Here are the imperatives in the Book of James. They are in bold print and placed in capitals. Stressing these in your reading of this Epistle will impact and bring new light to your thinking. It will also impact your prayer life. The Word of God and prayer work together when you approach it the right way. If you read the Word properly, you will always be praying. You will always be talking to God about these commandments as they are His will for your life. It is your book of prayer.
Imperatives in the Greek language are mainly commands: commands, meaning, an action to be done, usually from a superior to an inferior in rank. They are also used as prohibitions or things that should not be done: in other words the forbidding of an action, usually from a superior to an inferior in rank. There are other uses of imperatives, for example, requests, entreaties, or polite commands: used to make a request rather than a demand, especially from an inferior in rank to a superior as in the Lord’s prayer. ‘Give’ is an imperative in ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’(Wallace, 485)
When used in the New Testament, this verb should carry extra weight in our thinking when God ‘the superior in rank’ instructs His people, the ‘inferior in rank’.
In this context, commandments are orders from God from which there is no turning nor negotiation. In these areas, man’s opinion is of no regard. Obedience is the only option. If God says a thing it is so. Orders from heaven are just that, orders. In James 1:2, when faced with divers temptations, the imperative, or the commandment, or the order from God is ‘count it all joy.’ The only acceptable response is to say ‘Yes sir’ and then execute the instruction.
Here are the imperatives in the Book of James. They are underlined and placed in capitals. Stressing these in your reading of this Epistle will impact and bring new light to your thinking. It will also impact your prayer life. The Word of God and prayer work together when you approach it the right way. If you read the Word properly, you will always be praying. You will always be talking to God about these commandments as it is His will for your life. It is your book of prayer.
James 1:2
My brethren, COUNT IT all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
James 1:4
But LET patience HAVE her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James 1:5
If any of you lack wisdom, LET HIM ASK of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
James 1:6
But LET HIM ASK in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
James 1:7
For let not that man THINK that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
James 1:9
Let the brother of low degree REJOICE in that he is exalted:
James 1:13
Let no man SAY when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
James 1:16
Do not ERR, my beloved brethren.
James 1:19
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man BE swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
James 1:21
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and RECEIVE with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
James 1:22
But BE ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
James 2:1
My brethren, HAVE not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
James 2:3
And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, SIT thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, STAND thou there, or SIT here under my footstool:
James 2:5
HEARKEN, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
James 2:12
So SPEAK ye, and so DO , as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
James 2:16
And one of you say unto them, DEPART in peace, BE ye warmed and FILLED; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
James 2:18
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: SHEW me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
James 2:24
Ye SEE then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
James 3:1
My brethren, BE not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
James 3:3
BEHOLD, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
James 3:4
BEHOLD also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
James 3:5
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. BEHOLD, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
James 3:13
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him SHEW out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
James 3:14
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, GLORY not, and LIE not against the truth.
James 4:7
SUBMIT yourselves therefore to God. RESIST the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:8
DRAW nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. CLEANSE your hands, ye sinners; and PURIFY your hearts, ye double minded.
James 4:9
BE afflicted, and MOURN, and WEEP: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
James 4:10
HUMBLE yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
James 4:11
SPEAK not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
James 4:13
GO to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
James 5:1
GO to now, ye rich men, WEEP and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
James 5:4
BEHOLD, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
James 5:7
BE patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
James 5:8
BE ye also patient; STABLISH your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
James 5:9
GRUDGE not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
James 5:10
TAKE, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
James 5:11
BEHOLD, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
James 5:12
But above all things, my brethren, SWEAR not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
James 5:13
Is any among you afflicted? let him PRAY. Is any merry? let him SING psalms.
James 5:14
Is any sick among you? let him CALL for the elders of the church; and let them PRAY over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
James 5:16
CONFESS your faults one to another, and PRAY one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:20
Let him KNOW, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
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References
Wallace, Daniel B. 1996. “Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament.” In. Grand Rapids, MI.: Zondervan.