ANALYSIS. The Jews that did not accept the Messiah when he came, and refused to accept the gospel as proclaimed by the apostles, generally speaking were covetous, and because of the success of their methods became wealthy. To these, and to all who because of their riches oppressed the poor, the apos... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 1 GO TO NOW, YE RICH MEN, WEEP AND HOWL."Go to now," used before by this writer, or attributed to him by the Common Version as here used, amounts to a call which he makes to a class he designates as rich. He calls upon them that they may weep and howl. "Wail and mourn" conveys the idea to our... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 2 YOUR RICHES ARE CORRUPTED, AND YOUR GARMENTS MOTH-EATEN. Corrupted; that is, putrefied. Silver and gold as riches are not here referred to, because they are subsequently mentioned. Hence the riches here mentioned must have reference to other goods and accumulations, such as the products of... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 3 YOUR GOLD AND SILVER IS CANKERED. That is, the gold and silver they had treasured up had contracted rust, for they are in fact herein charged with having been engaged for a long period of time in hoarding this kind of treasure. Observe that it is not the use of these metals, but the non-use... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 4 BEHOLD, THE HIRE OF THE LABORER. To accomplish your unjust and wicked desire to hoard your gold and silver, you disregarded the law of God, and have kept back the hard-earned wages of the laborer who reaped your fields and garnered your grain. These wages you withheld in fraud of the laborer... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 5 YE HAVE LIVED IN PLEASURE ON THE EARTH. The sense is that the persons addressed had lived luxuriously on the earth, had lived for pleasure only, had indulged in all sorts of excesses, spending their wealth when they did spend any in that way. And thus the apostle would argue they had feaste... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 6 YE HAVE CONDEMNED AND KILLED THE JUST. The Jews condemned and slew the just one, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the facts of history show that it was the rich and influential that were guilty of this most heinous crime. It certainly was not the poor. This was the crowning sin of the Jews, deser... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 7 BE PATIENT, THEREFORE, BRETHREN. What a relief it must have been to the writer to turn away from the contemplation of the grievous sins of the wicked Jews to his suffering brethren. Be patient, therefore, brethren. You have the high and exalted example of the blessed Master: "Continue, ther... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 8 BE YE ALSO PATIENT. As the husbandman was patient, as our Lord was patient, be ye patient also, for the harvest that awaits the trustful sufferer is, beyond any doubt, certain. STABLISH YOUR HEARTS. That is, strengthen, fortify your hearts, for the reason that the day of your relief drawe... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 9 GRUDGE NOT ONE AGAINST ANOTHER. That is, be not querulous, grudgingly complaining of one another. This is wrong, and will be condemned as wrong by the Lord, who is to be the judge. And remember that the judge is so close at hand that it may be said that he standeth at the very door. The app... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 10 TAKE, MY BRETHREN, THE PROPHETS. As Jews you know the prophets and their writings. You knew Isaiah and Jeremiah and Elijah, and many others. You know the history of these as the same has been handed down. These prophets spoke in the name of the Lord. They brought God's messages of mercy to... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 11 BEHOLD, WE COUNT THEM HAPPY WHICH ENDURE."We"; that includes both the writer and the persons addressed. Count them blessed, or happy, that endure. This is said of the prophets who suffered and endured unto the end. We agree that, although they are now numbered with the dead, they having end... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 12 BUT ABOVE ALL THINGS, MY BRETHREN, SWEAR NOT. When we remember that these brethren were undergoing persecution, and further that they were called upon to swear, and that some, to avoid punishment, were induced to swear falsely, the importance of the apostle's injunction becomes apparent. My... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 13 IS ANY AMONG YOU AFFLICTED? LET HIM PRAY. In the place of denying the faith under oath, let such a one pray pray for strength to bear the affliction and every persecution. God alone is the helper in all times of trial. IS ANY MERRY? LET HIM SING PSALMS. I think the word "cheerful" or "jo... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 14 IS ANY SICK AMONG YOU? LET HIM CALL. It must not be forgotten that at the time this Epistle was written, miraculous gifts were still present with the Church. Upon the elders placed in charge of many of the churches, and upon many others were these gifts bestowed for the upbuilding of the ca... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 15 AND THE PRAYER OF FAITH SHALL SAVE THE SICK. The prayer to be offered after the elders appear at the bedside of the sick must be in faith. Such prayer, and such prayer only, will the Lord receive, and the sick, after such prayer and in answer thereto, the Lord will raise up. That is, the s... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 16 CONFESS YOUR FAULTS ONE TO ANOTHER. That is to say, where sickness exists, it may be occasioned by some injury done to a brother. A confession of such a fault will be forgiven by the injured brother, and he will join in the prayer for the sick that he may be healed. Repentance, confession... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 17. ELIAS WAS A MAN SUBJECT. We are here referred to 1 Kings 17:1-24 : The prophet Elijah was by the Infinite given special powers. Miracles were wrought by him. His prayer was prevailing, causing rain to be withheld and again to descend. It is an example showing the power of prayer that may... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 18 AND HE PRAYED AGAIN. In answer to the prayer of Elijah, rain was withheld for three and a half years. He then prayed again for rain, and God answered his prayer by sending the rain, that the earth might yield her fruits for the use of man. The lesson to be impressed upon us is the duty of... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 19 BRETHREN, IF ANY OF YOU DO ERR. It is the duty of Christians to be solicitous for the welfare of each other, both in temporal and spiritual affairs. And in case a brother should do wrong, should be seduced from the path of Christian duty, and he should be turned or brought back to his duty... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 20 LET HIM KNOW THAT HE THAT CONVERTETH. The honor of saving a soul from death. What death? Oh, my soul, it is not temporal death. This all must see. This kind of death has passed upon all flesh. No, so; but spiritual death, eternal death. Saving the erring, inducing him to seek for pardon ag... [ Continue Reading ]