Jas 5:7

“Having condemned the luxury of the Jewish leaders and their cruelty toward the poor, the apostle turns his discourse to the faithful and says: brethren! do not be scandalized at the sight of this and do not be discouraged, as though there will be no retribution. He speaks of the invasion of the Romans and their captivity of the Jews, which he also calls the coming of the Lord, just as John who reclined on the Lord's breast, when speaking of his own death, presents the Lord Himself saying: "If I will that he remain till I come" (John 21:22), for his earthly life extended to the capture of Jerusalem and a little beyond. And that the coming of the Lord both here and in John signifies the destruction of Jerusalem is evident also from the words of the prophet: "Behold, He is coming, says the Lord of hosts. And who can endure the day of His coming?" (Mal. 3:1–2), that is, when the coming of God brings punishment upon the ungodly. John Chrysostom in some of his commentaries, when examining the words "till I come," also sees in them a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem and confirms this by the prayer of the three youths, who say: "So let our sacrifice be before You today, and may it be accomplished according to You" ("so let our sacrifice be acceptable in Your presence today") (Dan. 3:40). In this he says that "according to You" means: after Your wrath has passed. And when did it come? When Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem. This regarding the word "coming." Some of the Fathers also say that by longsuffering the apostle here means forbearance toward one another, and by patience — forbearance toward those outside, for a person is longsuffering toward one upon whom he could take vengeance, but endures patiently one against whom he cannot take vengeance. Therefore, concerning God the word "patience" is never used, but "longsuffering," while concerning people — "patience." By the early rain is signified tearful repentance in youth, and by the late rain — in old age. All, however, depends on the lovingkindness of God, which is why he says: "until it receives."”

“Be patient, &c. He now in these five following verses turns his discourse from the rich to the poor, exhorting them to patience till the coming of the Lord to judgment, which draweth near; his coming to judge every one is at his death. Imitate the patience of the husbandman, waiting for fruit after that the earth hath received the timely and early [1] rain soon after the corn is sown, and again more rain, that comes later to fill the grain before it comes to be ripe. This seems to be the sense by the Greek: others expound it, till he receive the early and latter fruits. (Witham) — Behold the judge standeth before the door. This expression is synonymous with that in the foregoing verse. “The coming of the Lord is at hand.” This way of speaking is not uncommon in Scripture. Thus God said to Cain: “If thou hast done evil, shall not sin forthwith be present at the door?” St. James is here speaking of the approaching ruin of Jerusalem, the destruction of the temple, and the dispersion of the Jews by the Romans. (Calmet) — Call to mind for your encouragement the trials and constancy[2] of the prophets: the patience of Job, after which God rewarded him with great blessings and property, and you have seen the end of the Lord; that is, what end the Lord was pleased to give to Job’s sufferings. But St. Augustine, Ven. Bede, &c. would have these words, the end of the Lord, to be understood of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, on the cross, for which God exalted him, &c. (Witham)”

“Be patient therefore--as judgment is so near (Jam 5:1, Jam 5:3), ye may well afford to be "patient" after the example of the unresisting Just one (Jam 5:6). brethren--contrasted with the "rich" oppressors, Jam 5:1-6. unto the coming of the Lord--Christ, when the trial of your patience shall cease. husbandman waiteth for--that is, patiently bears toils and delays through hope of the harvest at last. Its "preciousness" (compare Psa 126:6, "precious seed") will more than compensate for all the past. Compare the same image, Gal 6:3, Gal 6:9. hath long patience for it--"over it," in respect to it. until he receive--"until it receive" [ALFORD]. Even if English Version be retained, the receiving of the early and latter rains is not to be understood as the object of his hope, but the harvest for which those rains are the necessary preliminary. The early rain fell at sowing time, about November or December; the latter rain, about March or April, to mature the grain for harvest. The latter rain that shall precede the coming spiritual harvest, will probably be another Pentecost-like effusion of the Holy Ghost.”

“Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient for it until he receives the early and latter rain. Be patient therefore, you also, and establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door. Take as an example, my brothers, of suffering and patience, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who endured. You have heard of the patience of Job, and you have seen the end intended by the Lord, that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. After James has accused the indulgences of the Jewish leaders, and their cruelty and inhumanity towards the poor, he also turns to the faithful and says: "Do not be offended by seeing these things, brothers, nor be disheartened, as if either vengeance is not being taken against them, or if it is indeed being taken, it is too delayed. For there is certain retribution, and it will come immediately." He speaks of the insult of the Romans and the captivity of the Jews under them, which he even calls the coming of the Lord: just as John, who reclined on the Lord's breast, when he speaks of his own destruction, introduces the Lord himself, saying: "'If I want him to remain until I come." (Jn. 21:22) Indeed, this time of this life has been extended until the captivity of Jerusalem, and a little beyond that time. And that the coming of the Lord and the destruction of Jerusalem in this place and in John is evident from the prophet, who says: "Behold, the Lord will come, and who will endure the day of his coming?" (Mal. 3:1) as the coming of the Lord brings judgment against the wicked. But also John Chrysostom1, in a certain commentary of his, explains the same thing, saying: This statement intends to signify the complete destruction of Jerusalem: and he confirms it from the prayer of the three youths, who said: "So let our sacrifice be in your presence today, and may it be perfected after you." (Dan. 3:40 LXX) He says: What does "after you" mean? It means, after your fury has passed. And when did it come? When Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem. And indeed, this is about the coming. However, some of the Fathers say that "patience" [µακροθυµία] here refers to long-suffering, which pertains to those who are among us; while "endurance" [ὑπομονή] refers to patience towards strangers. For one bears with those whom he could avenge; but he endures those whom he cannot avenge. Therefore, in God, "endurance" [ὑπομονή] is never said but "patience" [µακροθυµία]; in men, however, it is "endurance" [ὑπομονή]. Until he receives the early and latter rain. The early rain is repentance completed in youth with tears, while the later rain is that which occurs in old age. Indeed, all things depend on God's kindness, therefore it says: Until he receives.”