Book of James (5)

THEMES

Warning to The Rich

Patience in the Face of Suffering

Be Faithful and Prayerful

OBJECTIVES

tO

Warning To The Rich

1) To appreciate the need for patience in times of oppression

2) To see the value of prayer and confessing sins in times of sickness

WARNING TO THE RICH

James 5:1–6 ESV

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.

Matthew 6:19–20 ESV

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

matt 6

Question 1 - What are the 3 reasons James cites for God’s anger against the rich?

1. They have defrauded the laborers who mowed their fields

2. They have lived in pleasure and luxury, fattening their hearts

3. They have condemned and murdered the righteous who does not resist them

1 Timothy 6:10 ESV

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

1 tim

James 2:6–7 ESV

But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

Ja

Hebrews 13:5 ESV

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Heb 13:

PATIENCE IN SUFFERING

James 5:7–12 ESV

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

James 7:

Question 2 - What are the Christians to do in response to such oppression? (7-12)

- Be patient until the coming of the Lord

- Establish their hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand

- Don't grumble against one another, for the Judge is standing at the door

the door

- Do not swear (make rash oaths), but let their "yes" be "yes" and their "no" mean "no"

their "no" mean "no"

Question 3 - What three examples does James provide to encourage patience? (7-11)

- The farmer who waits patiently for the precious fruit of the earth

- The prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord

- The perseverance of Job

FAITHFUL AND PRAYERFUL

James 5:13–20 ESV

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 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. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

James 5:13–19 ESV

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 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. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,

James

Question 4 - What does James encourage one to do when suffering? When cheerful?

james 5:13-1

- To pray when suffering

- To sing praises when cheerful

Question 5 - Is "anointing with oil" sacramental or medicinal?

The word aleipsantes ("anoint") is not the usual word for sacramental or ritualistic anointing.

Isaiah 1:6 ESV

From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds; they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil.

("anoint") is not the usual word for sacramental or ritualistic

anointing.

Luke 10:34 ESV

He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

lk 10

Question 6 - What has great power and is working

James 5

James 5:16 ESV

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Question 7 - What happens when one turns a sinner from the error of his way?

- A soul is saved from death

- A multitude of sins is covered