James 5:7-11: Be Ye Also Patient
2025-05-03
James 5:7
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. (James 5:7)
Considering all the suffering James’ audience experienced, the Lord’s brother tells them to persevere in patience. He tells them to continue “unto the coming of the Lord.” In other words, be patient until the end of your earthly life.
The Spirit comforts us, saying, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). When the Lord returns for us, the suffering of this life ends. In eternity, we read, “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Revelation 7:17). And again, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful” (Revelation 21:4-5).
The phrase “coming of the Lord” refers to Jesus’ coming back for us, namely, the rapture. The phrase is used here and in the next verse, but it is also used here: “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep” (1 Thessalonians 4:15). This is clearly a rapture passage. We must persevere until the very end of ends.
The reference to the husbandman having patience is an example for us. The farmer must persevere though months of planting and watering all the way until the harvest. When all the arduous work is done, he has his prize: food for himself and his family and to sell. The pain and agony were worth it in the end.
Consider also the Lord as a husbandman, who is also waiting for His full harvest. Recall the verse: “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (James 1:18). There we discussed the idea of firstfruits. The Lord is waiting not only for His firstfruits, but His entire harvest. This implies the Lord is waiting for all those who will believe on Him to be saved. He also is patient so that He will have entire harvest of souls in the Day of His return. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
Therefore, we are patient with Jesus, persevering so that the Gospel can continue to go out to the entire world. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14).
This is the patience of Jesus. I do not think that any Christian in history, especially in the first century A.D., ever thought that the Lord would still have not returned nearly 2,000 years after His ascension. Jesus has been leaving the ninety and nine and pursuing that one lost sheep, over and over again, for the last two millennia. He will continue until everyone has heard the Gospel.
James 5:8
Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (James 5:8)
As the husbandman and as the Lord, we are called to a life of perseverance through difficulties to realize that every lively stone is in place in the Lord’s temple. Part of this is to establish our hearts.
The word for “stablish” is also translated “stedfastly set,” “fixed,” and “strengthen.” Consider some usages:
“And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51). The Lord’s whole mission was to go to Calvary. The only way to redeem humankind back to Himself was the cross. Therefore, He “stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem” and did not let anything distract from this mission. We also steadfastly set our hearts on Him.
Abraham said to the rich man in hell, “And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence” (Luke 16:26). The word “fixed” is this same word. Nothing and nobody can cross the border between heaven and hell; it cannot be moved or breached. Likewise, we must fix our hearts on the Lord.
Jesus the Lord told Peter, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:32). Peter was to “strengthen” (our word) his brothers in the Lord. Part of establishing our hearts is helping others establish theirs and letting others help establish ours.
The apostle wanted to establish the brothers in Rome. “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me” (Romans 1:11-12).
This is a theme of the apostles and missionaries throughout the New Testament. “And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith” (1 Thessalonians 3:2). What is the concern of establishing hearts in Christ? In tribulation, there is a tendency to want to give up. In this case in Thessalonica, these brothers persevered in the face of persecution. Peter also said, “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth” (2 Peter 1:12).
While we are told to establish our own hearts and help establish others, the Lord Himself establishes us. “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began” (Romans 16:25). And again, “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17). And again, “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil” (2 Thessalonians 3:3). And again, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you” (1 Peter 5:10).
The Lord also commands us directly to strengthen our hearts: “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God” (Revelation 3:2).
Why strengthen our hearts? “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:9-10). First, our hearts are naturally deceiving. By nature, the unregenerated heart is wicked, but even as redeemed believers, we can be led astray by “a way which seemeth right unto a man” (Proverbs 14:12).
Moreover, we see that the Lord knows our hearts and tries our hearts and judges them accordingly. How does He judge hearts, but by the fruit that comes from them: “even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
“...for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” We discussed “the coming of the Lord” in the previous verse. James here tells us that His coming is “nigh.” Jesus’ return is always near. We discussed this previously when discussing Habakkuk 2:3 in the context of Hebrews 10:38. The conclusion was that when the events of the end times would start, they would execute quickly. We should continue to anticipate His return as we continue in His service.
What of these verses: “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2)? The word for “at hand” here is elsewhere translated “present.” The Lord’s return is near, but is not happening now. The 2 Thessalonians passage continues, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). While the return of the Lord is near, it cannot be now, because we will first observe something of the rising of the Antichrist and accompanying apostasy.
James 5:9
Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. (James 5:9)
The word grudge is translated elsewhere as “groan” or “sigh.” In these cases, we do not see any suggestion of ill will toward another. “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:22). However, it is also translated “with grief”: “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17). The elders of these Hebrews would rule “with grief” if the Hebrews were difficult to rule. We see that the word would be negative if you are “groaning” or “sighing” “with grief” again at someone. This was the warning for James’ audience.
We already had seen the case of the people having “wars and fightings” against one another. The warning for them was to cease. Previously, we saw the solution for them is to mourn over their sin and return to the Lord. Now, there is extra motive to leave off grudging: condemnation.
Previously, we saw how that the “coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” He is the Savior to deliver us from enemies. However, we see also that “the judge standeth before the door.” The Savior’s coming is nigh, and the Judge is at the door. The Lord will call to remembrance of the interactions of His people at the Judgment Seat of Christ. To the Laodiceans and all their spiritual offspring, He says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).
James 5:10
Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. (James 5:10)
We discussed some of these prophets before. This is summarized here: “But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy” (2 Chronicles 36:16). “Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time” (2 Chronicles 16:10). Prophets were those who spoke the word of the Lord to the people, and the people rarely responded positively. Even in this case of Asa here, who would have been considered a good king, rejected the word of the Lord.
Rejection was a regular part of the prophet’s life. Consider 2 Chronicles 25:14-16. This account is missing when you read the corresponding account in 2 Kings 14. There, you see his victory over Edom followed by His challenge to the king of Israel. This gives us a bit of context to his failure against Israel. Amaziah started off well, but when he became self-confident after his victory against Edom and the cruelty against the survivors, he decided he did not need the Lord. He adopted these new gods that could not save their own people. The prophet went to the king, who once served the Lord. However, his counsel was rejected, and the prophet backed off, knowing that rejection of God’s Word would result in his destruction.
We also reflect the Christ and His word to the world. We should learn from their perseverance. “Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land” (Isaiah 6:11-12). How long was Isaiah to preach? Until the kingdom had fallen, and by implication, until the end of all things. This is the perseverance required. Regardless of the results, you persevere in the Lord until the end of your life.
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. (James 5:11)
What does one say concerning the persevering prophet? “...we count them happy.” The single word is used elsewhere: “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed” (Luke 1:46-48). The phrase “shall call me blessed” is the same phrase. All generations have called Mary blessed. In fact, throughout much of Christian history, they have overdone it. She was chosen to bear the Messiah and bring Him into the world. How great a high blessing is that! The persevering prophet is held in the same honor. “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matthew 12:50).
What is the patience of Job? Imagine a man who had immense wealth, married, and 10 children. He was called a man who “was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil” and “the greatest of all the men of the east” (Job 1:1, 3).
His righteousness was so great that both God’s and Satan’s attentions were on him. God made a demonstration of his patience by allowing Satan to wreck him entirely. He lost his property, his health, and his children. His wife remained only to discourage him. His friends accused him of sin, with rounds of speeches that indicate increasing antagonism against him.
Job had no encouragement from anywhere. The assault on him was not merely demonic; Satan himself was orchestrating the attacks directly. The whole process was allowed by God Himself. Though he sought death as an end to his misery, he still declared, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” (Job 19:25).
When the LORD spoke to Job, He did so by showing him his limited understanding about Himself by a series of rhetorical questions. Job humbly responded. Consider Job 42:1-7. Job confessed his limited knowledge compared to the limitless power of God and His knowledge of every thought. When confronted with God, Job was reoriented to a proper view of God. We see a restoration of Job’s property, and while his own children were not raised, he did have 10 more children, living a long successful life thereafter. This is “the end of the Lord.” He restores and He heals. If not in this life, in the new heaven and new earth, it is for sure. Like the Lord, we have this mindset: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Any pain now is nothing compared to the joy that is set before us.
Job’s patience was in that he did not forsake God. He might have been angry with God and demanded things without full understanding. However, Job’s speech directed at God showed that he trusted that He was a righteous judge and that He would answer him someday and would see Him in the resurrection. The Lord assures those who trust in Him and repent that He will be “very pitiful, and of tender mercy” toward them (by pitiful meaning full of pity).