James 4:13-17
Summary for Jas 4:13-16: 4:13-16 a Itinerant merchants depended on personal assertiveness as a solution to their poverty and low social status. James urges greater recognition of God’s providence and warns against arrogantly planning events which one cannot really control.4:15 b The Lord has authority over life and death (Deut 32:39 c; 1 Sam 2:6 d; Matt 10:28 e).
4:16 f Christians may boast about what God has done (1:9-10 g), but not about their own arrogant plans, which assume that God has no claim or authority over their lives.
4:17 h Remember: This verse is probably a maxim that James expected his readers to recognize. Its source is unknown, but it is consistent with the teaching of Scripture (cp. Deut 24:15 i; Prov 3:27-28 j; Matt 25:41-46 k; Luke 12:47 l).
James 5:1-11
Summary for Jas 5:1-6: 5:1-6 m This section denounces the rich people for their greed and arrogant oppression of the poor (Lev 19:13 n). James warns them to repent while they can; if they do not, they will face terrible troubles . . . on the day of judgment.5:2 o The wealth and fine clothes are so excessive that they deteriorate from lack of use; their destruction is a sign of the anticipated judgment.
5:3 p Material wealth, represented by gold and silver, is worthless in the face of God’s judgment. In fact, it will testify against them because it was unjustly gotten (5:4 q) and wickedly used (5:5-6 r).
5:4 s These rich people (5:1 t) were exploitive landowners. Like those in 2:6 u who oppressed and dragged Christians into court, they were exploiting the day laborers whose work was to harvest their fields.
• cries ... have reached the ears of the Lord: God hears the prayers of the oppressed (see Deut 24:14-15 v). Even while the laborers are still suffering, the Lord has heard (see Exod 3:7 w).
• the Lord of Heaven’s Armies (1 Sam 17:45 x; Ps 103:20-21 y; Rom 9:29 z): This title emphasizes God’s power to act when the oppressed cannot.
5:6 aa killed innocent people (or killed the Righteous One): In this context, the phrase most likely refers to innocent people such as the oppressed laborers in this paragraph rather than to Jesus (cp. Acts 3:14 ab; 7:52 ac).
Summary for Jas 5:7-8: 5:7-8 ad be patient: This is the ultimate resolution for the poor in their economic pressures and for the unjust treatment by the wicked rich (5:1-6 ae; see 2:6-7 af). Even though the poor have been marginalized and oppressed, they must not give up or strike out at their oppressors. At the Lord’s return, the faithful will receive their final reward (Isa 40:10 ag; Luke 6:20-35 ah; 1 Cor 15:23 ai; 1 Pet 1:17 aj; 5:4 ak; Rev 22:12 al).
5:9 am the Judge is standing at the door! The coming of Christ is imminent.
5:10 an This verse reflects on Matt 5:11 ao and Luke 6:23 ap (see study note on Jas 1:22-23).
5:11 aq Job was a man of great endurance because he remained faithful to God throughout his hardships (Job 1:20-21 ar; 2:9-10 as) despite his complaints (Job 3:1-26 at; 12:1-3 au; 16:1-3 av).
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