James 5:12 “let your yes be yes and your no be no”: Translation, Meaning, Context. James 5:12 12 But above all, a my brethren, b do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but 1 your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment. In some circumstances the meaning can be similar to the proverb: "Birds of a feather flock together." James 5:1-20. Jesus warns of the “deception of riches” (Mat 6:19) to which James agrees (5:2). 5:35), (See Gill on Matthew Letter of James, also called Epistle of St. James the Apostle, abbreviation James, New Testament writing addressed to the early Christian churches (“to the twelve tribes in the dispersion”) and attributed to James, a Christian Jew, whose identity is disputed. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. James says that to live that way is adultery, but God gives grace. Romans 5:12-14. (4) James was paraphrasing an OT passage. 4 Look! Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8). a 2 Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten, b 3 your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire. by the Lord; for either false, or rash, or profane swearing; for 2 e Count it all joy, my brothers, 2 when you meet trials f of various kinds, 3 for you know that g the testing of your faith h produces steadfastness. In context, God tells us one of the purposes of His revelation to mankind. Swearing oaths is not a trivial matter! All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned. The outcome of the condition (James 4:2a) c. The reasons for the condition (James 4:2b–3) 2. Such swearing expressly throws contempt upon God's name and authority. The description of the condition (James 4:1–3) a. Many Christians were of the poor, few from among the rich; especially at Jerusalem, and among those to whom James writes. James 5:12. of the like kind; such as are forbidden, and cautioned, and reasoned against by our Lord, in ( Matthew 5:34 Matthew 5:35 Matthew 5:36 ) to which the apostle manifestly refers; ( See Gill on Matthew 5:34 ), ( See Gill on Matthew 5:35 ), ( See Gill on Matthew 5:36 ). Let's work our way through each section. James 5:12 is warning us against such vows, and tells us to guard our tongues during these times of hardships. The practice forbidden is the thoughtless use of the Lord's Name or some other name to attest the truthfulness of one's speech. 10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. James 5:12. I have just recently been confronted again by some dear relatives who have the strange idea that I no longer belong to God and they think it is their duty to restore me. You have stored up treasure for the last days. 11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Over the course of this brief letter, James has discussed key themes to help Christians mature in the faith: We've seen several elements in this healing prayer: the faith of the sick person to call for the elders, the presence of mature, faith-filled Christians, their prayers, anointing with oil, and the name of the Lord. Article Images Copyright © 2021 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. It is as if James can feel your reticence, as if you were saying, "I'm not spiritual enough to do that. 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