James 5:7-12 (NKJV) Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.
V7 “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.” Since James is writing to Christian believers, the “coming of the Lord” most likely refers to the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:15 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8). It can also refer to the return of the Lord Jesus at the end of the Tribulation (Zechariah 14:1-3 and Zechariah 14:9, and Malachi 4:5). We need patience. How long are we to wait? Until the time of harvest, that is, the time for when God fulfills His word. The early and latter rain refer to physical rain on the crops in Israel. The early rain is in autumn coming gently to moisten the soil for planting and germinate. The latter rain is towards harvest coming to give that supportive rain to produce productively.
V8 “You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” Two commands in the Law of Christ: 1) be patient and 2) establish your hearts. Reason? The Lord is coming soon, which teaches imminence of the Rapture. We are to always be ready. The Greek word for “patient” is (G3114) μακροθυμέω makrothuméō, which literally means long wrath, that is a long time before one becomes angry. The opposite is sudden wrath after a short time. Compare 1 Corinthians 13:4 (a characteristic of love), 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (an attitude and action towards all people), 2 Peter 3:9 (God’s long-suffering that all people may choose to place their faith in Jesus), and Hebrews 6:15 (of Abraham suffering a long time until the promised son is born). The Greek word for “establish” is (G4741) στηρίζω stērízō, which means to be fixed, standing firm, etc. Compare Luke 9:15 (of Jesus), Luke 22:32 (Jesus tells Peter that after he repented, then strengthen, that is, assist the other believers to be firm in their attitude towards God), and 2 Peter 1:12 (of the recipients of Peter’s letter who are strongly convicted of the truth and intend to continue in it with God’s help).
V9 “Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!” More laws. Don’t grumble (G4727) στενάζω stenázō, which means to squeeze something containing air which when under compression hisses. It is used of sighing in disapproval, disappointment, and impatience–Romans 8:23 (the groaning of Christians is patiently waiting for our resurrected body), James 5:9 (of a bad attitude towards other believers), and Mark 7:34 (of Jesus groaning from the sorrow of someone who died). Breaking God’s law has consequences. We do not lose our salvation but may lose some rewards. Jesus is our judge (John 5:22).
V10 “My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.” The second example of patience in suffering by all the prophets of the Old Testament. All who speak in the name of the Lord in whatever way, will experience some mockery, ridicule, and worse. The experiences under which the prophets suffered bearing that heavy load causes us to find comfort that we are not alone.
V11 “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” After suffering, sometime, somewhere there is a reward from God. Consider Joseph who experienced 17 years in slavery and prison, then promoted to the vizier of Egypt. There is also Job, the Lord Jesus, the Apostles, etc. They are are role models.
V12 “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.” The Greek word for “swear” is (G3660) ὀμνύω omnúō and ὄμνυμι ómnumi, which means an oath affirming that what we say is true. Our new heart and character should be enough so as an oath is not needed. What we say or do must be in truth. See Matthew 5:37.
We learn:
- To be patient and long-suffering
- Not to complain about minor things
- The importance of perseverance
- Our words should be true not needing an oath