Is
any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord,
James 5:14
James 5 [9.] Don’t grumble, brothers, against one another, so that you won’t be judged. Behold, the judge stands at the door. Take, brothers, for an example of suffering and of patience, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we call them blessed who endured. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the Lord in the outcome, and how the Lord is full of compassion and mercy. But above all things, my brothers, don’t swear— not by heaven, or by the earth, or by any other oath; but let your “yes” be “yes”, and your “no”, “no”; so that you don’t fall into hypocrisy.
James 5 [13.] Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praises. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will heal him who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it didn’t rain on the earth for three years and six months. He prayed again, and the sky gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
James 5 [19.] Brothers, if any among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Meaning:
James 5:14 gives simple, practical instructions for a church member who is ill. The sick person is not to suffer alone or in silence but to call the elders of the church, who come, pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. James, the brother of Jesus and leader of the church in Jerusalem, writes to Jewish believers scattered among the nations, and his letter is full of down-to-earth faith. Here he shows that the local church is meant to be a caring family whose leaders take the needs of the sick seriously.
- “Call for the Elders”
Notice that the sick person takes the first step: “Let him call.” Asking for help requires humility, especially for those who are used to being strong. The elders were the recognised spiritual leaders of the congregation, following the pattern of the synagogue, where respected older men guided the community. Their visit expressed the care of the whole church and brought the authority of Christ’s appointed shepherds to the bedside.
The elders come to “pray over him”. Prayer is the heart of the instruction. James goes on to say that the prayer of faith will heal the sick and that “The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective” (James 5:16).
- Anointing with Oil
In the ancient world olive oil was the most common remedy. The Good Samaritan bound up the wounded man’s wounds, “pouring on oil and wine” (Luke 10:34). Oil was also used throughout the Old Testament to set apart priests and kings for God’s service. So anointing could express both care for the body and consecration of the person to the Lord.
When Jesus sent out the twelve, they “anointed many with oil who were sick, and healed them” (Mark 6:13). The early church continued this practice. The oil itself has no magic; the anointing is done “in the name of the Lord”, placing the sick person in the hands of Jesus, who alone heals.
- Body and Soul Together
James links sickness and sin carefully. He does not say that every illness is caused by personal sin, but he allows that it sometimes is: “If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” The elders’ visit is an opportunity for confession, reconciliation and peace with God as well as for physical healing. The psalmist praised the Lord who both forgives and heals, and called his soul not to forget all his benefits (Psalm 103:2).
The Significance of James 5:14
- The Church as a Caring Family
The verse calls churches to visit, pray for and stand with the sick. Pastors and elders today still follow this pattern, and many churches anoint the sick with oil while praying for healing. Medical care is not rejected; in James’ day oil was itself medicine. Prayer and medicine work together under God’s hand.
- Trusting God with the Outcome
Not every sick believer is healed in this life, yet the promise that “the Lord will raise him up” holds true, either in recovery now or in resurrection on the last day. The sick are never forgotten by the Lord or by his people.
Cross-References:
Mark 6:13: "They cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick, and healed them." The twelve apostles anointed the sick when Jesus first sent them out.
James 5:16: "Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective." James explains why the prayer of the elders matters so much.
Luke 10:34: "came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him." Oil was a common remedy, and the Samaritan used it in practical love.
Psalm 103:2: "Praise Yahweh, my soul, and don’t forget all his benefits;" The psalm goes on to praise God who forgives sins and heals diseases.
Conclusion: James 5:14 invites the sick to call on the church and calls church leaders to respond with prayer and anointing in the name of the Lord. It reveals a God who cares for the whole person, body and soul, and a church that is meant to carry one another’s burdens. When illness comes, believers need not suffer alone: they can call for prayer and rest in the Lord who heals.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible