Gospel Light Christian Church Thru-The-Bible Series (32.3)

The General Epistle of James

James Chapter 5:8-12 - Read this Bible passage once through before referring to the notes below.

v8.       Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.  We are asked again to be patient, and for the second time also we are told of the Lord’s imminent return.  When the Bible repeats a point, it is important for us to take note.  We are to live in a continued state of expectancy of the Lord's coming, as an event always nigh. Nothing can more stablish the heart amidst present troubles than the realized expectation of His speedy coming.

Here is an interesting question.  James says that the Lord’s return draweth nigh, meaning that it is fast coming true.  That was 2,000 years ago when he said that.  The Lord has not returned to this day.  So was James wrong?  No, that can never be, since all scripture is given by inspiration of God (2Tim 3:16). Here is what we need to understand about the Lord’s return.

God lives in eternity, and His view of time, when measured against eternity, is vastly different from ours. The Psalmist puts it this way: For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night (Ps 90:4).  In the New Testament, Peter put it this way: But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (2Pet 3:8).

The exact day and hour of the Lord Jesus Christ’s second coming is known only to God: But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father (Mk 13:32).  Those who claim to known, either by so-called divine revelation or by calculation, are false prophets.  In the past many of these false prophets have predicted several dates, but the Lord did not return on any of those dates!

The Bible gives us clear signs that will precede the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. On the Mount of Olives, the disciples asked the Lord: And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (Matt 24:3).  Our Lord Jesus took the whole of Matthew chapter 24 to answer this question.  Then He said: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors (Matt 24:33). 

The Lord will return on a day and time that people least expect. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night (1Thess 5:2). Why would the people be caught unaware?  Because it will happen in a period of peace and safety! For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape (1Thess 5:13).

This sudden destruction shall be total. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up (2Pet 3:10).

What should Christians do now? Watch and pray! Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man (Lk 21:36).

v9.       Having exhorted them to patience in bearing wrongs from the wicked, James now exhorts them to a forbearing spirit as to the offences given by brethren. Times of hardship can cause us to be less than loving with our Christian brothers and sisters; James reminds us that we cannot become grumblers and complainers in our hardship - lest we condemn ourselves even in our hardship Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ comes as a Judge, first to judge the world: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead (Acts 17:31).  Secondly, the Lord will also judge the faithfulness of Christians. Paul puts it this way: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad (2Cor 5:10).  Therefore, we cannot allow hardship to make us unloving towards each other.

v10.     Here is another example of patience. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. James reminds us that the prophets of the Old Testament endured hardship, yet practiced patient endurance. We can take them as examples.

v11.     James now gives the example of Job. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.  It is interesting how the New Testament confirms the Old Testament.  The very fact that Job is cited as an example here means that the story of Job is real.  This is to debunk the belief of some today who say that Job was not an actual person. 

We are called to consider Job as an example of patient endurance; his story demonstrates both the necessity of a constant trust through times of calamity, and God's compassionate and merciful resolution of seasons of hardship. The compassion and mercy of God may seem far away in our times of trial; but examples like Job encourage us to be those who, by our patient endurance, see the goodness of God in the land of the living. 

v12.     James has been talking about Christian endurance so far.  Now he tells us what endurance is not.  But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth.  What is swearing?  It is actually calling upon God to witness that what one is swearing is the truth, and nothing but the truth.  Why do people need to swear?  Because their character is not impeccable. This lack of character will be exposed at the judgment seat of Christ; which motivates us all the more to prepare for that judgment by our speaking with integrity.

James adds also, neither by any other oath.  What other oaths are there?  The Jews made distinctions between "binding oaths" and "non-binding oaths"; oaths that did not include the name of God were considered to be non-binding.  God of course makes no such distinction. Instead we are told to let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

This verse is a mirror of what the Lord said in the Sermon on the Mount: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil (Matt 5:34-37).