James 5 - Lessons for Rich Oppressors, Patience in Suffering, and Keeping the Letter of James AliveSample

James is not referring to a special gift of healing (contrast 1 Corinthians 12:28). He is simply talking about a ministry of prayer exercised by the leading members of the Christian community; the elders. That the sick person has should call for a visit from the elders (verse 14) suggests he is suffering from a serious illness, not merely aches and pains.

The elders come, pray for the person, anoint him or her with oil and this “will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.” This is the language of full recovery.

Sin and Sickness

James adds that the process of praying for the sick person will, if he or she has sinned, result in their forgiveness as well as healing (verse 15). The Bible teaches that illness can on occasion - be related to disobedience (e.g., 1 Corinthians 11:29-30). James reflects this perspective but not in an absolute sense. The ‘if’ of verse 15 is quite important. James is saying that if the illness in question is the result of the sufferer’s sin, the request for healing and subsequent prayer will also function as an act of repentance and so bring forgiveness. 

With all this in mind James advises the whole congregation to get busy confessing their sins to each other and praying for each other’s healing. Most of the sins mentioned in this epistle are ‘community’ sins, so it makes sense that there should be community confession and prayer (healing and forgiveness). 

James closes by reminding us of a story from Elijah’s life (1 Kings 17-18). He was just like us, James insists, and God did marvelous things in answer to his prayers. Ordinary people devoted to the extraordinary God can witness wonderful things when they pray. 

Will We Always Be Healed?

James must have known that not all of the prayers of the righteous are answered in the way we hope for. But he makes his point in absolute terms because he wants to inspire action and confidence in prayer.

This side of God’s Kingdom, many illnesses will not be healed. Both experience and scripture make this clear. Even the great apostle Paul lived with an ongoing ailment which he called his 'thorn in the flesh’ (2 Corinthians 12:7). 

God in His wisdom sometimes chooses to reveal His power through our frailties. This is not to take away from James’ firm teaching about healing. Both truths have to be held in balance. We know that oppression will be finally overthrown only in the future Kingdom but we still work hard in the present to bring mercy to the oppressed. In the same way, we know that it is only in the new creation that pain will be no more (Revelation 21:1-4) but we still look to the Lord in the present as The Healer of our souls and bodies.