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Any of us can err from the truth as Elijah did. Some have erred in the church at Jerusalem as
James has just noted in the verses about praying for the sick.

Other spiritual believers are to be sensitive to those around who have erred and help bring them
back into fellowship with the Lord (Galatians 6:1‐5).

The term “convert” from the King James Version is used for the sinning believer. James is drawing
a close analogy between the carnal believer and the sinner. The closing verse is even stronger.

Jas 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save
a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner (sinning one) from the error of his way shall
save a soul from death, and shall hide (kalupsei: cover) a multitude of sins.

The ultimate end of sin in a believer’s life is the sin unto death (1 John 5:16‐17). This is early
physical death, not spiritual death. When another believer restores the sinning Christian to
fellowship with the Lord, he helps to keep him alive to serve the Lord longer on the earth. He also
causes a multitude of sins to be covered by the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7, 9). The sin unto death
is in focus here because of the words “multitude of sins.” The sin unto death is not one sin, but
the final sin of a multitude, which brings the Lord’s long‐suffering to an end. The Corinthians were
guilty of this during the Communion service and were promised by Paul that if they rightly
discerned the Lord’s body, they could have health restored and long life (1 Corinthians 11:30).
James ends his book on a note of forgiveness and restoration to weak believers.
Chapter Summary

James ends his letter by exhorting the unbelieving rich not to oppress the poor while, at the same
time, encouraging the poor believers to endure pressure and oppression without complaining
and griping against one another. He also encourages the congregation to stabilize their hearts
by taking in and applying the Word of God to their lives. James explains the importance of prayer
for the sick as well as the importance of effective and fervent prayer. He concludes by
strayed from the Lord back to Him.
encouraging his people to have sensitive hearts, looking for opportunities to lead those who have