There is a reason why I am diverting from the little series on Psalms taken from my upcoming commentary, Awake O Harp. A wayward husband has repented, asked forgiveness, broken off a sinful relationship, and returned to his wife! I thought of the following words that I wrote in my devotional commentary on James, To Love God and to Love Others.
“My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (Jas 5:19–20).
James ends abruptly and soberly, but he tells us something about the Truth and what happens when someone wanders from it and is then restored.
1. The Wandering Way (5:19, 20)
2. The Truthful Way (5:19, 20)
The “two ways” tradition that has been so evident in James (Jas 3:13–18) again finds expression in this last paragraph with the reference to the “erroneous way” in 5:20 and the “truthful way” in 5:19. In a book that has so often utilized the sayings of Jesus and the writings of the OT, those two sources again inform James’ closing counsel about the communal restoration of sinners. While this could be an allusion to the parable of the lost sheep in Matt 18:12–14, the theme of restoring a sinning brother is also prominent in Luke 17:3–4. The last expression about the covering of sins could allude to Prov 10:12. This passage also shares the theme of a sinning brother with the closing section of 1 John 5:16–17—another book that also ends abruptly. In addition to James and John, Paul also issued some similar advice: “Brothers, if anyone is caught in a transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness…” (Gal 6:1).
Do you really care when you see a brother or sister losing their way? Do you make an effort to bring them back, or just callously chalk them off as giving evidence that they were never saved in the first place? James exhorts us strongly to do everything in our strength to bring them back. Rescuing them from death and covering their sins are major effects of our rescue operation.
While we should teach the importance of church discipline, we should also long for and seek the restoration of the sinner, and not take delight in the possible necessity of discipline.