James Expounds on Faith Volume 55

 Patience in Suffering Part 4

James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

In his last discourse to the scattered Jewish brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus on the issue of patience in suffering, the Apostle James places these words in this last verse above all the ones that came previously before it, as it is written here, "But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation." (James 5:12) (KJV). The Jews during their many years living by the 'Law of Moses' would often make solemn promises to YAHWEH and they would also often time do so in front of a great number of other Jews whether in the public square or in private homes. The Apostle James declares to them and to we true believers today and of every era and generation to refrain from doing so, for our Heavenly Father sees us and knows of every plot, purpose, and plan designed by the devil 😈 through his two-legged 👿 devils to kill us because of their hatred against us because we belong to Him. Let us remember what the devil 👿 tried to do to the Apostle Paul only days after his redemption, regeneration, and resurrection from spiritual death by our Lord Jesus Christ, as it is written, "Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket." (Acts 9:23-25) (NKJV). This would be the reoccurring theme in the sojourn of Saul later to be known as the Apostle Paul for the next four (4) plus decades of his earthly life that the devil 👿 (through the Jews, his own countrymen) would try to kill him. The devil 👿 would not succeed in killing Paul until our Lord Jesus Christ was finish with the work on the earth 🌎 He was doing through Paul. Therefore, we see how the Apostle James wants us to trust our Lord Jesus, for He is in full control of what persecutions are allowed to get to us. He also alone has the final say as to when our earthly life ends and our joy unspeakable and full of glory with Him transitions from time into eternity. In James 5:12, the Apostle uses the English word 'above' to declare the importance of what he writes afterwards and this word is translated by the little Greek word pro (as used here) is a primary preposition; 'fore', that is, in front of, prior (figuratively superior) to. The little English word 'swear' is translated by the Greek word omnuō meaning to swear, that is, take (or declare on) oath. The little English word 'oath' is translated by the Greek word horkos meaning a limit, that is, (sacred) restraint (specifically oath). Our English dictionary defines oath with these words; a solemn promise, usually invoking a divine witness, regarding your future acts or behavior. The Apostle James is warning ⚠ of being so blunt, boisterous, and bold in making oaths unto our Heavenly Father, for in the Old Testament Moses records these words concerning declaring an oath to the Lord God, it is written, "When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you. But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be sin to you. That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God what you have promised with your mouth." (Deuteronomy 23:21-23) (NKJV) and also these words, "If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth." (Numbers 30:2) (NKJV). The Apostle James knowing that when we are under direst we are likely to not be thinking clearly or assessing our circumstances properly which will cause us to make a vow or oath to our Heavenly Father that we cannot keep which in turn will be sinning against Him. This is why he goes on reiterating the very Words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as He spoke these words concerning swearing an oath, "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.' But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." (Matthew 5:33-37) (NKJV). This is what the JFB Commentary says concerning declaring oaths, "Do not use oaths in your everyday conversation, but let a simple affirmative or denial be deemed enough to establish your word."

Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of James 5:12, "What relation this exhortation can have to the subject in question, I confess I cannot see. It may not have been designed to stand in any connection, but to be a separate piece of advice, as in the several cases which immediately follow. That the Jews were notoriously guilty of common swearing is allowed on all hands; and that swearing by heaven, earth, Jerusalem, the temple, the altar, different parts of the body, was not considered by them as binding oaths, has been sufficiently proved. Rabbi Akiba taught that 'a man might swear with his lips, and annul it in his heart; and then the oath was not binding.' Do not pretend to say yea with your lips, and annul it in your heart; let the yea or the nay which you express be bona fide such. Do not imagine that any mental reservation can cancel any such expressions of obligation in the sight of God. Lest ye fall under judgment. Lest ye fall into hypocrisy. Now, as it is a fact, that the Jews did teach that there might be mental reservation, that would annul the oath, how solemnly soever it was taken; the object of St. James, if the last reading be genuine, and it is supported by a great number of excellent MSS., some versions, and some of the most eminent of the fathers, was to guard against that hypocritical method of taking an oath, which is subversive of all moral feeling, and must make conscience itself callous." Here also is what John Wesley had to say of James 5:12, "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 particularly forbids these oaths, as well as all swearing in common conversation. It is very observable, how solemnly the Apostle introduces this command: above all things, swear not - As if he had said, Whatever you forget, do not forget this. This abundantly demonstrates the horrible iniquity of the crime. But he does not forbid the taking a solemn oath before a magistrate. Let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay - Use no higher asseverations in common discourse; and let your word stand firm. Whatever ye say, take care to make it good."

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…

James Expounds on Faith Volume 54

 Patience in Suffering Part 3

James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

The Apostle James wanted to further encourage them in their persecutions, so he next reminded them of Brother Job, "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." (James 5:11) (KJV). Job was a man 👨 who endured some of the worst attacks from Satan, but this is what was written of him, "There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil." (Job 1:1) (NKJV). This was not a man who was running from God in his daily life and actions, but daily ran toward God in holy fear and reverence of Him, yet our Father in Heaven allowed Satan to attack him vehemently, viciously, and violently, but this did not mean that God did not love Job, because in the end we know that God the Father restored back to Job double of what the enemy (the devil 😈) took from him. The Apostle James wanted these early Jewish believers in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and wants we believers today and of every era and generation to live by these words written in Proverbs, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6) (NKJV). Those last four words of verse 6 in Proverbs 3 figuratively means that as a bull dozer or frontend loader is used in the literal way to clear a straight path so that a roadway can be laid out to make the travel on that path smoother or less bumpy, so will our Heavenly Father do so for us in our spiritual lives as we face unseen enemies (Satan and his demons) trying to hurt and kill us on a daily basis through human two-legged devils still under his control. Our responsibility is to trust our Triune (God) the Father, the Son, and the Spirit at the beginning of every single day He gives us as sojourners and throughout the day, then repeat 🔂 this over and over for all the remaining days we have upon the earth 🌎. The little English phrase in James 5:11 'very pitiful' is translated by the rather long Greek word polusplagchnos (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) and it simply means extremely compassionate. In other words, the Psalmist says it best with these words, "As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust." (Psalms 103:13-14) (NKJV). Also let us always meditate on these mighty words from our Lord Jesus Christ, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28) (NKJV). Our obedience must always be to our Lord Jesus Christ and His Word, even if we are murdered for doing so, Amen!!!

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of James 5:11, "Observe further, Those who were the greatest examples of suffering affliction were also the best and greatest examples of patience: tribulation worketh patience. Hereupon James gives it to us as the common sense of the faithful (James 5:11): We count those happy who endure: we look upon righteous and patient sufferers as the happiest people. Job also is proposed as an example for the encouragement of the afflicted. You have hard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, etc., v. 11. In the case of Job you have an instance of a variety of miseries, and of such as were very grievous, but under all he could bless God, and, as to the general bent of his spirit, he was patient and humble: and what came to him in the end? Why, truly, God accomplished and brought about those things for him which plainly prove that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. The best way to bear afflictions is to look to the end of them; and the pity of God is such that He will not delay the bringing of them to an end when His purposes are once answered; and the tender mercy of God is such that He will make His people an abundant amends for all their sufferings and afflictions. His bowels are moved for them while suffering, His bounty is manifested afterwards. Let us serve our God, and endure our trials, as those who believe the end will crown all." Here also is what Dr. John Gill had to say of James 5:11, "Affliction, with courage, constancy, and patience, and hold out to the end; for such shall be saved; theirs is the kingdom of heaven; they are happy now, and will be so hereafter: the Spirit of God, and of glory, now rests upon them; and it is an honour done them that they are counted worthy to suffer for Christ; and they will be glorified with Him to all eternity; the consideration of which may serve to encourage and increase patience. Ye have heard of the patience of Job; from the account which is given of him, and his patience, in the book that bears his name; how he behaved under every trial, which came one upon the back of another; as the plundering of his substance, the loss of his children, and of the health of his body; and yet in all this Job sinned not, nor murmured against God, nor charged Him foolishly, and was a mirror of patience; and though he afterwards let fall some expressions of impatience, yet he was humbled for them, and brought to repentance: this shows, that as the Apostle James, so the Jews, to whom he writes, believed that there had been really such a man as Job; and that the book which bears his name is an authentic piece of holy Scripture, and contains a narrative of matters of fact; or otherwise this reference to him would have been impertinent. How long Job endured the chastenings of the Lord cannot be said. The Jews say they continued on him twelve months, which they gather from Job 7:3. And have seen the end of the Lord; that is, the happy end, or exodus, out of all his troubles; which the Lord gave 'to him', as the Oriental versions add; for He gave him twice as much as he had before, and blessed his latter end more than his beginning, Job 42:10. Some understand this of the Lord Jesus Christ, both of His great patience in sufferings, in which He is an example to His people, and they would do well to look to, and consider Him; and of the end of His sufferings, his glorious resurrection from the dead, and session at the Right Hand of God, where He is crowned with glory and honour; but the former sense is best: that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy; as to Job, so to all His people; His paternal relation to them engages His pity towards them; nor does He willingly afflict them; and when He does, He sympathizes with them; He is afflicted with them, and in His pity redeems them; His heart moves towards them, and He earnestly remembers them, and works deliverance for them in His own time and way; and therefore it becomes them to be patient."

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…