Douglas Jacoby Podcast

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

James 5:1-6

• Last time: In "Wannabe Rich Fools," James speaks of entrepreneurs who fail to take God into account. This time: of actual rich fools who fail to take God into account.
• A prophetic woe!
  Their corrupt wealth will "testify" against them. That is, their unjust actions demand a verdict.
• The rich are hoarding grain, garments, gold.
• Last Days = time from Pentecost on, the last phase of human history before the second coming of the Lord.
• There was noalready in.
• It was not a promising system for the little guy! He loses out. The innocent poor not only didn’t oppose the fat cats; they couldn’t.
• Possible legal overtones: using the courts to their advantage. Who gets the better lawyer? Who’s better connected?
• Murder, too.
• Zealots
  • Emulated Phinehas and Elijah
  • Along with the Pharisees, the Zealots were the radicals.
  • More on this in reflection 31 (next talk)
  • And some Christians, directly or indirectly
• Luxury = a standard that applies to most of us hearing this talk. Ours is unbelievably higher than that of the medieval kings and queens of Europe.
• Rich people: Slaughter – the fat cats will be slaughtered!
• Luke 16:19-31
• James doesn’t automatically condemn all rich Christians (ch 1). But these rich persons stand condemned.

Next: "The Judge at the Door"

•  excuse not to pay wages, as the harvest was 

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Next: Rich Fools – James will wax fiery hot, like the prophet Amos!

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

James 4:13-17

• The brevity of life: we are mists.
• If it is the Lord’s will – adding “we shall live…”  This is much more than “inshállah.”
• Verse 17 is about how we go about making our plans. It’s not simply a passage about acting against our conscience.
• We can identify several social groups in the community James addresses. The poor include subsistence farmers. There are rich landowners, and quite possibly absentee landlords. There are entrepreneurs—who hope to become wealthy.
• Entrepreneurs should not necessarily assume they will still be alive next year!
• An ancient prayer for Yom Kippur asked the Lord for a year of low prices, a year of plenty, and a year of business dealings (Yoma 5:2). But it’s not commerce or even wealth that is condemned. It’s the spiritually nonchalant desire to become rich. In their complacency their thinking was secular, not godly.
• That’s the issue. Like the rich man in the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21).

Next: through the whole book of James in the CSB

• Boasting in our plans—failing to include God in our equation.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

• ."Humble Yourself in the Sight of the Lord" (our previous reflection)—great passage, and great song.
• True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that—it is spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth. – Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)
• It is because of the hasty and superficial conversation with God that the sense of sin is so weak and that no motives have power to help you to hate and flee from sin as you should. – A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)

Historical background: In the three years before James died (59-62 AD) there were quarrels between the lower priests, who were aligned with the populace of Jerusalem, and the powerful Sadducean priests. They were at odds over social and economic issues. Josephus reports that the acrimonious debate was characterized by “name-calling.” He adds, “And when they clashed, they used abusive language and threw stones” (Ant. 20.180).

James 4:11-12

• Notice that we are back to the topic of the tongue:
• Slander. The ancient rabbis said: “He who slanders another thereby slanders God” and “Whosoever speaks against the true Shepherd is like one who speaks against God.”
• Judging.
• Words intended to hurt
• It is not in our power to save or to destroy.
• In the evangelical world. Matt 7:1 is now quoted more than John 3:16! To learn about the 12 types of judging in the Bible, please see Judge Not!

Next: The (Wannabe) Rich Fool

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

James 4:9-10  

• We can’t be merely academic or ethereal about our sin. An emotional response to God’s Word and God’s holiness is in order.
• "Blessed are those who mourn" (Matt 5:4)—is a passage often interpreted in the early church as mourning for one’s sins.
• Mourning and wailing are signs of repentance, not substitutes for it.
• “And he will lift you up….”
• Similar passages: Job 5:11; 22:29; Ps 149:4; Prov 29:25; Ezek 17:24; 21:31; Luke 18:14; 1 Pet 5:6

Prayer

• I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin. – Psalm 38:18
• Prayer makes godly persons, and puts within them the mind of Christ, the mind of humility, of self-surrender, of service, of pity, and of prayer. If we really pray, we will become more like God, or else we will quit praying. – E.M. Bounds (1835-1913)
• The neglected heart will soon be a heart overrun with worldly thoughts; the neglected life will soon become a moral chaos; the church that is not jealously protected by mighty intercession and sacrificial labors will before long become the abode of every evil bird and the hiding place for unsuspected corruption. The creeping wilderness will soon take over that church that trusts in its own strength and forgets to watch and pray. – A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)
• The Litany of Humility (included in Amen. Collected Prayers and Hymns for the Journey, 2022)

NEXT: Only One Judge

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

James 4:7-8

Review: James 4:4 is a passage that most churches don’t teach:

• Stepping on toes – consumerism..
• Challenging specific sins from the pulpit
• Warning members against the dangers / ugly side of politics
• Rejecting nationalism, thinking instead of our global community
• Caring genuinely (and knowing about) the needs of the poor and oppressed globally.
• In light of these considerations, is it not fair to conclude that most churches are worldly?
• Some heart-searching questions
  • Are my spending patterns the same as my neighbors’, or do I truly honor the Lord with my wealth?
  • Do I lovingly confront others when I see sin in their lives? And do I welcome their input when they sin in mine?
  • Do I have a high threshold for tolerating sex and violence in what I watch? How about “explicit-language” music?
  • Am I informed about the world, and do I care about the plight of the oppressed?
• Are we really living as the holy people of God? Or have we accepted the values of our country / culture — which in most of the West means the pursuit of pleasure and a high standard of living—backed up by a strong military.

Points from today's text:

• The devil is stronger than we may think, but he’s also weaker than we may imagine. Resist him!
• How does the Lord wish us to renounce the ways of the world?
• It means relying on the Lord instead of our own power, wisdom, pundits...
• We must choose. We can’t embrace God and the world.
• For every one of us, this has both personal and political implications
• As the people of God, it's probable fair to conclude we have not been submissive, holy, pure, and focused.

Further: Jesus & Politics (about 40 minutes; includes complete notes).

Next: Humble Yourself in the Sight of the Lord

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

James 4:4-6

• The adultery referred to in James 4:4 refers to the marriage between YHWH and his people (Isa 54:1-6; Jer 2:2).
  • OT condemnations of spiritual infidelity: Isa 1:21; 50:1; 57:3; Jer 3:7-10, 20; 13:27; Ezek 16:23-26, 38; 23:45; Hos 1-3; 9:1.
  • NT condemnations: Matt 12:39; 16:4; Mark 8:38; 2 Cor 11:1-2; Eph 5:22-23; Rev 19:7; 21:9.
• Abraham was not a friend of the world, but a friend of God (2:23).
• See also 1 John 2:15-17.
• Areas of worldliness:
  • Worldly language, dress, entertainment…
  • Worldly values: security, wealth, materialism, conspicuous consumption…
  • Befriending the world by resorting to its methods in order to advance God’s kingdom.
  • Hyper-patriotism and nationalism. Waging war with the weapons of the world (2 Cor 10).
  • Failing to care about those in the greatest need. Don’t say, "My town is prosperous, and there are plenty of people better off than me." Let’s lift our eyes and consider the entire world. Given the instant access nearly all of us have to information globally, we have no excuse for not being informed, and even less for not caring!
• V.5 is difficult, but however it is translated, or however we understand it, the passage points to our covenant relationship with the Lord, who is our husband. That is, we the church are the bride of Christ, and must not share our affections with another lover.
• V.6 is a strong biblical principle
  • “The proud” are not merely those who don’t take input well. The proud are those who side with the high and mighty and the powerful.
  • James is spotlighting pride and confidence in our own abilities and policies, which are actually at odds with God’s will, to achieve our own goals, like security, power, property, wealth, control.
• In James’s day, final deliverance did not come from compromise with the Romans (Sadducees) or armed revolt against them (Zealots), but from trusting in the Lord. The political route led to physical and spiritual disaster.

Next: Submit, resist, draw near, wash, and be purified

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

James 4:1-3

• Context: link with chapter 3 – peaceful vs. violent approaches to the problems in our world.
• The peace, shalom, of which James speaks is more than peace in our hearts, or harmony in the church. 
• It's not difficult to imagine there were quarrels within the church—but killing?
  • Some spiritualize the word – killing = hating (Matt 5). But this isn’t persuasive.
  • Is this referring to outsiders? Not all commentators take these words as literally applying to insiders. But it seems to me the passage makes more sense if James’s words are directed at political violence on the part of insiders.
  • After all, “Jesus, like James, confronted political and religious oppositions of his day, when Zealot militarism and Essene passivity stood at opposite ends of the spectrum.”
    • Zealots (those favoring violence as a legitimate means of driving out the Romans, and damaging those who collaborated with them—the Sadducees).
    • Essenes (the Dead Sea community that had withdrawn from the system, and were deeply critical of Jerusalem)
    • Sadducees – arranged death of James 62, and with the Pharisees the death of Jesus in 30.
    • An example of an intention of intramural murder is found in Acts 23:21-22.
    • Isn’t it also hard to believe that various Corinthians: Babbled like a kindergarten class in the belief God’s Spirit was moving them? Looked down on the apostle Paul? Denied the literal resurrection of Christ? Were proud that they weren’t disciplining a member in an immoral relationship with his stepmother? Were taking each other to court? Were getting drunk during the Lord’s Supper?
    • Is it so difficult to believe some Christians would support violent causes? Or perhaps better said, support causes that sometimes resort to violence? 
      • Just listen to what the, Americans, the Dutch, the French, the Russians, and many other national groups are advocating—just check the social media or watch the news!
      • Our world: Nearly 200 nations, 40 major wars, 100s of minor wars. Civil unrest, domestic terrorism…. And much of this violence is justified as God’s will. A good deal of the violence is carried out “in the name of Jesus.”
• Is there a contradiction with James 1, on prayer?
  • We shouldn’t expect the Lord to answer our prayers if they’re in conflict with his will.
  • Asking for something in Jesus’ name is not a magic talisman. It’s not a formula, either… (It’s not how NT prayers end, anyway.) When we seek the Lord’s will, as Christians, then all our prayers are already, automatically “in Jesus’ name.”
• Just as there are two kinds of wisdom, there are two fundamental responses to our problems (personal, local, global):
  • Patience. Be Peacemakers.
  • Anger. Resort to violence
• Politically motivated violence, revolution, and killing are forbidden. Further: Law, Allegiance, Revolution

The next reflection in the series: The Worldly Church

• Why is it so hard to believe any Christians would commit murder? (Why, because adultery, compared to murder, is relatively okay?)

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

To appreciate James and the logical flow of the letter, it is vital to understand the political background of Palestine in the New Testament period. These were troubled times: oppression under the Romans and those richer Jews who acted as their pawns, exorbitant taxes and food shortages and, with them, rioting and anti-Roman nationalistic fervor.

Some landowners even hired to execute or at least threaten tenants who were falling behind in their payments. The politically active Zealots, to whom Simon the Zealot, one of Jesus’ apostles, had belonged (Matthew 10:4), urged the nation to revolt. This pressing combination of factors climaxed in the Jewish War of 66-73 AD. In 70 AD Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed, never to be rebuilt.

If the history seems tangled, let’s simplify: Even in a time of social challenge and devastating famine, the rich were still oppressing the poor. This is why James addresses the pride of the rich (1:9-11; 2:1-9, 13-17), persecution by the rich (2:6-7; 5:6) and economic exploitation by the rich (5:4-6). Patient endurance, not violent retaliation, is enjoined upon the Christians. Without this perspective, the letter of James is difficult to appreciate and to understand.

Next: Waging War

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

James 3:17-19

• In 1st-century Palestine, James was a force for unity and peace.
  • “James is burdened with a desire for communal unity, but unfortunately the inevitable result of unruly tongues, unholy zeal, and unchecked party spirit is chaos and division.”
  • He had a sterling reputation (among the Jews and the Christians of his day). He was grieved by the many factions and frictions in Israel.
• Paul too had such a spirit (2 Cor 10:1ff), and taught this to others (Gal 5:23; 6:1). He trainedTimothy to pursue gentleness (1 Tim 6:11), and Titus as well (Titus 3:1ff).
• brother Jesus (Matt 11:28-29), who taught, "Blessed are the meek" (Matt 5:5).
• Yet the evangelical concept of manhood has changed greatly in the last half-century.
  • Personality, including charisma, is more valued than character. A real man is a take-charge guy, and (in leadership) typically embraces with a "command and control" approach to the ministry.
  • The "man's man" may be a bit rough around the edges. He enjoys (even needs) a good fight (or war). He is a hunter, an athlete, and a rugged outdoorsman. For sure he is no "sissy."
  • He may be a chauvinist (no one's perfect). He may abuse others verbally or even sexually (though such peccadilloes are downplayed or covered up.) Also tolerated may be outbursts of shouting, anger, zeal (without knowledge), impulsivity, and insensitivity. Perhaps communication skills are suboptimal. But it's all good, because surely someone has to lead.
  • Passages like Jas 3:17-18 are seen, or interpreted, as somehow “feminine."
  • Mentioned during the reflection: Jesus & John Wayne.
• But surely the standard of manhood is Jesushimself, the perfect human!
• If you'd like more on these themes, please check out the Sermon on the Mount series (40 devotionals, recorded in 2020) here.

Next: some brief background to James 4, then a reading of the entire letter (NASB).

• In teaching this sort of "wisdom" (Jas 3:17-18), James was only following the lead of his