James 5:14

(This is in response to Zenas question about Mark 6:13) Also in that passage the word for anoint is alepho.. not christo... which to me shows that the oil was for medicinal purposes...
Olive oil was a common base used for many medicines. Herbs and other ingredients were mixed in the oil for different ailments.

Again, it is not much different from today. We use petroleum products as a base for many medicines... Take Antibiotic ointment, the base is oil.

And does anyone remember cod liver oil! YUCK!!!!! But it was used.

Why didn't they just touch the person? They could have...

But to me, in my opinion.. and I admit, I could be wrong, but If feel that God is using this to show us that there is nothing wrong with using medicines or medical treatment for illnesses.. but that the real healing behind the medicine comes from God.

How many times have you heard, or even seen here on BB that a person should not use medicine for depression.. .that if they only had faith enough, they could be healed from it.. although it is a medical ailment that affects the brain.

James 5:14 is a passage that can be used to show that, yes, we need faith in the healing power of God.. but we need to realize that God uses many things to accomplish his miracles of healing...

For instance.. My MIL was diagnosed with breast cancer recently. She had one breast removed last week... Now, she could have waited a month or two knowing that if God wanted to miraculously heal her, he could... but she also recognized that God works through doctors and medicine to accomplish healing.

She had the surgery, and is in the process of healing. She is still waiting the results of tests on her lymph nodes so that the Dr can determine the best strategy of therapy to follow. She has faith in God.. although she will be using medicine (i.e. oil)

 

Brother you are in a majority not a minority. The oil used as a mystical tool is not as common as you think.

 

I think you probably are in the majority. I don't know of any churches that use anointing oil, although my very Baptist wife has made me promise to have her anointed and prayed over if she falls gravely ill.

 

I have never seen oil used, but a prayer for the sick occurs at almost every service where I'm at.

 

:applause:

 

Just as an additional note and certainly not a contradiction to anything anyone has said, the annointing oil was poured over the head as well as sprinkled or infused.

Exodus 29:
5 And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod:
6 And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre.
7 Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.​

Psalm 133:2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;​

HankD​

 

Thanks Hank.. I had forgotten about that portion of scripture.

Here is a question... where does the oil come from that is used to put the dot on people's heads?...

Is it Holy anointing oil from the same oil that Aaron used? If not then it had to be manufactured later...and then marketed to be sold.

Now compare this with this scripture, where God says to not put it on human flesh, or make anymore.

Exodus 30:30-32
(30) And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that [they] may minister unto me in the priest's office.
(31) And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.
(32) Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make [any other] like it, after the composition of it: it [is] holy, [and] it shall be holy unto you.

This is another reason I feel the oil in James is medicinal.. James would never contradict God's command to not put it on human flesh, or make anymore holy anointing oil.

 

Right, "after the composition of it". It was a special blend, the recipe for the oil of the annointing of the high priest and that particular blend was not to be used for any other purpose.

Other oils were used for other purposes.

Kings were also annointed by pouring oil over their heads.
Elisha sent another prophet and made Jehu king of Israel:

2 Kings 9:6 And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel.​

Our church annoints the sick if they request it.
The Pastor annoints, the deacons lay hands on the sick.
Just a drop is used.​

HankD​

 

You can take this for whatever you think it is worth.

In May of 2005 I was diagnosed with a large inoperable tumor in my lung. Sometimes verses just come to us and there was one that hit me at the time. It was of Asa who sought the physicians and not the Lord. The following Sunday when the pastor asked for prayer requests I stood, mentioned the book of James and asked for anointing and prayer. The following Sunday at the end of the service, the preacher gathered myself and the other deacons and I was anointed with oil and prayed for. Paul, our pastor, believes in this as it is called for in scripture. He also does not do the spot on the forehead, he draped me around the neck with a towel and poured oil over my head. Then he and the deacons prayed.

Now you can argue over whether you really need the oil and/or what kind of oil you need, and how much, and even over whether a deacon qualifies as an elder or whatever...... but I feel very confident that I did what scripture instructs me to do in the circumstance in which I found myself. That being done (seeking the Lord first) I have gone thru the medical community and taken treatments and followed doctors orders to this day.

All that being said, it is not specifically the oil, or the prayer of faith, or even the medical regimen that sustains me. Just as it is not my baptism that saved me. I did what scripture dictates I should do. My days are and always have been his to do with as he wishes. If I live, I live unto the Lord, and if I die, I die unto the Lord.

 

Tom, sometimes interpretation is not as important as what that passage means to you.

The Lord bless you in healing and living for Him, one day at a time, and forever.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Maybe I am misunderstanding your meaning, but I find this statement rather frightening!

RH

 

Rick, One is not establishing doctrine here, but confirming a personal understanding. There are differing viewpoints theologically. Just sometimes a passage of scripture speaks to the heart despite the interpretations of that verse.

In personal devotions, I often ask what that verse is saying to me at that moment.

In this case the oil is not important. The intent of the heart surpasses any amount of oil applied anywhere. Simple as that.

Cheers,

Jim

 

I recommed using the holiest oil of all, 3-in-1 Oil.:smilewinkgrin:

 

Here is the next verse, James 5:15:

Anyone care to comment on the second clause of this verse? Will the sick man's sins always be forgiven or is it a sometimes phenomenon, like the first part about being restored and raised up?