JAMES 5:17-20

Concluding Exhortations: The Need for Righteous People to Pray

Observation:

Elijah prayed that it would not rain, and later prayed for rain to fall; both times, his prayers were answered. Those who bring wanderers back to the truth, save them from death.

Previous Observation:

Those suffering should pray; those cheerful should praise; those sick should ask elders to pray for them; the prayer of faith will heal, because it is powerful.

Translation:

5:17

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. (NASU)

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain for three years and six months. (DIV)

nature like 3663 homoiopathes - from homoios - similar, and pathos - passion. Similar nature. To experience similar feelings or circumstances. (Occurs only in Acts 14:15; Jas. 5:17).

prayed 4336 proseuchomai - from pro - to, and euchomai - pray. To pray, offer prayer.

earnestly 4335 proseuche - Earnest or fervent prayer to God.

Interpretation:

As a final example of faith, James cites the prophet Elijah as proof that the prayer of a righteous person is “powerful and effective” (see v. 16). Although he was a prophet of God, “Elijah was a man just like us.” (NIV) In this verse James recounts a commendable exploit in the life of Elijah (see 1 Kgs. 17-18), which serves as an example to every Christian. This particular event has an eschatological dimension, that is, God’s power over nature and nations is the same dominion that ordains Elijah to be His instrument of punishment and fulfillment. A long drought served as a sign to the evil King Ahab of Israel - the idol, Baal, did not have power over nature, but God did have such power. When the prophet prayed, it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. This OT reference shows that powerful prayer has powerful effects (see 5:16).

Questions:

Whom do you regard as a great person of prayer? How can you become such a person?

5:18

Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth produced her fruit.

prayed 4336 proseuchomai (see v. 17)

heaven 3772 ouranos - As firmament or sky over the earth.

produced 985 blastano - To cause to spring up, produce, yield.

fruit 2590 karpos - Fruit. The product or outcome of something.

Elijah’s second prayer reversed the famine-producing effects of the first (see 1 Kgs. 18:41-45). “Heaven,” as used here, is a reference for God (see also 1 Sam. 12:17; 1 Kgs. 18:1; Acts 14:7). The divine realm is personified by the attribution of divine action, in this case of giving. In another indirect construction, the earth is said to accomplish divine action by producing crops. It is not that the heavens or earth are divine, but that they are part of the dynamic order of God’s creation, which He faithfully maintains (see 1:7; 5:7), and within which the Creator acts to accomplish His special purposes for His people. The example of Elijah illustrates James’ plea for a faith that rejects worldly standards of judgment in favor of divine standards. Human beings are not the masters of their own destiny and faith cannot be mixed with delusions of autonomy, as attempted by the double-minded (see 1:8; 4:8). Believers should cultivate their trust in God’s word and do what it says. In spite of personal or corporate struggle and strong opposition, readers should persevere in faith (see 1:4; 5:11). James views Elijah as exemplifying a righteous believer whose prayer is heard by God. By applying Scripture, as the author does here, believers who pray fervently can know and do God’s will.

Questions:

Have you ever prayed to “undo” a previous prayer? If so, explain. Have you ever asked God to alter nature in some way? If so, explain.

5:19

My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back,

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back,

wanders 4105 planao - Go astray, be misled, wander aimlessly.

truth 225 aletheia - Truth, reality.

turns back 1994 epistrepho - from epi - to, and strepho - to turn. Turn, turn around, turn back.

James gives a hypothetical situation that applies to all of his readers, whether believers who have strayed from the right path or those who attempt to get wayward believers back on the right path. It is worth noting that the author has already stated, “We all stumble in many ways” (3:2, NIV). The truth from which believers wander is God’s word that gave them salvation (see 1:18). This is the “truth” Christians deny when they harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in their hearts (see 3:14) while claiming to remain faithful. Departing from the truth of God usually involves a departure from the church of God, too. Just as sinners should confess sin within the community of faith, they should also seek to restore a brother or sister who has strayed away from the truth. Sinners are victims of temptation and their own evil desires, which result in death (see 1:14-15); therefore, Christians should not judge (see 4:11-12), but should instead show mercy (see 2:13).

Questions:

What tempts you to wander away from the truth? What can you do to keep from wandering from the truth? How can you help those who have wandered from the truth?

5:20

let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

know 1097 ginosko - To understand, comprehend, recognize.

turns 1994 epistrepho (see v. 19)

sinner 268 hamartolos - A sinner. Pertains to behavior or activity that does not measure up to standard moral expectations.

error 4106 plane - Error, deceit, wandering from the right way.

way 3598 hodos - A way; by implication, a progress.

save 4982 sozo - To save, deliver, make whole, rescue.

soul 5590 psuche - Soul or heart. Seat and center of human life in its many and varied aspects.

death 2288 thanatos - The termination of physical life, death.

cover 2572 kalupto - To cover over, to veil.

multitude 4128 plethos - Large number, multitude.

sins 266 hamartia - Sin. To miss the mark; an offense or transgression against God.

As James reminded his readers about the purpose of trials at the beginning of his letter (see 1:3), so here at the conclusion he reminds them of the significance of reconciliation. The minister of reconciliation exerts an active influence by turning sinners from the wrong path to the right one. Much is at stake in the sinner’s need for restoration, because the one who restores sinners turns them away from death. One view is of bodily death, while another view is of spiritual death. If James has the latter in mind, then he is speaking hypothetically, since he is addressing “brothers” (see v. 19) who cannot perish eternally (see John 10:28). The frame of reference is the wayward among the wandering, that is, those from the “dispersion” (see 1:1) who strayed from the truth of God and His word. Living for a time on the way of error has the shameful legacy of “a multitude of sins.” The future tense used in this verse reminds readers of the eschatological dimension of James. Those who convert sinners not only turns them away from death, but also conceals their sins from the day of judgment (see 4:12; 5:3, 5). Converting anyone from sin to the Savior does not supply some kind of compensatory merit for the one who is instrumental in the conversion, nor is a changed life the basis for one used by God to withstand the judgment of God. Instead, restoration is due to God’s mercy, which triumphs over judgment (see 2:13). God is predisposed to show mercy to all who humble themselves before Him, and He will use any willing believer in the process of accomplishng His work of reconciliation.

Questions:

Have you ever helped someone turn from the error of their ways? If so, explain. Has anyone ever helped you turn from the error of your ways? If so, explain. How can you be better prepared to help others turn form the error of their ways?

Application:

To be used by God to turn back those who wander from the truth of God.