Off the Path
let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins. James 5:20 NASB
Error – James is Jewish. His name is Ya’aqob. That means he writes as a rabbi, giving important instruction and advice to those under his care. That also means that we should expect to find Jewish idioms and linguistic constructions buried in his Greek text. In the last two verses of his letter, James provides just such Hebrew ideas, but when we translate these ideas into English from Greek, something goes astray. Recovering what is obscured helps us see deeper into James’ advice.
We must start with verse 19. “If any among you strays from the truth,” writes James. The verb he uses is planao. Here it is aorist, passive, subjunctive. That means it is a supposed action in the past that happens to the subject. The verb itself means “to go astray, to wander, to be deceived, to mislead.” But the passive construction means that the subject of this verb is the victim of this action. In other words, it isn’t deliberate. This person didn’t set out to intentionally rebel against God’s instructions. He simply was led off the path by someone or something. He ended up in the wrong place but it is possible that he wasn’t even aware of that fact. He wandered from the truth.
Now look at verse 20. The same root, planao, is employed by James to describe the condition of the sinner. The NASB translates this as “error,” but in the previous verse it is translated “strays.” Consider the subtle implications in this shift. In verse 19, James clearly suggests that the person is victimized by deceit or misleading. The “wandering” is unintentional. But in verse 20, this same condition is now described as “error.” While error could be the result of being led astray, doesn’t “error” suggest something a bit stronger than victimization? In verse 20, James calls this person a sinner. Do we think of a sinner as a victim or do we view sin as intentional rebellion? Does the NASB translation help us identify this poor soul as a befuddled dupe or does it push us to read the verse as if it applies to conscious wrongdoing?
Now let’s add the Hebraic perspective of James the rabbi. What kind of sin occurs as a result of deception, misleading or wandering? Unintentional sin. What kind of atonement is available for those who discover they have sinned unintentionally? The Levitical sacrifices. How is such a person “saved”? By being instructed in the truth and performing the proper sacrifice. What is the “truth” that James has in mind, the truth that this person has unintentionally missed? James is a Jewish rabbi, remember. Doesn’t James say, “For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath” (Acts 15:21)? Is Moses read in James’ synagogue every Sabbath? Of course! Notice that James addresses this letter to the synagogues, not the churches (the Greek word in James 2:2 is synagoge, not ekklesia, and should be translated correctly). Notice that James refers to the assembly meeting on the Sabbath, not Sunday. James is thoroughly Jewish – a Jewish follower of Yeshua HaMashiach. Unintentional sin is part of his biblical ethos.
When you read this verse, did you think, “Oh, James is addressing those poor people who have wandered into non-Torah disobedience because they didn’t know better”? Or did you think James was speaking about the forgiveness of your deliberate sins? Now that you’ve looked a little deeper, what you do think?
Topical Index: James 5:20, planao, error, wandering, unintentional sin
We were just studying this last night along with Galatians 6:1, 1 Peter 4:8, proverbs 10:2, 17:9. But, from a different angle; The word ‘covers’ seems to be veil, hide. Our part is to love the person back to the right path and not expose them but to cover, conceal their shameful deeds as they deal with it and lay it down. They themselves need to shed light on it but we are to protect them. If they don’t listen, you go to the elders so they can help them. We have all seen those who are deliberately living in sin which may have started out innocently. Now they realize they are in error and want to hide the truth or don’t know how to get out of it. I know I have been in this position. I wondered how did I get here? If we go before people, (and it seems that it usually takes going before more than one person in many cases)they have now exposed the sin themselves to the light and now God can strengthen them because they have people they are accountable to who know the truth. Kind of like AA. They have the Aarons and Hurs who are going to hold their arms up, their support group. There seems to be some relief when ‘sinners’ tell what has held them captive. They aren’t fighting this isolated any longer, satan is exposed!!
I don’t think the answer is so cut and dry and each sin is unique. Most sin seems to be at first unintentional because we believe a lie, we are misguided or don’t know the scriptures properly. There are other sins that happen because we don’t even know the truth in the first place about what is expected. Many sins start out unintentional and somewhere along the way you discover you are sinning or what was not sin has gone to another level and now it is. We are all Satan’s victim led astray but victims can turn into criminals over time if not rescued soon enough.
If I think to my own personal sins, most were not intentional at the beginning. Some that were intentional, I have rationalized to myself why it was ok or I seemed to find scripture I didn’t understand or what appeared to be conflicting passages and I did not have a definite on it. Everyone fights the fleshly inclinations all day long. I think James is speaking about any believer who is sinning. We are expected to know the truth and act accordingly. If we don’t know it, we learn it through our studying and our community, our tribe and change our behavior. Walk this way, means a path. If we are on it and then wander off, we left the flow. If we don’t stay in the Word we will hear other voices that are not God’s instructions and away we go. We stand on the edge of the path leaning over looking out more than in.
It’s intentional if you have been told you are sinning and keep doing it, and shown in scripture. We have to get to the place of conviction and the ability to resist and renew our mind.
I heard a Rabbi say that we do those things that we know. Meaning that once we fully understand a principle we do it, until then we really don’t get it! So if I am out sinning repeatedly, I obviously do not understand the scriptures. It hasn’t gone from the book into my heart or I need more instruction.
WAO Skip! Good job! Reminds me of when i found out (through due diligence, of course. gotta always consider the source) that the word “evil” would be better understood if it had been transliterated/translated to the appropriate word, “dysfunction.” Folks have been scared to “death” for nothing. Reminds me of when i was growing up and they called the Holy Spirit the Holy Ghost. i don’t like ghosts. Why would i want that?
Ahem,
jeanette
~ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins ~ (1 Peter 4.8)
~ and God is love ~ ( 1 John 4.8)
or to go into “High-Def” concerning love: (from chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians, what some have tagged “the love chapter”)
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,b but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Once again, “love covers a multitude of sins” (how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?).
It is past time, way past time to thank God for the atoning, cleansing blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Thank you God for the propitiating, sin-cleansing, soul-renewing work of Calvary. God (in the beginning) made a covering for Adam and his God-given soul-mate from the skins of an animal. An animal had to have been slain to provide this “covering” or this atonement for Adam. This is the very first “picture” (or tutorial, if you prefer) of “atonement.” Yom Kippor- the Day of Atonement. Tell me (please), my Jewish brothers and sisters about the thousands of bulls, calves, lambs, etc. that were slain upon the altar of sacrifice. Even Passover, (hello?) speaks to us in a loud, crystal clear volume, God has said, “when I see the blood, I will pass over you”. Yes, “His blood be upon us and upon our children..” To this, I say “amen.” -Let it be so.
Allow me to testify as to the blood of cross. I really don’t have to- it is already written for us in the word of God: ~ Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He went into the Most Holy Place once for all and secured our eternal redemption ~ (Hebrews 9.12)
~ He has no need to offer sacrifices every day like high priests do, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since He did this once for all when He sacrificed Himself ~ (Hebrews 7.27)
~ But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin ~ (1 John 1.7)
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon, this I see, Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Nothing can for sin atone, Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my hope and peace, Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Now by this I’ll overcome— Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
Now by this I’ll reach my home— Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Glory! Glory! This I sing— Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
~ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins ~ (1 Peter 4.8)
~ and God is love ~ ( 1 John 4.8)
or to go into “High-Def” concerning love: (from chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians, what some have tagged “the love chapter”)
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,b but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Once again, “love covers a multitude of sins” (how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?).
It is past time, way past time to thank God for the atoning, cleansing blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Thank you God for the propitiating, sin-cleansing, soul-renewing work of Calvary. God (in the beginning) made a covering for Adam and his God-given soul-mate from the skins of an animal. An animal had to have been slain to provide this “covering” or this atonement for Adam. This is the very first “picture” (or tutorial, if you prefer) of “atonement.” Yom Kippur- the Day of Atonement. Tell me (please), my Jewish brothers and sisters about the thousands of bulls, calves, lambs, etc. that were slain upon the altar of sacrifice. Even Passover, (hello?) speaks to us in a loud, crystal clear volume, God has said, “when I see the blood, I will pass over you”. Yes, “His blood be upon us and upon our children..” To this, I say “amen.” -Let it be so.
Allow me to testify as to the blood of cross. I really don’t have to- it is already written for us in the word of God: ~ Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He went into the Most Holy Place once for all and secured our eternal redemption ~ (Hebrews 9.12)
~ He has no need to offer sacrifices every day like high priests do, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since He did this once for all when He sacrificed Himself ~ (Hebrews 7.27)
~ But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin ~ (1 John 1.7)
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon, this I see, Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Nothing can for sin atone, Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my hope and peace, Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Now by this I’ll overcome— Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
Now by this I’ll reach my home— Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Glory! Glory! This I sing— Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.