience (makrothumia, v. 10) both come from the same Greek root. Patience is sometimes translated as “long-suffering.” Paul demanded this “patience” as a distinctive trait of believers (Col. 3:12). They must show it toward all (1 Thess. 5:14). Believers need the self-control which enables persecuted people to submit to insult and injury without using vindictive behavior.
Perseverance (hupomone, v. 11) denotes a consistent obedience to the Lord under trial. It calls for believers to show endurance in commitment and obedience as they face hardship. We cannot say that Job was free of complaint about his treatment. In Job 6:2–3; 7:11–16; and 10:1–2 he lamented his bitter treatment. Still, Job persevered in that he never gave up his obedience to God. He remained unswervingly loyal to God. James encouraged his readers by pointing out the encouraging outcome of Job’s trials. He finally came to an experience of God’s compassion and mercy.
Job’s behavior becomes an example to us as we face trials, afflictions, and hardships. God’s grace can develop a steadfastness which shows restraint under provocation and endures in commitment. Christians must not indulge in resentment against their persecutors. They must put aside all thoughts of retaliation and revenge.
To call for patience and perseverance does not rule out protesting a wrong. Christians must oppose evil in any form, but they must not be surprised by the hostile response of the world. They need a willingness to be a martyr without being recognized as one.
E. The Lord’s Coming (vv. 7–8)
Believers are called to demonstrate our patience and restraint until the Lord’s coming. This event will put to an end all forced subjection to injustice and mistreatment.
The term used to describe Jesus’ coming (parousia), refers to a visit made by royalty to a city or geographical area. Usually in the New Testament it describes Jesus’ return to bless and strengthen his people (1 Thess. 3:13). Here it describes our hope for the personal return of Jesus Christ. James gave few details about the chronology or effect of this return. His chief emphasis was that the hope of the Lord’s return must promote holiness in each believer.
F. Oaths (v. 12)
The biblical prohibition of oaths does not ban their use to prove truthfulness. The frivolous use of an oath to be evasive or untruthful is wrong. Christians cannot follow the Jewish practice of taking a flippant oath and basing it on something other than God’s name. Jews who did this felt that the only binding oaths were based on God’s name. Oaths based on something other than God’s name were not seen as binding. Thus, some Jews in Jesus’ time used careless oaths to justify deception. The Bible prohibits this practice.
Christians today need not feel obliged to avoid an oath in a courtroom or in other legal procedures. Christians are to be known for their rugged commitment to truthfulness, and a courtroom oath is meant to establish this. They must not use an oath, however, to conceal deceit or to mislead others.
Questions to Consider:
Prayer Time:
[1] Thomas D. Lea, Hebrews, James, vol. 10, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 352–353.
Sermon: James 5
The Corruption of the Wicked Wealthy
Their Possessions
Rotting
Rusting
Ruining
Their Practices
Their Cheating
The People's Crying
The Lord’s Hearing
Their Pleasures
Their indulgence
Their Injustice
The Call of the Faithful Follower
Wait Like a Farmer
Plant the Seeds
Patience in the Seasons
Prepare for the Harvest
Watch for the Judge
Don’t Grumble!
Don’t Miss It!
Witness of Others
The Speech Prophets
The Steadfastness of Job
The Purpose of the Lord
The Confidence of the Righteous
Our Speech
Our Sincerity
Life Application:
Changing Other People
In 1840, forty-seven-year-old General Sam Houston, recently retired president of the Republic of Texas, married twenty-one-year-old Margaret Moffette Lea. She was the daughter of a minister from a staid south Alabama community. No one gave the marriage much chance due to the difference in age and previous lifestyles of the couple.
After the wedding Margaret Lea Houston began to work diligently at producing change in her husband. She remained at home, continually assuring him of her love and interest. Lovingly, but firmly, she insisted on his abstinence from the alcohol which threatened to shorten his life. Slowly but surely, his health improved, and his lifestyle mended.
After nearly a decade of marriage, Houston described his appreciation for Margaret in a letter to a cousin:
It has been my lot to be happily united, to a wife that I love, and so far we have a young scion of the old stock. My wife is pious, and her great desire is that Sam [the newborn son] should be reared, in the fear and admonition of the Lord. It is likewise my desire.… You, have, I doubt not, heard that my wife controls me, and has reformed me, in many respects? This is pretty true.… She gets all the credit for my good actions, and I have to endure all the censure of my bad ones (William Seale, Sam Houston’s Wife).
In 1854, Houston was baptized near Independence, Texas, by a pioneer preacher. After the baptism someone asked Houston if his sins were washed away. Houston reportedly replied, “I hope so, but if they were all washed away, the Lord help the fish down there.”
Although we would have wanted Houston to give God the credit for the change, we can observe that his wife made the spiritual conversion of Sam Houston a goal of her life. Her actions helped to reclaim him from the error of his way. She provided for him a sense of security and encouragement which attracted him to her Savior. Peter’s appeal to wives to live so that their husbands “may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives” (1 Pet. 3:1) outlined Margaret Houston’s method. We help best to bring change to others when we live to show the reality of our faith.[1]
Digging Deeper :
A. The Lord Almighty (v. 4)
The expression, the Lord Almighty, is a translation of a term meaning literally, “the Lord of Hosts.” This was a popular term for Old Testament writers (see 1 Sam. 1:3, 11; 4:4; 6:2; 17:45; 2 Sam. 5:10; 6:2; Ps. 24:10; 46:7, 11; 89:8). The phrase pictured God as the commander of the armies of heaven. It shows that God has majesty and power both as ruler of the world and as the protector of his people. The phrase reminded the readers of James that the unlimited resources of God were available for the care of his people.
In this context it encouraged the poor and the helpless to believe that the one on their side was a God who could overpower the wicked deeds of unjust landlords and punish their evil.
B. The Day of Slaughter (v. 5)
This phrase carries at least two applications. First, it reminds us that God will correct injustices on the day of final judgment. The wealthy may think that God has overlooked their sins, but they face future judgment from God.
Second, it carries a vivid picture of the force feeding of cattle in preparation for their slaughter as food. The wealthy are as morally insensitive as beasts who eat greedily, not knowing their owners are fattening them for the kill. The entire picture is a vivid way of calling the wealthy to repentance before they experience God’s judgment and more especially of calling believers to endure oppression from the wealthy in light of God’s sovereign control of the future.
C. Innocent Men (v. 6)
The literal translation of the Greek (dikaios) is “the just one,” a title used for Christ (Acts 3:14, “the righteous one”). Some interpreters see this as an accusation that James was accusing the wealthy of having murdered Christ. In this context, however, James was describing the tyranny of the rich against the poor. James pictured the poor believers as innocent people who responded to afflictions with meekness and obedience to Christ. The heartless actions of the wealthy only made their evil deeds more culpable.
D. Patient, Patience, Perseverance (vv. 7–11)
This section uses words with similar meanings to show the need for restraint and stamina in the face of persecution. Patient (makrothumeo, vv. 7, 8) and patience (makrothumia, v. 10) both come from the same Greek root. Patience is sometimes translated as “long-suffering.” Paul demanded this “patience” as a distinctive trait of believers (Col. 3:12). They must show it toward all (1 Thess. 5:14). Believers need the self-control which enables persecuted people to submit to insult and injury without using vindictive behavior.
Perseverance (hupomone, v. 11) denotes a consistent obedience to the Lord under trial. It calls for believers to show endurance in commitment and obedience as they face hardship. We cannot say that Job was free of complaint about his treatment. In Job 6:2–3; 7:11–16; and 10:1–2 he lamented his bitter treatment. Still, Job persevered in that he never gave up his obedience to God. He remained unswervingly loyal to God. James encouraged his readers by pointing out the encouraging outcome of Job’s trials. He finally came to an experience of God’s compassion and mercy.
Job’s behavior becomes an example to us as we face trials, afflictions, and hardships. God’s grace can develop a steadfastness which shows restraint under provocation and endures in commitment. Christians must not indulge in resentment against their persecutors. They must put aside all thoughts of retaliation and revenge.
To call for patience and perseverance does not rule out protesting a wrong. Christians must oppose evil in any form, but they must not be surprised by the hostile response of the world. They need a willingness to be a martyr without being recognized as one.
E. The Lord’s Coming (vv. 7–8)
Believers are called to demonstrate our patience and restraint until the Lord’s coming. This event will put to an end all forced subjection to injustice and mistreatment.
The term used to describe Jesus’ coming (parousia), refers to a visit made by royalty to a city or geographical area. Usually in the New Testament it describes Jesus’ return to bless and strengthen his people (1 Thess. 3:13). Here it describes our hope for the personal return of Jesus Christ. James gave few details about the chronology or effect of this return. His chief emphasis was that the hope of the Lord’s return must promote holiness in each believer.
F. Oaths (v. 12)
The biblical prohibition of oaths does not ban their use to prove truthfulness. The frivolous use of an oath to be evasive or untruthful is wrong. Christians cannot follow the Jewish practice of taking a flippant oath and basing it on something other than God’s name. Jews who did this felt that the only binding oaths were based on God’s name. Oaths based on something other than God’s name were not seen as binding. Thus, some Jews in Jesus’ time used careless oaths to justify deception. The Bible prohibits this practice.
Christians today need not feel obliged to avoid an oath in a courtroom or in other legal procedures. Christians are to be known for their rugged commitment to truthfulness, and a courtroom oath is meant to establish this. They must not use an oath, however, to conceal deceit or to mislead others.
Questions to Consider:
- How do you determine who is rich and who is poor? In what ways should you receive the warnings to the rich? What charges is God bringing against you for the way you use your financial resources?
- What situations and circumstances test your patience? If you would begin exercising patience, what changes would come about in your life? What motivation does God’s Word give you to exercise patience and perseverance?
- Do you have a habit of using certain words that really express an oath you do not intend to keep? What does God’s Word say about such “unconscious” or habitual oaths?
Prayer Time:
[1] Thomas D. Lea, Hebrews, James, vol. 10, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 352–353.