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NASB | James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? He must call for the elders (spiritual leaders) of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; |
Bible Question:
In James 5:14 to 16. In these verses Elders are to be praying and anointing the sick, and prayers offered. There in verse 16 we are to confess our sins to one another. I think the anointing with oil is an act of obedience. Why have many pastors and elders neglected these instructions? Would not these instructions, for the churches sick, be much like an ordiance of baptism or the Lords Supper? I do not think these verses say the person will be healed for sure, but that if sin brought on the sickness the sins will be forgiven. Any one have some thoughts on this? justme |
Bible Answer: Exhortations for Christian care for one another 1. (James 5:13-14) How to meet needs arising among Christians. a. The suffering need to pray; the cheerful should sing psalms of praise to God, and the sick should call for the elders of the church, asking them to pray for their need. i. James has the same advice for both the one suffering and the one doing well: take it all to the Lord. In fact, the two commands could be reversed: sufferers should sing also, and the cheerful should also pray. ii. James clearly puts the initiative on the person in need (let 'him' call); the hesitancy of people to ask for or to seek prayer from the leadership of the church in such circumstances is a true mystery. b. James also says that the elders of the church, as they pray, should anoint the sick person with oil in the name of the Lord; this anointing with oil has been interpreted as either seeking the best medical attention possible for the afflicted (oil massages were considered medicinal), or as an emblem of the Holy Spirit's presence and power. i. Anointing the sick with oil is also mentioned in Mark 6:13; Luke 10:24 mentions the application of oil in a medicinal sense. c. The Roman Catholic church mutated the command to anoint the sick into the "sacrament" of Extreme Unction, administered to someone to prepare them for death - something intended to heal was made into a preparation for death! from www.blueletterbible.org |