James 5:19-20: Hide a Multitude of Sins
2025-05-31
James 5:19
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; (James 5:19)
It is possible to “err from the truth.” The word “err” is also translated “gone astray,” “deceived,” “seduce,” and “them that are out of the way.” Once such usage is used in this letter at the beginning: “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren” (James 1:14-16). There, temptations and hardships, when the people would persevere through them, was a blessing. However, giving into temptation led them to a threefold stumbling: Lust is conceived, which leads to sin, which leads to death. The Lord’s brother then solemnly warns, “Do not err, my beloved brethren.”
But people can and will err. They will give into temptation. They may even do heinous things. Maybe these are unsaved people in the church. Maybe they are genuinely saved people. Maybe “they” are “us.” The result is the same: sin can and will lead to judgment, which includes death. There is a point of no return, isn’t there? “Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest” (Hebrews 3:10-11).
However, we read here that others can intervene before it gets to that point. One may “convert him.” Considering the context, we see that we in the church are commanded to share our faults and struggles with others, and we must listen as well. We are to pray like Elijah for each other. In doing so, people will be saved from continuing in their sins and lack of faith and the consequences that accompany this. The unsaved will be born again. Those that are out of the way will be brought back in the way. The church is the safeguard to keep each member of the body connected and functioning together.
James 5:20
Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. (James 5:20)
Whoever was faithful in bearing other’s burdens and walking alongside those who were entangled in sins and other baggage, James is there to commend them for their work of love. The word for “convert” here and in the previous verse is elsewhere translated “return,” “turn about,” “turn back,” and “come again.” They were right once, and now they must come back to where they were.
This diligent man of charity does two things: he saves a soul from death and he hides a multitude of sins. The magnitude of his efforts is huge! Since sin causes death, the saving one from the continuing in sin is saving a life. He converts “the sinner from the error of his way.” We are saved from the penalty of sin in eternity, but have we been saved from the sinful way? “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1-2). We need each other to learn to live by faith and forsake a deadly sinful way. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9). With the Word, we can empower each other to go the Lord and forsake the sinful way.
However, this helper of sinners also hides “a multitude of sins.” The phrase is used elsewhere: “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:7-8). Consider a possible Old Testament allusion: “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins” (Proverbs 10:12).
In the Petrine passage, we see that “charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” I believe such charity is illustrated by this man who directs sinners back to the Savior.
How can charity or love cover sins? Whether they be sins against us or sins that we may find at the moment extra abhorrent, you do not let it bother you. You help that person no matter what sins the person has. We know that we are sinners able to sin just like everybody else. It has been said that we should not have disdain for people who sin differently than we do. However, we should be careful here, because given the right situation, we can do any sin of any kind, for we all were taken from the same stock of Adam. This causes humility and empathy and patience.
The charitable one who helps the sinner also can hide sins in a few other ways. They hide them in that they turn people away from sins before they commit them. They also can hide sins by not repeating what other people tell them in confidence. They may confess sins to us, but that does not give us liberty to repeat them.
You never know that the things you say to someone may save their lives or lift them up from a very deep place.