Christ Is King Baptist Church

James moves on to rebuke yet another group of rich people in this next oracle. He calls out these rich land owners for their hoarding, fraud, indulgence, and murder, bringing up several witnesses that will be used against them on Judgment Day.--Following the pattern of Old Testament prophetic oracles, this passage is meant to be an encouragement for believers who are undergoing oppression and ill-treatment under the heavy hand of these rich people. The nearness of the Lord's return to destroy the wicked means that relief is coming soon.--Yet at the same time, this is a call for us who may not have a lot of money to search our hearts and crucify any greed or covetousness.