James 5:19-20
Dear folks,
This Sunday we will finish our study of James by covering the the last two verses, 19-20. My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
At first these verses seem disconnected from the previous passage, but more careful reflection on how this fits in will give insight into its meaning. Think it over and see if you can figure out what James is getting at as he ends his letter.
A crucial concept here is the role we each play as a “watchman on the wall.” Look at 2 Samuel 18:24-24 & 2 Kings 9:17-20. The key passage is Ezekiel 3:16-21 where our responsibility to individuals is plainly set forth:
Ezekiel 3:16 And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me: 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 18 If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. 20 Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.”
Paul clearly had this passage in mind when he declared himself innocent of the blood of those who rejected the Lord: Acts 18:6 & 20:26.
Here some questions to consider:
What is truth? Do you believe on objective truth? Many deny that truth exists apart from our own understanding. James certainly assumes we know a body of doctrine we can wander from. is it the doctrine of healing? righteous living? Christ is Lord?
Whose sin is being covered and whose soul is being saved? Is it the sinner or the one bringing him back?
Have you talked with anyone recently about Christ? Discussed the truth of the Word?
What does this passage say about the Godly attitude toward people who don’t believe in Christ or fall away? Have we in our hearts condemned those who wander away or even thought differently from us about Christian doctrine?
See you Sunday,
Lee