Jam 5:7-12 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Jas 5:7-8: 5:7-8 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 ; see 2:6-7 ). 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 ; Luke 6:20-35 ; 1 Cor 15:23 ; 1 Pet 1:17 ; 5:4 ; Rev 22:12 ).

Summary for Jas 5:7-8: 5:7-8 ^a 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 ^b; see 2:6-7 ^c). 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 ^d; Luke 6:20-35 ^e; 1 Cor 15:23 ^f; 1 Pet 1:17 ^g; 5:4 ^h; Rev 22:12 ⁱ).
5:9 ^j the Judge is standing at the door! The coming of Christ is imminent.
5:10 ^k This verse reflects on Matt 5:11 ^l and Luke 6:23 ^m (see study note on Jas 1:22-23).
5:11 ⁿ Job was a man of great endurance because he remained faithful to God throughout his hardships (Job 1:20-21 ^o; 2:9-10 ^p) despite his complaints (Job 3:1-26 ^q; 12:1-3 ^r; 16:1-3 ^s).
5:12 ^t never take an oath: Because the churches were having such severe verbal conflicts (4:1-3 ^u, 11-12 ^v), James calls upon them to avoid the pitfalls of deceitful oaths by not using any oaths at all (Matt 5:33-37 ^w). To swear an oath in the name of the Lord was to call upon him to enforce the oath (Gen 31:53 ^x; 1 Kgs 8:31-32 ^y). When people swore by heaven or earth they were either feigning reverence while avoiding the use of the divine name, or they were being deceitful with clever verbiage (see Matt 23:16-22 ^z). Peter used an oath deceitfully (Matt 26:71-73 ^aa), but Paul used an oath to confirm his assertions (Rom 1:9 ^ab; 2 Cor 1:23 ^ac), which suggests that the prohibition of oaths is not absolute.