Lesson 32. In Physical Needs (James 5:14-15) Series

Lesson Text – James 5:14-15 (NKJV)

14. Is anyone among you sick? 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.

15. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

INTRODUCTION

I will attempt to show from 1 Corinthians 12:9[1] and 28[2] and Galatians 3:5[3] that gifts of healings were intended for the church in Paul’s day and our day. However, the New Testament does not talk about THE gift of healing. Nor does it talk about people in the church who are known as healers. The phrase “gifts of healings” (two plurals) in 1 Corinthians 12:9 and 28 suggests rather that at different times for different sicknesses, God gives different people different “gifts of healings.” In other words, you might find yourself drawn to pray for one person with remarkable, expectant faith and see that person healed, but then pray for others and not experience that same gift.

We concluded that it is good to earnestly desire gifts of healings—not as something to boast in but as something with which to love. Love is the main thing. Gifts without love are deadly. But love plus gifts is the biblical ideal.

COMMENTARY

14. Is anyone among you sick? 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 anyone among you sick? – In the previous verse, the reference was to affliction in general, and the duty urged there was one that applied to all forms of ordeal. However, sickness is crucial since it so often occurs that a specific direction was desirable. That direction is to call in the aid of others to lead our thoughts and aid us in making decisions because one who is sick cannot direct his thoughts and pray for himself any more than he can in another form of the ordeal. Nothing is said here regarding the degree of sickness, whether it is that which would be fatal if these means were used or not, but the direction pertains to any illness.

Let him call for the elders of the church - “presbyters (Gr.)” See the notes at Acts 15:2[4]. It cannot be supposed that this refers to the apostles, for it could not be that they would always be accessible; besides, instructions like this were designed to have a permanent character and to apply to the church at all times and in all places. The reference, therefore, is doubtless to the ordinary religious teachers of the congregation, the officers of the church entrusted with its spiritual interests. The command's spirit would embrace pastors and others to whom the congregation's spiritual interests are confided - ruling elders, deacons, etc. Suppose the allusion is to the ordinary officers of the church. In that case, it is evident that the cure to be hoped for (James 5:1) was not miraculous but was expected to use appropriate means accompanied by prayer.

As worthy of note, it may be added that the apostle says they should “call” for the elders of the church; that is, they should send for them. They should not wait for them to hear of their sickness, as they might happen to, but they should cause them to be informed of it and give them an opportunity of visiting them and praying with them.

And let them pray over him - With him, and for him. A sick man is often little capable of praying himself, and it is a privilege to have someone to lead his thoughts in devotion. Besides, the prayer of a good man may restore him to health (James 5:15). Prayer is always one essential means of obtaining the divine favor, and there is no place where it is more appropriate than by the bed-side of sickness.

Anointing him with oil - Oil, of various kinds, was used among the ancients, both in health and sickness. The oil which was commonly employed was olive oil. (See Isaiah 1:6; Luke 10:34 ).

In the name of the Lord - By the authority or direction of the Lord; or as an act in accordance with his will. When we do anything that tends to promote virtue, alleviate misery, instruct ignorance, save life, or prepare others for heaven, it is right to feel that we are doing it in the name of the Lord. There is no reason to think that the phrase is used here to denote any peculiar religious rite or “sacrament.” It was to be done in the name of the Lord, as any other good deed is.

15. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.