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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. |
Ye rich men – The hypocrite class will include the rich of this world. R5256:4
Those willing to see others crushed, oppressed and denied their rights in order that they may luxuriate extravagantly. These hold to the present arrangement of society with a death clutch. C20
The class that has reaped the benefit of the spoliation [plundering] of the poor will have to pay some of the toll to justice, in squaring accounts. God will permit one part of the world to wreak a measure of vengeance on the other part. R5256:1
The class coming into the trouble has been used to luxury, obtained largely at a cost to others. A314; Q848:1
The wealthy and great and learned who have been willing to use their superior advantages selfishly, instead of for the elevation of their less favored brothers. Upon this class its hottest fires will come first. R1470:4; D305
Let the rich consider the interests of the poor and needy, lest they fall under the fearful condemnation of the oppressor. R1875:5
Babylon the Great is to fall; and the wonderful institutions of civilization will be found only partly satisfactory to the new King. This will mean that many who are now stewards of wealth, influence, position, etc., will be called to account and dispossessed. Their realization of the loss of practically all upon which they set their affections is represented as wailing and howling and misery. Not that the poor are more righteous than the rich, but, having little of this world's goods, they will probably feel less the great time of trouble impending. R4997:2
The lesson on this subject comes first to the living generation, and is near at hand. A303; D305
Howl – Lament. R2044:1
For the loss of their treasures. R1955:4
A time of general loss of confidence when bankers' credits will be at their ebb. R3117:6
For your miseries – A great "time of trouble" now impending over the world, but especially over Christendom. R5112:2; CR424:4; Q848:1
Reprobation and stripes. R4997:1
The rich in this world's uncertain riches, and the proud, whether poor or rich, and all that do wickedly, will be special sufferers. R1963:5
In the coming trouble the rich will suffer much. R748:4
Great distress and trouble shall come upon the wealthy class who have a monopoly of earthly blessings. R1406:2
Animosities of the masses will be exercised with violence against the rich. R1690:3
James prognosticates dire trouble upon the rich in the righting of earth's affairs. R1776:5
Miseries will also come upon the poor, but will be felt especially by the rich. CR424:4; D305; R5256:4, 1470:4; SM191:2
The trouble upon the rich will be among the events of the last days of this age. R621:4
The growing selfish rapacity will eventuate in a great time of trouble, in which "every man's hand shall be against his neighbor" (Zech. 8:9,10) and lead to mutual distrust and anarchy. R2760:5
A dark and gloomy day of judgment upon mankind socially and nationally. D11
Shall come upon you – Which are approaching. D411; R2044:1, 2039:6, 592:5
The uncovering of the weaknesses of human nature means loss of confidence in the rich and influential generally, and spells eventually the hatred which ere long will fulfill the prediction. R3757:6
Will happen at the same time as the gathering of the dead and living members of the Body of Christ. R668:5
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| 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. |
Riches are corrupted – Relating to the present time: verses 2 and 3 are highly figurative. R667:6
Securities have become worthless. D411; R2044:1; Q848:1
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| 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. |
Is cankered – Become rusted. D411; A314; R2044:1, 592:5
A witness – A testimony. D411; R2044:1, 592:5
Eat your flesh – Consume your bodies. D411; R2044:1, 592:5
The rich will share in the trouble of the nations because so closely identified with them. R592:5
The jealousy and hatred of the masses in the time of trouble will make the rich their special targets for the venomous arrows of hatred. R1519:5
Have heaped – Have laid up. R592:5
The last days – "A time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation." (Dan. 12:1) D11; R3107:6, 1519:4, 1352:2; Q848:1; NS27:5
A day of trouble in an especial degree for the rich and those who employ labor. R1676:5, 748:4
The end or harvest period of the Gospel age. R1518:5
All the selfish and evil arrangements of the present shall be thoroughly shaken out, so that nothing but good shall remain. (Heb. 12:26-29) R1174:4
The closing days of the Gospel age. D392
The Day of the Lord. R621:4
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| 4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. |
Of the laborers – The farmers. D393; R3107:6, 2906:6, 2044:3; Q848:1
The food producers. R2039:6
The poor and needy. R1875:5
The agriculturists. R3107:6
Who have reaped – Who harvested. (Diaglott) R592:6, 2039:6, 2044:1,3
You – Rich men. D392; R2044:3
Kept back by fraud – "That reward which you have fraudulently withheld from those laborers." (Literal translation, Diaglott) R2044:1,3, 2039:6, 592:5; D392, D411
They do not rob the farmer, they "keep back" not directly, but "fraudulently" by unjust legislation secured by misrepresentation and fraud. R2044:3
Kept back by reason of hoarding. A314
The rich men's "wanton" ways of living are aggravating the poor and the employed to such an extent that they are crying out. Q848:2
Are willing to see others crushed, oppressed, and denied their rights and reasonable rewards that they (the rich) may luxuriate extravagantly, wantonly. C20
The Lord of Sabaoth – "The Lord of armies." (Diaglott) R592:6, 2044:1,3, 2039:6, 621:4; D411, D392
So let the cries of the groaning creation come into our ears and gain our sympathies, and quicken our zeal to cooperate with our Heavenly Father's plan. R3067:6
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| 5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. |
Lived in pleasure – Delicately, in self-indulgence. R2044:1
And been wanton – Extravagant, luxurious. Q848:2; D274, D301
Nourished – Fed. R2044:1
Day of slaughter – Day of your slaughter. D411; R2044:1
The relentless argument of the masses soon will be: "Your class defrauded our class in the past, and now our class will defraud your class to even up matters." R1423:6
The animosities of the masses will be exercised with violence against the rich, and the specially favored aristocratic classes, political, social and religious. (Ezek. 7:19, etc.) R1690:3
"My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not" (Prov. 1:10). The counsel here has special reference to the end of the Gospel age, when great corporations, trusts and monopolies, on the one hand, and unions and labor federations on the other, would offer their enticements to the iniquitous business of shedding innocent blood and fattening on the spoils of the slain. (Mal. 3:5) R1518:5 5:6
Ye – Your class. D411; R2044:1
Can it be that the Lord wished us to notice that the Jewish bankers and financiers, more than others, are prominent in this fraud of keeping back the wages of the reapers? and is there therefore special significance in the words, "You killed, you murdered the Just One?" D411
Have condemned and killed the just – The Just One, Christ. D411; R2044:1
Out of the righteous, because they resisted not, the very life had been crushed. A314
The just are led as lambs to the slaughter. R1073:1
The followers of Jesus must not expect full justice in the world, nor always to be rightly understood. R5561:5
He doth not resist you – He resisteth you not. D411; R2044:1
Jesus did not attempt to defend his life. R5561:5
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| 6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. |
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| 7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the presence of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. |
Be patient – "Wait ye upon me, saith the Lord." (Zeph. 3:8) R1520:1
The new creature is patient, cheerful, hopeful. F591
Waiting patiently for God's promised Kingdom. R1759:1
Not interfere with the powers that be. SM191:2
Unto the coming – Greek, parousia, presence. B159; D411; F666; R2979:1, 2044:1, 1693:1, 223:1*
Of the Lord – Who will adjust matters righteously. D411; R2044:1
Connected with the Lord's presence will be judgments and vengeance upon many, especially the rich. R1776:5
The establishment of his Kingdom of righteousness, the change to his glorious likeness, draweth nigh. R3827:2
The husbandman waiteth – Anticipating. D411; R2044:1
The early and latter rain – Early and latter harvest. (Oldest manuscripts.) D411; R2044:1
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| 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the presence of the Lord draweth nigh. |
Patient – Long-suffering patience. R298:4*
Wait for his Kingdom; it will give full justice to all. R1245:3
Be hopeful his wisdom will soon bring righteousness and blessing to mankind. F591
For the coming – Greek, parousia, presence. B159; D411; F666; R2979:1, 2044:1, 1693:1, 223:1*
Of the Lord – In the full glory of his Kingdom. R1954:6
Draweth nigh – Has approached. R2044:1
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| 9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. |
Grudge not one against another – Add not to each other's sorrows. D411; R2044:1
Lest ye be condemned – That ye be not punished also. D411; R2044:1
The judge standeth – The judge is standing at the doors. D411; R2044:1
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| 10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. |
For an example – Of faith, humility, meekness, obedience, patience, endurance, brotherly kindness, love. R2010:3, 1695:1
Those beautiful characters among the Ancient Worthies whose examples the apostles taught us to emulate. (Heb. 11) R1708:2, 2010:3, 1695:1
Example for our imitation. R1695:1
And of patience – Greek, makrothunia, the common thought of patience as connected with everyday affairs, long-suffering. R2790:6
Patient endurance has been characteristic of all who have lived holy lives. R5332:6
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| 11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. |
The patience of Job – Job is classed with other holy men (Ezek. 14:14), which would not be the case were the Book of Job merely a parable. R5401:3, 1505:3; Q793:2
One whom God especially loved. (Ezek. 14:19, 20) R5878:5
A man of great learning and influence; of great piety who knew and reverenced God and appreciated justice; of great generosity who considered the widow and the orphan. R5401:6, 1505:6
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| 12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. |
Swear not – An admonition against taking oaths such as many Secret Societies demand. R1827:6
Not objecting to solemn affirmations or legal oaths as required by law. R5020:2, 1827:6
Let your yea be yea – Tell the truth! Be so truthful in all that you say that it will be unnecessary to swear to its truthfulness. R5020:3
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| 13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. |
Afflicted – Suffering. R2008:3
Let him pray – The saints cannot properly pray for their own health now any more than could their Master. They cannot properly ask the restitution privileges which they have consecrated, nor can they ask that their sacrifices be nullified by having all the cost of weariness, exhaustion, stripes or sickness miraculously removed. R2008:5
This counsel will apply to all the trials and afflictions of God's people, mental and physical. R2008:3
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| 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: |
Is any sick – Greek, astheneo--a, without; sthenos, strength; without strength, weak. R4099:2*, 4100:1*
Greek word for helpless or impotent. R2008:4
A condition of very low spirituality. R5453:2
Weak in faith, morally and spiritually weak or ailing. Q814:2; R5453:2, 4100:4*
Those who quench the spirit of holiness, or "grieve the spirit" are spiritually sick. R5391:4
The intimation is that such an one has committed sin. Q323:6
The sickness is recognized as being a chastisement for sins. F638
Call for the elders – Cut off from fellowship with God, they have one last resort; viz., to request the assistance of sanctified elders of the Church. R5391:4, 2838:2; F638
A possibility of recovery, not through themselves, but through the ministry of faithful ones of the royal priesthood. R5453:2
The senior, or chief, or official members. R2008:4, 5691:4
The sin-sick one should realize his need, call upon the Church elders, confess his fault. They in turn may intercede for him to the Lord and may anoint him in the name of the Lord. The Lord shall raise him up to spiritual health and strength. R5691:4
The prayer should be for the forgiveness of the sins of which the sickness is a punishment or rebuke, rather than for the release from the deserved punishment. R2008:4
Anointing him with oil – Symbolic of the holy Spirit. R5391:4
Such extreme measures would be quite improper for a slight ailment. R2008:4
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| 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. |
The prayer of faith – The prayers and the words of exhortation and encouragement to righteousness will have the effect of raising up, stimulating and reviving the spiritually weary and fainting one. Q814:2
Promiscuous praying for health during the Gospel age would have been improper. Only by means of the gift of healing were the early cures of the age performed, which ceased with the death of the apostles. R2008:4
Save – Recover to God's fellowship. R5453:2
The sick – Greek, kamno, to labor, suffer from fatigue, weary, as in "lest ye be wearied (kamno) and faint in your minds." (Heb. 12:3) R4099:2*
The spiritually sick; one who has committed a sin that has alienated him from God. R4598:1, 5901:5*; Q814:2
The wearied one, one weary in well doing; the one who is in a "backslidden condition." Q814:2; R4100:1*, 494:1
Freedom from sickness will depend upon their purity of life. R759:6
And if – And though. R2100:2, 2008:4, 4598:1
Committed sins – Trespasses. R4598:1
Become estranged from God, and is unable to go to him. Therefore in this sad and separated condition he may call for the elders for spiritual healing, not physical healing. Q323:6; R4598:1
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| 16 Confess your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. |
Confess your faults – "Therefore confess your sins." (Old Greek manuscripts.) R2008:4
Greek, paraptoma, a falling away. R4100:1*
Represents a general principle of humility and willingness to make acknowledgement when we commit a fault. R4597:3, 2094:5*
Ordinarily, there would be no need for the individual to confess his trespasses to any one, unless it were to a person who had been trespassed against. Otherwise our sins are to be confessed only unto the Lord, unless under extreme circumstances, where one had lost fellowship with the Lord. R5453:2
In general we do well not only to hide our imperfections, but that it should be our daily endeavor to put out faults away completely. R4598:1
Pray for one another – Not only pray for him, but seek to restore in the spirit of humility a brother taking a wrong course. R4598:2
The Lord has put a special responsibility upon every member of the Church to look out for all other members to the extent of ability and opportunity. Not that our intercessions would avail of themselves; it must be the intercession of our Advocate. R4598:1, 2
May be healed – Greek, iaomai, has the significance of saved, as in "lest at any time they should see . . . and should be converted and I should heal (iaomai) them." (Matt. 13:15) R4099:3*
Especially applies to spiritual healing. R5234:4
The effectual fervent prayer – The supplication. (Revised Version) R5480:5, 4306:1
Praying with persistence and faith. R5480:5
It is the fervent prayer that is the effectual one; the prayer that is earnest, from the heart and not merely from the lips. R3664:6
Prayers not accompanied by efforts brand themselves as insincere. The prayer which is not of faith is sin, unscriptural, sacrilegious. (Matt. 9:38) R4913:1
Communion with God is a great privilege and an evidence of his favor. R4983:1
The fervent prayer of Abraham (Gen. 18:22-33); and of Nehemiah (Neh. 1:1-11). R2856:3, 3662:4
A righteous man – A justified and consecrated child of God. R1866:1
Not necessarily yet perfect, but he is obedient and growing. R5901:5*
All righteousness that we have is Christ's, imputed to us. R3664:6
The prayers of the unrighteous, we understand, will avail nothing. R3664:6
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| 17 Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. |
Elias – Elijah--a most courageous servant of the Lord; he is particularly a type of all the Lord's favored ones of this Gospel age. R3401:2, 3402:4, 5857:4, 5628:6
Three years and six months – The Church was 3-½ symbolic years (a day for a year--1260 literal years) in the wilderness condition, during which there was a spiritual famine because of the lack of truth. B256; R5857:4, 5628:6, 557:3 5:19
Err from the truth – "Wander from the truth." (Diaglott) "Wander" well expresses how all errors gradually grow and stealthily intrude upon the sanctified. R494:2,3
Into paths of error, into vice. R494:2
This does not apply at all to "the world of sinners." R494:3
Convert him – "Turn him back." (Diaglott) R494:2
We should make no effort for him as would tend to make us fall into error. R1860:3
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| 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. |
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| 19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; |
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| 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. |
Let him know – A special blessing comes to all those who have an earnest desire to save an erring brother; a great reward is suggested for those who are successful in such an attempt. R4628:3
He which converteth – He that recovereth. R5453:2, 4628:3, 3798:5
"He who turns back." (Diaglott) R494:2
All the faithful are to be energetic in their endeavors to recover any who fall away, to bring them back into full accord with the Lord. R3798:5
We should seek to restore him, "considering ourselves, lest we also be tempted." (Gal. 6:1) R4628:3
The sinner – Wanderer. R1480:5
The wrong-doer, transgressor, is a brother, a fellow-member in the ecclesia. F290, F291
A brother, who has "erred from the truth." R3035:2
Once a brother. NS745:4
Once fellows of the order of royal priesthood, who become so changed, so possessed of an opposite spirit, that they can speak evil of their fellow priests continually. T63
Of his way – Course. R5925:6
"Path." (Diaglott) R494:2
The course or tendency is to lead off from the truth, the way of life, into the way of death. R5925:6
One who is going into that careless condition where the new mind has become, as it were, stupefied, where the old mind has gotten the ascendency over it. R4628:3
Shall save a soul – This is not referring to the souls of the world in general, which are still under the sentence of death, but it is referring to the souls of believers, who through faith have been justified and consecrated to the Lord. R3798:4, 494:3
Apparently that soul is in death's throes; but if he manifest faith, call in true brethren and humbly confess his sin and ask for prayers, the Lord might give him a further opportunity and trial. R5453:2
Brotherly kindness and assistance are specially commended of the Lord. R4628:3
From death – Second death. R3035:2, 494:3
Not from eternal torment. OV439:3*; HG222:3
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