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...
James 5:11 – Blessed Endurance
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...
James 5:10 – Glorifying Patience
My brothers take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering affliction and of patience. Truth to Learn The prophets suffered terribly but patiently and did so for God’s glory. Behind the Words “Example” is translated from hupodeigma, which is made up...
James 5:9 – Grumbling Judgment
Do not murmur against one another, brothers, that you be not condemned. Behold, the Judge stands before the door! Truth to Learn Complaining about other Christians does not please God. Behind the Words The word translated “murmur” is the Greek word stenadzō. This is based on the adjective stenos,...
James 5:8 – Patiently Waiting
You also be patient. Set your hearts firmly, for the coming of the Lord has drawn near. Truth to Learn Patience, firmly rooted in faith, will serve us well as we anticipate the soon return of our Lord. Behind the Words The word “patient” is from makrothumeō, which, as...
James 5:7 – Patient Suffering
Therefore, brothers, be patient until the coming of the Lord. See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it might receive the early and latter rains. Truth to Learn Patiently suffering in the midst of unfair treatment by others will bring glory...
James 5:6 – Murderous Condemnation
You condemned, you murdered the righteous; he does not resist you. Truth to Learn Wealth can blind a person to justice. Behind the Words The word “condemned” is translated from katadikadzō, which is a compound word made up of kata, meaning “down” and dikadzō, meaning “to pass judgment.” Hence,...
James 5:5 – Pleasure Without Peace
You have lived luxuriously on the earth in wanton self-indulgence; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. Truth to Learn Luxury and pleasure cannot bring peace to our soul. Only God can do that. Behind the Words The word translated “wanton self-indulgence” is spatalatō, which means...
James 5:4 – Fortune or Favor?
Look, the wages of the laborers who harvested your fields cry out, having been kept back by fraud; and the cries of the harvesters have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Truth to Learn Fairness and honesty in business is far more important than wealth. We cannot...
James 5:3 – Your Treasury Focus
Your gold and silver are corroded, and their rust will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Truth to Learn What we view as treasure indicates where our heart’s desire is. Behind the Words “Corroded”...
James 5:2 – Perishable Possessions
Your riches are putrefied, and your garments are moth-eaten. Truth to Learn Earthly possessions are perishable and soon will all be gone. Behind the Words Ploutos is the word translated “riches.” This is from the same root word as plousios, which we saw in the previous verse. It refers...
James 5:1 – Sorrowful Riches
that it bursts forth in unashamed wailing and sobbing. This word is distinctly different from the Greek word dakruō, which means “to weep silently and shed tears,” Klaiō is expressed here in the imperative mood, indicating a command from James. The word “howl” is translated from a form of ololudzō....
James 4:17 – No More Excuses
Therefore, to him knowing what good thing to do and not doing it, it is sin to him. Truth to Learn Now that we know how to behave, we have no excuse if we do not completely follow James’ teaching. Behind the Words The word translated “knowing” is a form...
James 4:16 – Stealing Credit from God
But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Truth to Learn Claiming credit for your own success is vicious thievery. Behind the Words The words “boast” and “boasting” are both translated from forms of kauchaomai, which means “to glory” or “to celebrate.” It implies making great,...
James 4:15 – The Lord’s Plan
Instead you ought to be saying, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." Truth to Learn It is God’s plan for us that is important, not our own plans. Behind the Words The expression “Instead you ought to be saying” should be more literally translated...
James 4:14 – Earthly Plans, or Heavenly?
who do not know a thing of tomorrow. What is your life? For it is a vapor that is appearing for a little while and then is disappearing. Truth to Learn Life is short. Eternity is long. Plans made for eternity are far better than plans made for this earthly...
James 4:13 – Selfish Planning
Come now, you who are saying, "Today or tomorrow we will go into this city, and we will spend a year there, and we will trade and we will make a profit"; Truth to Learn Making plans apart from the will of God is selfish and stupid. Behind the Words...
James 4:12 – Honor the Judge
There is one Lawgiver and Judge, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you judging your neighbor? Truth to Learn God is the judge of us all. Let’s keep this in perspective when we feel like being judgmental of those around us. Behind the Words The word...
James 4:11 – Evil Judging
Do not speak against one another, brothers. The one speaking against a brother and judging his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. Truth to Learn Being judgmental could make you...
James 4:10 – Useful Humility
Be humbled before the Lord, and He will exalt you. Truth to Learn Being humbled in God’s presence is precisely what He wants of us! Behind the Words “Humbled” is translated from the Greek verb tapeinoō, which is an old verb from the noun tapeinos, meaning “low, particularly of attitude...
James 4:9 – Admit Your Wretchedness
Be distressed and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Truth to Learn Realize how sinful you really are compared to our Holy God. Behind the Words “Be distressed” is translated from the Greek word talaipōreō, which is closely related to the...
James 4:8 – A Heavenly Hug
Come near to God and He will come near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded ones. Truth to Learn We need to work on becoming closer to, and more intimate with, God. Behind the Words The verb translated “come near” is engidzō, which...
James 4:7 – Resistance Through Submission
Therefore be submitted to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Truth to Learn Submitting to God is the only way to resist our enemy. Behind the Words The word translated “submit” is the Greek word, hupotassō which is made up of hupo (or hypo), which means...
James 4:6 – Humbled before God
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God sets Himself against proud ones, but gives grace to humble ones." Truth to Learn Humility before God is a key to having a fulfilling relationship with Him. Behind the Words The word translated “more” is meidzona, which is the comparative form...
James 4:5 – A Jealous Spirit
Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? Truth to Learn Seeking things instead of God makes Him Jealous. Behind the Words “Vain” is from the word kenōs, meaning “with no purpose” The word translated “dwells” is katoikēsen. Some Biblical...
James 4:4 – The World, or God?
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Truth to Learn Buying into the world system, its values, ideals, and desires is a sure way to...
James 4:3 – Unanswered Prayers
You ask and do not receive, because you ask badly, that you may squander it on your pleasures. Truth to Learn Selfish prayers usually go unanswered, and when they are answered the way we want, we usually regret it later. Behind the Words The word “ask” is translated from aiteō,...
James 4:2 – Fighting from Desire
You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and are not able to obtain. You fight and battle. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. Truth to Learn Our own selfish desire to have is the reason why we fight. Behind the Words The word...
James 4:1 – Roots of Conflict
Where do wars and controversy come from among you? Do they not come from your passions warring in your members? Truth to Learn Fighting and quarreling result from our own selfish desire for gratification. Behind the Words The opening word of this verse is pothen, which is an interrogative adverb....
James 3:18 – Sow in Peace
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who are making peace. Truth to Learn Those who teach with earthly wisdom reap a harvest of contention and discord. Those who humbly teach through the Spirit of God reap a harvest of peaceful righteousness. Behind the Words “Fruit”...
James 3:17 – Heavenly Wisdom
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and unpretentious. Truth to Learn Heavenly wisdom is “others” focused, not “self” focused. Behind the Words “First” is from the Greek word proton, meaning “first in importance, order, or...