James 5

Lord of Sabaoth (Lord of Hosts)

Sabaoth — hosts, armies; the Lord of Sabaoth is the Lord of Hosts

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. James 5:4

The Lord of Sabaoth (Lord of Hosts) is a title of Jehovah, the premortal Christ; He hears the cries of the cheated workers. Modern revelation explains the title as 'the Creator of the first day, the beginning and the end.'

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• the same title in D&C 87:7 — 'the Lord of Sabaoth, which is by interpretation, the Creator of the first day, the beginning and the end'
• the same title in Romans 9:29 — 'Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed'

The Just One

The Just — the righteous one

Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. James 5:6

'The just' who is killed and does not resist most directly means the righteous poor, but it softly echoes Jesus, 'the Just One', who was condemned and went to His death without resisting.

• the same title in Acts 7:52 — Stephen: 'the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers'
• the same title in 1 Peter 3:18 — 'Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust'

Second Coming

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming 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. James 5:7–8

James promises that the Lord Jesus Christ will come again and tells the suffering Saints to wait patiently like a farmer waiting for the harvest rains.

• the same event in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-16 — 'the coming of the Lord ... the Lord himself shall descend from heaven'
• the same event in D&C 1:12 — 'Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh'

Christ the Judge

Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. James 5:9

The Judge who stands at the door is the Lord whose coming is near (vv. 7–8). The Father has given all judgment to the Son, so Jesus is the Judge who is about to come in.

• alludes to Matthew 24:33 — Jesus on His coming: 'it is near, even at the doors'
• interpreted by John 5:22 — 'the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son'

Jehovah

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. James 5:11

Job's story shows how the Lord ended his trial: with compassion and tender mercy. The Lord who blessed Job is Jehovah, the premortal Christ, whose mercy James holds out to suffering Saints.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• alludes to Psalm 103:8 — 'The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy'
• alludes to Exodus 34:6 — Jehovah proclaims Himself 'merciful and gracious, longsuffering'

In His Name

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: James 5:14–15

Elders administer to the sick in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is the Lord who heals the body and forgives sins, just as Jesus did in His ministry.

• alluded to by D&C 42:44 — the elders 'shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my name'
• alludes to Mark 6:13 — the Twelve 'anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them'