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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
5:1-6 Warning to the Rich. James turns his attention from businesspeople (4:13-17) to wealthy landowners (5:4) who controlled much of Galilee, and indeed much of the Roman Empire. He denounces them for their materialistic accumulation of wealth, for defrauding their workers, and for their self-indulgent actions that have led to the deaths of innocent, righteous people.
5:1 weep and howl. Prophetic language for those under indictment by God when the day of the Lord arrives (e.g., Isa. 13:6; 15:3; Hos. 7:14; Amos 8:3). miseries that are coming. Referring to final judgment, rather than the miseries of this life.
5:2-3 Riches, garments, and gold sum up the sumptuous, materialistic lifestyle of these landowners. These things will not only be lost forever but will be evidence at their final trial before God and will feed the very flames of the lake of fire, where they will spend eternity (Rev. 20:11-15).
5:4 the cries of the harvesters. These landowners have cheated their field workers and harvesters to support their own lavish lifestyle, and now the cries of the defrauded have reached the ears of the final Judge, who will soon act in response. The Lord of hosts, or "Lord of heaven's armies," pictures God as a warrior going into battle against his enemies (1 Sam. 17:45; Rev. 17:14; 19:14).
5:5 fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. Like the cattle in their fields, the rich gorge themselves on luxuries and fail to realize that they are headed for the final slaughter (see Isa. 30:25; Jer. 12:3; Rev. 19:17-21).
5:6 Righteous (Gk. dikaios) person may have a double meaning: both "one of God's forgiven people" and "a person who is innocent" of the death sentence that the wealthy have handed him. He does not resist. The righteous person does not avenge himself (Matt. 5:38-42).
