James Expounds on Faith Volume 53

 Patience in Suffering Part 2

James 5:9-10 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

Next, the Apostle James warns us of groaning or griping or grieving against our own brothers and sisters who are truly 'in Christ' as we are because it is our Lord Jesus who truly knows the inner man 👨 and inner woman 👩 of everyone of us and He will render judgement rightously without hypocrisy or favoritism, but righteously. Here is what James said to them back then and says to us today and all true believers of every era and generation of all time ⌚, "Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door." (James 5:9) (KJV). The English word 'Grudge' that begins this verse is translated by the Greek word stenazō meaning to make in straits, that is, (by implication) to sigh, murmur, with grief, groan, grudge, sigh. Here is what the JFB Commentary had to say of 'Grudge not' and it sums up what our actual attitude toward one another should be or ought to be truly, "The Greek is literally, 'groan': a half-suppressed murmur of impatience and harsh judgment, not uttered aloud or freely. Having exhorted them to patience in bearing wrongs from the wicked, he now exhorts them to a forbearing spirit as to the offenses given by brethren. Christians, who bear the former patiently, sometimes are impatient at the latter, though much less grievous." Moses documented for us with these words the desire of our Lord God for His people with one another, "You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:17-18)(NKJV). The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the Corinthian believers (as well as to each one of we believers today and of every era and generation), "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God." (1 Corinthians 4:5) (NKJV). In other words, our Lord Jesus Christ knows what the true motivation of every thing done by any believer is and if it was not done out of real love and caring and for His Glory, then He alone knows and will reveal the truth openly for all to see. Example, some brother or sister may be apparently helping an older or elderly brother or sister with many things and it appears that he or she is doing it out of pure love and caring for that elderly person, yet their true motivation was to push or prod or persuade that elderly brother or sister to give them something as a reward for their helping actions. Our Lord Jesus Christ sees not only all of our actions, but also our intent that leads to our actions whether the actions are outwardly considered good or bad. Remember when our Lord Jesus said this, "For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light." (Mark 4:22) (NKJV). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of our Lord Jesus Christ standing at the door 🚪, "His eye is upon every thing that is wrong in you, and every wrong that is done to you; and He is now entering into judgment with your oppressors."

The Apostle James reminds us of the bitter persecution endured by some of the Prophets of old like Jerimiah (who was thrown down into the bottom of a well and left there to die by his own Jewish brethren) or Isiah (who was mocked and ridiculed and hated by his own Jewish people and eventually tied between two (2) 🎄 🎄 trees and sawed in half), here is what James says to them and to us, "Take, my brethren, the Prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience." (James 5:10) (KJV). The little English phrase 'for an example' is translated by the Greek word hupodeigma meaning an exhibit for imitation or (figuratively specimen, foreshadowing): pattern. The little English phrase 'of suffering affliction' is translated by the Greek word kakopatheia (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) meaning hardship; a state of misfortune or affliction; something that causes or entails suffering. The little English phrase 'of patience' is translated by the Greek word makrothumia meaning (as used here) forbearance; delay in enforcing rights, claims or privileges; refraining from acting. The Old Testament Prophets were given the Words of God to speak to the people and they had the Spirit of God upon them which emboldened, energized, and empowered them to speak only what God declared to them without faint or freezing or fear and this cost many of them their physical lives, however, we know that they are all with Elohim/Adonai right now in heaven and so will each one of us who are filled with the Holy Spirit of God living in us and empowering us (when we do not grieve Him) to desire, determine, and direct our lives to speaking the truth of the Word of God without stutter, stammer, or stopping, for as it is written, "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12) (NKJV). Let us not only live for our Lord Jesus Christ, but be willing to die for His Glory, as the Apostle Paul wrote with these words, "For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:19-21) (NKJV). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of James 5:10, "The Prophets who had spoken to their forefathers by the Authority of God, were persecuted by the very people to whom they delivered the Divine message; but they suffered affliction and persecution with patience, commending their cause to Him who judgeth righteously; therefore, imitate their example." Here is what Albert Barnes had to say of James 5:10, "That is, in your trials and persecutions. To encourage them to the exercise of patience, he points them to the example of those who had trod the same thorny path before them. The Prophets were in general a much persecuted race of men; and the argument on which the Apostle relies from their example is this: (1) That if the Prophets were persecuted and tried, it may be expected that other good men will be; (2) That they showed such patience in their trials as to be a model for us. That is, they showed us how evils are to be borne."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…