The unbelieving Jews, being exceedingly addicted to sensual pleasure, and very covetous, were of course grievous oppressors of the poor. Wherefore, to alarm these wicked men, and, if possible, to bring them to repentance, St. James, in the first paragraph of this chapter, sets before them, in the mo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Your riches are corrupted_ Greek, σεσηπε, _are putrefied_, or are as things putrefied by being kept too long. The riches of the ancients consisted much in large stores of corn, wine, oil, and costly apparel. These things the rich men in Judea had amassed, like the foolish rich man mentioned Luke 12... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, the hire of the labourers_ The apostle alludes in this verse to Leviticus 19:13: _The wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night:_ and to Deuteronomy 24:15, _At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it, &c., lest he cry against thee unt... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye have lived in pleasure, and have been wanton_ Ετρυφησατε και εσπαταλησατε. The former word signifies, _ye have lived luxuriously;_ or, as the Vulgate has it, Epulati estis, _ye have feasted;_ it being intended of their luxuries and intemperance in eating and drinking : the latter word is intende... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be patient therefore, brethren_ He now addresses the pious, oppressed, and persecuted disciples of Christ: as if he had said, Since the Lord will soon come to punish them, and relieve you, patiently bear the injuries which rich men offer you, and quietly wait till he come. _Behold the husbandman wa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take the prophets_ Once persecuted like you, even for _speaking in the name of the Lord_ The very men that gloried in having the prophets, yet could not bear their message. Nor did either the holiness or the high commission of these messengers of God screen them from suffering; _for an example of s... [ Continue Reading ]
_But above all things, swear not_ However provoked. The Jews were notoriously guilty of common swearing, though not so much by God himself as by some of his creatures. The apostle here forbids these oaths, as well as all swearing in common conversation. It is very observable how solemnly the apostle... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is any among you afflicted? let him pray_ That he may be supported under his affliction, so as to be enabled to bear it with patience and resignation to the divine will, and find it to be sanctified to him, and made the means, as of exercising, so also of increasing his grace, and of purifying him... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is any sick? let him call for the elders of the church_ Those ministers of Christ whose office it is to oversee and feed the flock; _and let them pray over him_ For his recovery, persuaded that what two or three of the Lord's true disciples shall agree to ask, it shall be done for them; _anointing... [ Continue Reading ]
_Confess your faults_ Whether you are sick or in health; _one to another_ He does not say to the elders; this may or may not be done, for it is nowhere commanded. We may confess them to any pious person who can pray in faith: he will then know how to pray for us, and will be more excited so to do. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_Elias was a man subject to like passions_ To the like infirmities; _as we are_ In which sense the same word, ομοιοπαθης, is used, Acts 14:15. It literally signifies, _suffering like things with another._ Elijah, through natural infirmity, suffered as we do from diseases, from temptation, from perse... [ Continue Reading ]
_Brethren_ As if he had said, I have now warned you of those things to which you are most liable. And in all these respects watch, not only over yourselves, but every one over his brother also. Labour, in particular, to recover those that are fallen. For _if any of you do err from the truth_ From th... [ Continue Reading ]