James 5:10-12

VICTORY WILL COME, FOR GOD IS REAL

Text 5:10-12

James 5:10 Take, brethren, for an example of suffering and patience, the prophets who spake in the name of the Lord.

11.

Behold, we call them blessed that endured: ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, how that the Lord is full of pity, and merciful.

12.

But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by the heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any Other oath: but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; that ye fall not under judgment.

Queries

419.

What noteworthy example of hardship is omitted here but not in 1 Peter 2:21 ff?

420.

Why were the O.T. prophets a good example to take?

422.

The word for patience in James 5:11 is the usual word meaning to hold tight without giving in. How is this descriptive of Job?

423.

Is the teaching in verse twelve of special importance? Why (from the verse itself) must this be?

424.

Solemn and serious civil and religious oaths or vows were taken on the name of God or His Word, and they still are. Why do you think this particular oath is not mentioned in verse twelve?

425.

Is the subject really swearing, oath-taking, or truth-telling?

426.

What connection is there between swearing and lying?

427.

What are some of the similarities between this verse and Matthew 5:33-37?

428.

Where is lying introduced into the verse?

Paraphrases

A. James 5:10

For an example of a continued faith while enduring suffering, consider the Old Testament prophets. They continued to testify of God in the midst of their suffering.

11.

Look how we call God's praises upon them because of their endurance. You have heard how Job was stubborn in clinging to the Lord; and you have read how God's mercy and pity gave Job a double restitution because of His purpose.

12.

And more than this, brethren, watch your daily speech that it is not sprinkled with the double standard of oaths for speaking the truth that you might have an excuse to lie. When you say something, let it be the truth, and this swearing and oath-taking will not be necessary.

B.*James 5:10.

For examples of patience in suffering, look at the Lord's prophets.

11.

We know how happy they are now because they stayed true to Him then, even though they suffered greatly for it. Job is an example of a man who continued to trust the Lord in sorrow, and from his experiences we can see how the Lord's plan finally ended in good, and that the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.

12.

But most of all, dear brothers, do not swear either by heaven or earth, or anything else; just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and receive God's curse.

Summary

When we consider the Old Testament examples we know that God's purpose is to make everything right. So let our word be as constant and sure as these prophets and we will avoid the common practice of swearing and oathtaking.

Comment

James is still referring to how to act under adversity. The major example of adversity of having one's wages withheld will be added to in the last portion of the chapter. Here he seems to still be commenting upon this particular problem.
The prophets, because of their very vocation, suffered the brunt of persecution. Through all of this they refused to murmur against the Lord; but rather continued to speak in His name. It has always been that a man who will take a definite stand, especially on matters pertaining to godliness, will make enemies. He makes the same enemies Jesus made, and in a sense bears the same kind of a cross. This is the plight of all who name the name of Christ as their own, and it must be so. If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For. whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it (Matthew 16:24-25).

The Job reference uses the same kind of patience that is most commonly used in the New Testament. This refers to his determination to hang on through all sufferings. He clung to the Lord like a bulldog, and the devil could not shake him loose.
The important part of the illustration is that Job's patience was rewarded by the Lord according to the will of the Lord. The end of the Lord refers to the purpose of the Lord. We have seen the purpose of the Lord in the account of Job: to benefit all on the Lord's side, including Job.

The end of the Lord could also refer to what happens in the end of the matter, or the end of time. Job was rewarded at the conclusion of his suffering; and such is always the end of the Lord. The end of the matter is not always apparent on this earth, however. In the case of the oppressing rich men just discussed, the end of the matter is in the judgment. If heaven is my home and joy unspeakable and full of glory is my destiny, by what ingratitude do I demand it all here and now?

If verse twelve is a continuation of the admonition on how to act in adversity, then it's meaning is quickly determined. The prophets continued to speak in the name of the Lord when they were persecuted. Likewise we must continue to let our speech be honest and truthful regardless of the persecution.
The common practice of that day (and today?) was to use a double standard of speaking. A good (?) business man was expected to lie concerning his business. If a man wanted to verify the fact that he was really telling the truth and not speaking out of the corner of his mouth, he would use an oath. Swearing and oathtaking became so common that if a man really wanted to deceive his fellow man he would sprinkle his conversation with oaths. At the trial of Jesus when the maid accused him of being one of the men with Jesus, on the second accusation Peter not only denied being with the Jesus, but did so with an oath (Matthew 26:72). On the third occasion when he was accused of being a friend of Jesus then he began to curse and to swear, I know not the man. (Matthew 26:74). The oath here, as in many cases, was used as a clear effort to deceive.

Had Peter spoken the truth there would have been no need for an oath. They would have believed him anyway at once. The Christian should have his practice of always speaking the truth. When he says yes, he should mean yes. If he denies something, then those who know him know that his denial is the truth.
Most commentators do not believe that this prohibition is referring to the civil and religious oaths or vows that solemnly use the name of God for court uses. There is no mention of an oath that invoked the name or Word of God. We would expect that it would not be mentioned, for the Jews were by tradition most careful not to use God's name lightly as in street usage or common swearing. The point of the teaching is in the last part of the verse: let your yea be yea and your nay, nay; that ye fall not under judgment. It would seem that this is an application of the example from the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Certainly if this teaching leaves any man with a conscience against taking the solemn oaths of the courts, then it would be a sin to him even if this were not the intended meaning of the text.
If this verse is not a continuation of the former discussion, and has as its main purpose any oath-taking rather than truth-telling, then the meaning becomes more difficult to ascertain. Some commentators are convinced the teaching is against the solemn and serious civil oaths that use the name of God, or His Word. If this be the case, then James has interspersed his teaching on the consistent speech of the Christian with a subject that seems to be stuck in, or somewhat out of context.
Lest we be led astray on our consideration of the extent of the prohibition, we should humbly concur that James is emphasizing the importance of telling the truth under all circumstances. A man may sometimes hold his own council, but he should never lie.
It is far better to make no reply to a question as Jesus did at His trial, than to make a false statement as Peter did at the same trial. The first can be altogether right, where the latter is always wrong. May God help us to be as constant in our word as is our Lord. May we never say yea when we know nay is the answer, nor nay when we know yea is the answer. Since our business is not deceit, but tram-telling, then common oaths and swearing need not be a part of our vocabulary.