Do Not Swear (Jam. 5:12)

Wade Webster

As James draws his little letter to a close, he gives a succinct sermon on swearing. He wrote, “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” (Jam. 5:12). As we examine this passage, we will see the prohibition, the prescription, and the precaution.

The Prohibition: James instructed his brethren not to swear by heaven or by earth or by any other oath. The words “above all” put a priority on the prohibition (Eph. 6:16; Col. 3:14; 1 Pet. 4:8). The Greek tense suggests that this was an ongoing problem for James’ brethren. They were instructed to stop doing it. Likely, the prohibition in this passage reminds the Bible of similar statements in Scripture. One of the Ten Commandments warned against swearing by the name of God. We read, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain” (Exodus 20:7). The Hebrew word translated as “in vain” refers to a light or flippant use of God’s name. God’s name was to be used carefully and with great reverence. In the Sermon on the Mount , Jesus declared, “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). It seems clear that Jesus and James were addressing the same problem. Individuals were swearing by a host of things - heaven, earth, the temple, the altar, Jerusalem, etc. They were careful not to invoke the name of God. They believed that only oaths that used the name of God were binding. Both James and Jesus were condemning this deceitful practice.

The Prescription: James’ prescription for the deceitful oaths was for the brethren to let their “Yes” be “Yes,” and their “No,” “No.”. Notice the little word “but.” It is a word of contrast. James’ brethren were supposed to be different. They were to be men and women of their word. They were not to lie one to another. To the Christians at Colosse, Paul wrote, “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col. 3:9-10). They were to provide for things honest in the sight of all men (Rom. 12:17).

The Precaution: James ended his words about swearing with a precaution. He warned the brethren about falling into judgment. God would not hold guiltless those who misused His name (Exod. 20:7). He would judge all liars (Rev. 21:8). These brethren might fool some with their deceitful oaths, but they would not fool God. Everything is naked and open to His eyes (Heb. 4:13). He would bring everything into judgment, even the secret things (Rom. 2:5-6, 16). Jesus declared, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Mat. 12:36-37).

Having discussed the tongue in detail in the third chapter, James addressed it one final time before the book closes. Hopefully, his brethren were listening.

Three Examples of Patience (Jam. 5:7-11)

Wade Webster

Most of us need patience (Heb. 10:36; cf. 6:12; Lk. 21:19). James’ brethren needed it also. He addressed it in the opening verses of the book and brought it up again in the closing verses (Jam. 1:2-4). He began the book talking about patience with things and ended the book talking about patience with people. We read, “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. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 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” (Jam. 5:7-11). Clearly, James believed that his brethren needed patience to finish the race or to make it to the Lord’s coming. To encourage them, James gave three examples. One example was taken from everyday life (farming) and the other two examples were taken from Old Testament history (the prophets and Job).

The Sower

The first example of patience that James gave was that of the farmer or the sower. The farmer sows his seed and waits patiently for the precious fruit. He waits for the early rain to help the seed to come up and for the latter rain to help the fruit to develop. The farmer trusts God to give him what he needs for a harvest. In like manner, James wanted his brethren to wait patiently for the coming of the Lord. Just as the Lord promised to give seed time and harvest, He had promised to come again (Gen. 8:22; John 14:1-3). James’ brethren just needed to trust God and to wait patiently. Their hearts needed to be established or rooted and grounded until the coming of the Lord.

The Seers

The second example of patience that James gave was that of the prophets or seers who spoke in the name of the Lord. The prophets paid dearly for delivering God’s word. Their suffering is well documented in Scripture. The prophets took their persecution patiently knowing that the Lord would keep His promises. In like manner, James wanted his brethren to take the persecution that they were facing patiently. James may have been referencing the Sermon on the Mount. In the sermon, Jesus declared, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12).

The Sufferer

The final example of patience that James gave was that of Job. Job was well known for his patience. Although Job didn’t know why he was suffering, he took it patiently (Job 1:20-22; cf. 13:15; 19:25-26). He eventually saw the end of the Lord and enjoyed God’s compassion and mercy. In like manner, James wanted his brethren to patiently wait till the end. They too would enjoy the goodness of the Lord if they didn’t give up . Paul wrote, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:7-9).

James’ brethren needed patience to hold on until the coming of the Lord. The three examples that James gave showed them that it could be done (Rom. 15:4).

Rebuking the Rich (Jam. 5:1-6)

Wade Webster

James had a lot to say about the rich (1:10-11; 2:5-6). His strongest words were saved for the final chapter. He wrote, “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you” (James 5:1-6). As we examine these words, we will see their future, their fortune, their fraud, and their feasting.

Their Future

“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!” (Jam. 5:1). The rich were to weep and to howl for the miseries that were coming upon them. Some think that this is a reference to the suffering that was coming upon the Jews in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies in A.D. 70. However, this destruction came upon the poor and the rich. It seems more likely that these words have reference to the final judgment. On that day, those found wanting by the court of heaven will be sentenced to hell where there will weeping and gnashing of teeth (Mat. 25:41). This sure sounds like misery.

Their Fortune

“Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days” (Jam. 5:2-3). The fortune of the rich consisted of garments, gold, and silver. Their riches were corrupted or rotted. Their garments were moth-eaten. Their gold and silver were corroded. Since gold and silver don’t literally corrode, the reference must be figurative. Because they laid up their fortune on earth, rather than in heaven, they lost it. This is likely a reference to what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount. We read, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mat. 6:19-21). Instead of storing up treasure in heaven, they were storing up wrath (Rev. 2:5).

Their Fraud

“Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth” (Jam. 5:4). It seems that the rich had accumulated their fortune through fraud. They had hired workers to harvest their wheat and had kept back their wages (Col. 4:1). This was a strongly denounced sin in the Old Testament (Jer. 22:13; Lev. 19:13). Although the rich had likely manipulated the local courts, they couldn’t manipulate the court of heaven (Jam. 5:6). The Lord of hosts had heard the cries or yells of the withheld wages and the wronged workers. He would act on their behalf.

Their Feasting

“You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter” (Jam. 5:5). The rich had lived in luxury and passed their time in pleasure. They had feasted. They had fared sumptuously (Lk. 16:19). They had enjoyed the good things of life (Lk. 16:25). Like the rich farmer, they had set their hearts on eating, drinking, and merriment (Lk. 12:16-21; 21:34-35; Amos 6:1-6). They had lived selfishly. They had turned a deaf ear to the cries of the workers and the poor. In their feasting, they had simply fattened themselves up for judgment.

James’ brethren were showing preference to the rich (Jam. 2:1-4), even though they were blaspheming the name that they wore (Jam. 2:6-7). Perhaps, they were hoping for preferential treatment from the rich. Maybe, they even had dreams of their own of being rich (Jam. 4:13). Either way, James wanted to set them straight. The rich that James had just described were not to be envied.

A Brief Introduction to the church of Christ

Allen Webster

The church of Christ dates back to the days of the New Testament (Romans 16:16). It was founded by Christ on the Day of Pentecost, a.d. 33 (Acts 2), not long after His ascension back to heaven. In the years that followed, it rapidly grew to fill Jerusalem, then Judea, Samaria, and finally the whole Roman Empire (Acts 1:8; Colossians 1:23). In America, the first churches of Christ were planted in the late 1700s as the result a movement begun to go back to the Bible and do Bible things in Bible ways and call Bible things by Bible names (cf. 1 Peter 4:11).

We believe that Jesus is the Son of God (John 20:30–31), that the Bible is inspired of God (2 Timothy 3:16–17), and that Christ will return to take His kingdom home to God (1 Corinthians 15:24). We emphasize sincere worship (John 4:24), every-member evangelism (Acts 8:4), godly living (Titus 2:11–12), love for each other (John 13:34–35), and helping those in need (James 1:27). We believe the Bible teaches that sinners are saved by learning of Jesus, faith in Jesus, repentance of sin because of Jesus, confession of Jesus, and baptism into Jesus (John 6:44–45; 3:16; Mark 16:15–16; Romans 10:9–10; Acts 2:38). The church of Christ is organized with elders, deacons, preachers, and members, as in New Testament times (Philippians 1:1). It has no governing body on earth higher than the local congregation.

The church of Christ is noted for its emphasis upon returning to New Testament Christianity and for its desire to unite all Christians into one body (1 Corinthians 1:10). We believe that the New Testament is the only rule for faith and practice in religious matters (2 Timothy 3:17; 2 Peter 1:3), and that God’s Word must authorize all that is done in Christian worship (Colossians 3:17; Revelation 22:18–19). Thus we try to strictly follow the New Testament. We believe that it is possible to have religious unity in a day of division by simply following the New Testament pattern and putting aside human traditions.

To put it simply, the church of Christ is seeking to be the same church one reads about in the New Testament. We aim to restore its doctrine, its practice, its lifestyle, and its zeal.

Arrows in the Hands of a Mighty Man

Wade Webster

In the long ago, Solomon wrote, "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord:  and the fruit of the womb is his reward.  As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.  Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them:  they shall not be ashamed, but they will speak with the enemies in the gate" (Psa. 127:3-5).   Let's take Solomon's metaphor and apply it to parenting.  There are at least five similarities between being a great archer and a great parent.

Knowledge: The better you understand the workings of the bow and the arrow, the better you will be at hitting the target.  For example, the arrow has to be put on the string in a certain way.  In like manner, in parenting, knowledge is essential to hitting the target.  Although the knowledge of many things is important in parenting, no knowledge is as important as knowing God's word (2 Tim. 2:15; John 5:39). A few years ago, a devastating hurricane hit the coast of Florida.  The hurricane left in its wake broken hearts and battered homes.  A reporter who was covering the damage noticed that in one of the communities hardest hit, one house had survived the storm with very little damage.  In interviewing the resident of the house, the reporter asked how the man explained the fact that others had lost their homes but his had weathered the storm.  He explained that he built his house according to the hurricane code of Florida.  His house was still standing because it was built according to the code.  In like manner, parents must build their homes according to the code found in God's word (Mt. 7:24-27). 

Time: A few years ago, I taught archery at a Christian camp. It was obvious which of the campers had spent time at home practicing and which ones had not.  For one thing, those who had practiced didn't point their arrows at you while asking how you fire them.  For another thing, they usually hit the target.  In like manner, time is essential in parenting.  Sadly, many parents today aren't spending the time that they need to with their children.  You might say that they are trying to hit the target without practicing.    Fathers and mothers must redeem or buy up the time that they have been given (Eph. 5:16; Col. 4:5; Deut. 6:7).  Like John the Baptist, we must turn the hearts of fathers back to their children (Lk. 1:17; cf. Mal. 4:6).  If we do not turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, then "one day the United States will be known as the country of the founding fathers...with no fathers to be found" (Farrar 23).

Strength: Although pulling back a bow looks easy, it isn't.  Many bows require great strength to use.  Although compound bows are a relatively new invention, some of the bows of the past had an equal or greater pull weight.  It took "mighty men" to use them well (Psa. 127:4).  In like manner, it takes mighty men and mighty women today to guide children in the right direction.  As James Dobson often says, "Parenting isn't for cowards." Nor, for that matter, is it for weaklings.  We need strong fathers and mothers (Heb. 11:23; Josh. 24:15; Eph. 6:10). 

Vision: To be a good archer, you must have good vision.  You must learn to look down the arrow and see the target. In like manner, in order to be a great parent, fathers and mothers must have vision.  If they don't have the target in sight, then they are not very likely to hit the target.  Parents must have their eyes on heaven if they are going to get their children there (Mt. 6:33; Col. 3:2; Phil. 3:14).  If they do not have their eyes on heaven, then they will miss the mark.  Interestingly, the Greek word (harmatia) which is translated as sin means "to miss the mark." We need parents who have the vision of King Henry V's soldiers in the Battle of Agincourt.  The battle was fought on October 25, 1415 between the French and the English.  In spite of being greatly outnumbered by the French, and decimated by disease, the English soldiers won one of the greatest battles in military history.  In the Battle of Agincourt 10,000 Frenchmen lost their lives in comparison to only 113 Englishmen.  Why were the English so successful? The answer is found in their archers.  The French were used to fighting a hand to hand battle.  However, the English archers never let them get close enough to do so.  In fact, historians record that the archers had such great aim that if a knight lifted his visor on the field of battle at a distance of 350 yards or less, he never lived to put it down again.  The English archers had great vision.  I believe that you will agree that we need fathers and mothers who have as great of vision in guiding their children to heaven as these English archers did in guiding their arrows to French knights.  The problem is that many parents today are near-sighted.  They get so caught up in the here and now that they forget about the here and the hereafter.    Consider the great painter Michelangelo and the vision that he had for the Sistine Chapel as an example of the vision that parents must have for their children.   

Patience: A person cannot realistically expect to pick up a bow and begin to immediately hitting the target time after time.  No where is this patience seen more than in hunting.  The archer must wait patiently as the animal moves into range.    In like manner, parents must have patience.  It is in patience that they possess their own souls, as well as, the souls of their children (Lk. 21:19).  Children do not become mature adults overnight.  Daily shaping and molding of character must take place.   Although parents may not be able to see the results of their labor immediately, they will be seen after many years.  A very valuable strain of Malaysian bamboo illustrates the importance of patience.  Consider what it takes to produce this precious bamboo. In the first year, the seed is planted, watered, and fertilized.  However, nothing much happens. In the second year, the plant is carefully watered and fertilized.  Yet, nothing much happens.  In the third year, watering and fertilizing become even more important.  However, nothing much happens. In the fourth year, water and fertilizer are again applied in the right amounts and at the right time.  Guess what happens?  You guessed it, nothing. In the fifth year, the unseen plant is again watered and fertilized.  What happens?  Amazingly, the bamboo grows ninety feet in thirty days (Farrar 17-18).

Where will your arrows land? Will they hit the target or will they fall short of it?  The answers to these questions depend largely on you.  Do you possess the knowledge, time, vision, strength and patience need to be a great archer?