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James 5:13-16-Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? 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. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Jean (not her real name) had been in the hospital for several days. A faithful member of the Lord’s church, she knew that her time to leave this world and go to Paradise was fast approaching. As she and I discussed her upcoming journey, Jean made a special request of me.
Jean: Brother Mark, I know that I don’t have many more days left. Will you do something for me?
Mark: Sister, I will do anything I can to help. What is on your mind?
Jean: Before I die, will you anoint me with oil and pray over me?
(End Of Relevant Conversation)
I was happy to anoint my sister in Christ with oil and pray with her as she prepared to depart from this world and be with the Lord.
Yet this raises an important question.
What does the Bible teach about anointing people with oil?
Let’s study.
Throughout the many ages of the Bible’s history, oils were used for several reasons (lighting, cooking, medicines, embalming, consecration, exorcisms, cosmetics, etc.).
Let’s consider two especially relevant uses of oil in the Bible: for medical and for spiritual purposes.
Sometimes, oils were implemented for medicinal purposes:
Mark 6:13-And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.
Luke 10:34-So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
Often in the Bible, oils were also used for spiritual purposes. The oil often symbolically represented that which consecrated a person to the Lord for some special work or function.
“(6) In Religious Rites. (a) Consecration: Consecration of officials or sacred things (Ge 28:18; 35:14; Ex 29:7, 21 ff; Le 2:1 ff; Nu 4:9 ff; 1Sa 10:1; 16:1, 13; 2Sa 1:21; 1Ki 1:39; 2Ki 9:1, 3, 1; Ps 89:20): This was adopted by the early Christians in their ceremonies (Jas 5:14), and is still used in the consecration of crowned rulers and church dignitaries.” (James Orr, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 126361 (Kindle Edition): OSNOVA)
Sometimes, oil could be used for both medicinal and spiritual purposes.
“New, however, is the anointing with oil, found in the NT only here and in Jas 5: 14. Olive oil (Gk. elaion) was a staple of life in antiquity, serving as food, anointing, sacrifice, lamp fuel, and medicine. Rabbinic sources frequently cite the medicinal value of olive oil for curing illnesses as well as for exorcising demons.” (James R. Edwards, Jr., The Gospel according to Mark (The Pillar New Testament Commentary (PNTC)), 3548-3540 (Kindle Edition): Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company)
Our passage in James provides much illumination on the subject.
First, notice that the one here who undergoes anointing with oil calls for the elders of the church. He is described as someone who is “among you,” which is clearly a reference to a member of the church. This informs us that the “sick” person is a child of God, requesting spiritual aid from the bishops of his congregation.
Second, consider that the passage strongly suggests that the “sickness” under consideration is spiritual in nature. God’s Word often describes sin in terms of a sickness (cf. Isaiah 1:5-6; 53:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Hosea 5:13; 14:4; Matthew 9:12). A few things in this passage hint at this being spiritual sickness, the most obvious being that this erring Christian’s “anointing” with oil and “healing” are simultaneously joined together with repentance and forgiveness. It is also possible that the man is suffering a physical illness of some kind due to sin. This is a scenario often found throughout the Bible.
John 5:14-Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
1 Corinthians 11:30-32-For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
Please remember that this does not mean that all physical sickness is a result of personal sin (cf. Job 42:7-8; John 9:1-5; James 5:11). It is possible, however, that the man here in James 5 was suffering some physical malady due to personal sin.
If the “sickness” of the passage is talking primarily about a physical condition, then it is likely that the anointing with oil is a medicinal oil being administered with prayers of faith by the elders. One modern day application would be people who are sick receiving medical care, coupled with the believing prayers of God’s people.
However, it is also likely that the passage is addressing spiritual sickness. Some therefore believe that the erring child of God is here forgiven upon his repentance, and then anointed with oil as a visible sign of his consecration back to the fellowship of the Lord and restoration of service in the church. This makes sense, especially considering the cultural background and significance of oil for such purposes.
Grammatically, both interpretations are plausible.
What about anointing people with oil today?
There is certainly Bible precedent for anointing people all throughout the Bible’s history.
If some who are physically ill request anointing with oil, I look at it from the point of view of oils being used historically as both a medicine and an aid to believing prayer.
If a person requests anointing of oil for some spiritual purpose, then I anoint them as a symbol of devotion and consecration to God.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.