James 5:13-20

Physical or Spiritual?

Views

1. Extreme Unction or Last Rites

2. Faith Healing

3. Physical Healing

4. Spiritual Healing

The Heart of the problem lies in what James meant when he referred to “sickness.”

Is it physical or is it spiritual?Two different words are used for

the word “sick” Vv. 14-15

V. 14 “Is anyone sick among you?”

• This word means “to be weary, feeble, without strength and having no power.” It is used of both physical sickness and spiritual sickness in the New Testament.

• “When Jesus came into Peter’s home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever.” - Matthew 8:14

• “But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.” I Corinthians 8:9

V. 15 “And the prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick..”• The word “sick” here means “to be weary as from labor and

weary in mind.

• The only other use of this word in the New Testament is in Hebrews 12:3

• “For consider Him who has endured such hostility of sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

So Which Is It?

Physical Sickness

Procedure V. 14• Call for the elders of the church. (5:14a)

• Elders pray over the sick person, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord. (5:14b)

• “anointing” means “to rub.” Never used of the Lord Jesus. Only used once of the disciples. “And they were casting out demons and were anointing with oil the many sick people and healing them.”

• Seems to have been used for “refreshment and to honor the person.”

Examples

• “and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.” - Luke 7:38

• “You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with perfume. - Luke 7:46

Outcome V. 15-16a

“And the prayer offered in faith will restore the who is sick and the Lord will raise him up and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another that you may be healed.”

Emphasis on Prayer Vv. 16b - 18

• “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” - Example: Abraham (Genesis 18:23-32)

•Old Testament Example: Elijah (I Kings 17:1 and 18:41-46)

Restoration of Straying Believers

• “My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” (5:19-20)

• Seems rather odd for James to suddenly shift from physical sickness to spiritual sickness.

• Some think James is referring to professing believers and others to believers.

Conclusion of Physical View• The believer who is physically sick will be healed physically.

• If the sickness is related to sins in his life, upon confession he will be forgiven.

• Elders do not have a gift of healings but this healing is in response to prayer.

Spiritual Sickness

This view believes the context indicates the sickness is referring to “believers who have become weary and weak morally and spiritually in the midst of suffering.” Note 5:4, 7-11

Now let’s read this passage as if it is referring to spiritual sickness!

• 1. The believer who is discouraged, weary and “maybe” dealing with a sin problem calls for the elders of the church.

• 2. The “sickness” of verse 15 determines the meaning of “sickness” in verse 14. Remember the sickness of v. 15 is only used once in Hebrews 12:3

• 3. The prayers of the elders in conjunction with the cooperation of the believer results in being “restored.”

Continued• 4. The “restored” believer is also “healed.” V. 16. Interesting

to note that “healing” is only found in two other passages:

• “Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.” - Hebrews 12:12-13

• “And He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and liv to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” – I Peter 2:24

Continued• 5. V. 16 should be understood within the context of this

passage. Not a general statement for public confessions.

• 6. Main emphasis in this portion is on “prayer.” (Used 7 times) James used Elijah as an example of 16b. “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” The prayers are not specifically mentioned in the Old Testament but the background is given. (I Kings 17:1 and 18:41-46) The background was Israel’s spiritual condition and not physical. So the illustration better fits with the spiritual interpretation.

• 7. Verses 19-20 seems to fit better also with spiritual healing in view.

• The spiritually sick believer will be spiritually refreshed, encouraged and lifted up as elders pray over him and rub refreshing oil on him. He will be restored from discouragement and defeat. If there is sin and is confessed he will be forgiven.”

• The fallen discouraged believer will be restored.

Principle of Private Understanding.