James 2 Commentary

Updated: Fri, 12/30/2022 - 09:09 By admin

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JAMES Faith for Living
Motives for Works	The Place of Works: Outward Demonstration of Inner Faith						Outreach of Works
Jas 1:1-18	Jas 1:19-2:13		Jas 2:14-25	Jas 3:1-12	Jas 3:13-4:12	Jas 4:13-5:12	Jas 5:13-19
Trials & Temptations	Word & Works		Faith & Works	Tongue	Wars	Future	Others
Faith In Testings	Fulfill	Favor	Fallacy	Fountain	Factions	Faith and the Future	Faith and our Fellowship
Faith In Testings	FAITH AT WORK					Faith and the Future	Faith and our Fellowship

Faith tested by its reaction to partiality (James 2:1–13)
A. The rebuke for partiality (James 2:1–4)
1. The prohibition of partiality (James 2:1)
2. The illustration of partiality (James 2:2–3)
3. The question of condemnation (James 2:4)
B. The result of partiality (James 2:5–11)
1. The inconsistency in their conduct (James 2:5–7)
a. The divine choice of the poor (James 2:5b–6a)
b. The hostile actions of the rich (James 2:6b–7)
2. The breach of God’s law (James 2:8–11)
a. The relations to this law (James 2:8–9)
(1) The commendation upon its fulfillment (James 2:8)
(2) The sin in its violation (James 2:9)
b. The breaking of this law (James 2:10–11)
(1) The principle stated (James 2:10)
(2) The principle illustrated (James 2:11)
C. The appeal for consistent conduct (James 2:12–13)
1. The statement of the appeal (James 2:12)
2. The vindication of the appeal (James 2:13)

Faith tested by its production of works (2:14–26)
A. The character of a useless faith (James 2:14–20)
1. The uselessness of an inoperative faith (James 2:14–17)
a. The question concerning inoperative faith (James 2:14)
b. The illustration of inoperative faith (James 2:15–16)
c. The application made to inoperative faith (James 2:17)
2. The barrenness of orthodox faith without works (James 2:18–20)
a. The assertion of an objector (James 2:18a)
b. The challenge to the objector (James 2:18b–19)
(1) The demonstration of faith by works (James 2:18b)
(2) The character of faith without works (James 2:19)
c. The appeal to the objector (James 2:20)
B. The manifestation of saving faith through works (James 2:21–25)
1. The working of Abraham’s faith (James 2:21–24)
a. The evidence of Abraham’s faith (James 2:21)
b. The results of Abraham’s working faith (James 2:22–23)
(1) The perfecting of his faith (James 2:22)
(2) The fulfillment of the Scripture (James 2:23a)
(3) The friendship with God (James 2:23b)
c. The conclusion from Abraham’s example (James 2:24)
C. The union of faith and works (James 2:26) (From Hiebert - James Commentary)

James 2:1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.

Amplified MY BRETHREN, pay no servile regard to people [show no prejudice, no partiality]. Do not [attempt to] hold and practice the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ [the Lord] of glory [together with snobbery]!

Phillips Don't ever attempt, my brothers, to combine snobbery with faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ!

Wuest My brethren, stop holding your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of the glory, in connection with an act showing partiality [to anyone].

NET James 2:1 My brothers and sisters, do not show prejudice if you possess faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.

GNT James 2:1 Ἀδελφοί μου, μὴ ἐν προσωπολημψίαις ἔχετε τὴν πίστιν τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τῆς δόξης.

NLT James 2:1 My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?

KJV James 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

ESV James 2:1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

ASV James 2:1 My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

CSB James 2:1 My brothers, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.

NIV James 2:1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.

NKJ James 2:1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.

NRS James 2:1 My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ?

YLT James 2:1 My brethren, hold not, in respect of persons, the faith of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ,

NAB James 2:1 My brothers, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.

NJB James 2:1 My brothers, do not let class distinction enter into your faith in Jesus Christ, our glorified Lord.

GWN James 2:1 My brothers and sisters, practice your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ by not favoring one person over another.

BBE James 2:1 My brothers, if you have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory, do not take a man's position into account.

do not hold your faith: Ac 20:21 24:24 Col 1:4 1Ti 1:19 Tit 1:1 2Pe 1:1 Rev 14:12
in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ : Ps 24:7-10 1Co 2:8 Tit 2:13 Heb 1:3
with an attitude of personal favoritism: Jas 2:3,9 3:17 Lev 19:15 De 1:17 16:19 2Ch 19:7 Pr 24:23 28:21 Mt 22:16 Ro 1:11 1Ti 5:21 Jude 1:16
James 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

CONDEMNATION OF AN
ATTITUDE OF FAVORITISM

What James is calling for in this passage is our Christian BEHAVIOR to match our Christian BELIEF.

J Vernon McGee entitles James 2:1-13 as "God Tests Faith by Attitude and Action in Respect of Persons." That's a good summary of this section.

My brethren - It is surprising that the phrase "my brethren" appears on 22x in the all of the Bible and 8 of those uses are in the epistle of James. (Jas. 1:2; Jas. 2:1; Jas. 2:14; Jas. 3:1; Jas. 3:10; Jas. 3:12; Jas. 5:12; Jas. 5:19). Similarly, the related phrase "my beloved brethren" occurs only 5 times in Scripture and 3 of the uses are by James (Jas. 1:16; Jas. 1:19; Jas. 2:5). James is addressing his readers as a fellow believer and in using "beloved" emphasizes that what he is saying is motivated by love for them.

Jamieson - The equality of all Christians as "brethren," forms the groundwork of the admonition.

Brethren (80)(adelphos from a = denotes unity + delphus = a womb) ) in classic Greek described the son of the same mother but in the spiritual sense is actually one born by the Spirit and in the the family of the same Father. And what James addresses now is a "family issue."

Do not hold - James is issuing a present imperative with a negative which means "do not be holding" meaning stop practicing partiality, "don't make it a practice!" of showing favoritism. James is calling for a halt to a practice that was already in progress in some assemblies. What James is commanding is better seen by rephrasing and paraphrasing the passage "As believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism." So if any of his readers are demonstrating favoritism, they must cease from this forthwith! Paul uses the related verb (prosopolempteo) in James 2:9 and clearly calls this favoritism a sin!

Paul of course is not saying that we should never show honor to members of the body. As MacArthur says "Paul wrote the Thessalonians to "appreciate" and "esteem... very highly" their pastors (1 Thess. 5:12-13). "The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor," Paul told Timothy, "especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching" (1 Tim. 5:17)." (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – James) Similarly Peter says "Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king." (1 Pe 2:17+)

Your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ - The NET Bible = "if you possess faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ." The NLT paraphrases it in the form of a question "how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ" if you are demonstrating as attitude of favoritism? Goodspeed also phrases it as a question -- "Do you try to combine faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with acts of partiality?" While it is possible this was in the forth of a question, reading it as a command is favored by most commentators and is a bit more forceful than a question.

Our glorious Lord Jesus (Iesous) Christ (Christos) - More literally "our Lord Jesus Christ of the glory."Some commentators think this is a reference to the Shekinah glory of God (cf Ex 40:34, Nu 14:10, 1 Ki 8:11, 2 Chr 7:2 - see resource below). In either event James is appealing to those who "are actively adhering to the One in Whom "the faith" centers." (Hiebert).

Lord Jesus (Iesous) Christ (Christos) - His full Name is found only here and James 1:1 in this letter and in that passage on a par with God! There are of course other allusions to Jesus Christ (See James 2:7, James 5:7, 9, 14-15) John associates glory with Jesus in John 1:14+ "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." (See also Heb 1:3+).

Lord (Master, Owner)(2962)(kurios from kuros = might or power, related to kuroo = to give authority) primarily means the possessor, owner, master, the supreme one, one who is sovereign (used this way of Roman emperors - Act 25:26+) and possesses absolute authority, absolute ownership and uncontested power. Kurios is used of the one to whom a person or thing belonged, over which he has the power of deciding, the one who is the master or disposer of a thing (Mk 7:28)

Paul Apple makes an excellent point that a "Proper View of Christ Leads to a Proper View of Others. Once we truly see how "glorious" Christ is, there will be no room for distinctions on the human plane because we all pale in comparison to the glory of Christ. Look at how our Lord (in all of His Majesty) treated others and we will see that there is no room for "personal favoritism" on our part. Surely the disciples are not above the Master when it comes to showing compassion to all men without distinction." (Commentary)

Bruce Barton - Early Christians developed descriptions for Jesus that expressed the depth of their trust in him. They could be called reflective names, since they resulted from reflections on Jesus. Paul gives us a number of his reflective names for Jesus:

his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:9)
Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24)
the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15)
the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead (Colossians 1:18)
our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13) (Life Application Bible Commentary – James)

J Vernon McGee observes that "Here is a strong assertion of the deity of Christ. I know of no one who was in a better position to determine the deity of Christ than a younger brother of the Lord Jesus who was brought up in the same home with Him. Frankly, I think James (HALF BROTHER OF JESUS, UNBELIEVER AT ONE POINT in Jn 7:5 BUT BELIEVER AFTER 1 Cor 15:7) is in a better position to speak on the deity of Christ than some theologian sitting in a swivel chair in a musty library in New York City, removed from the reality of even his own day. Such a man is really far removed from the reality of the first century and the home in which Jesus was raised. Therefore, I go along with James, if you don't mind. He is the "Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory." (Thru The Bible)

Glorious (1391)(doxa from dokeo = to think) in simple terms means to give a proper opinion or estimate of something. Glory is something that is a source of honor, fame, or admiration. It describes renown, a thing that is beautiful, impressive, or worthy of praise. It follows that the glory of God expresses all that He is in His Being and in His nature, character, power and acts. Doxa is the word used by the Septuagint (Lxx) translation of Ex 24:16 - "The glory (Septuagint = doxa) of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud." It is worth noting that God's glory is past (Ex 24:16), present (Jn 1:14+, fulfilling the prophecy of Isa 40:5), and future (Titus 2:13+ at His Second Coming, also fulfilling the prophecy of Isa 40:5) and in the New Heaven and New Earth (Rev 21:23+).

Paul writes about "the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." (1 Cor 2:8)

Jamieson has an interesting thought on glory in James 2:1 - The glory of Christ resting on the poor believer should make him be regarded as highly by "brethren" as his richer brother; nay, more so, if the poor believer has more of Christ's spirit than the rich brother.

Related Resources:

Faith (pistis) is more literally "the faith" (ten pistin) so points to objective aspect of faith, that is, what is believed or what one place their faith in. In this passage "the faith" speaks of fatih in the objective sense rather than the subjective sense. In other words, Subjectively faith is the personal persuasion, conviction, belief in the truth, veracity, reality of something. "Clearly objective genitive, not subjective (faith of), but "faith in our Lord Jesus Christ." (A T Robertson) Objectively faith is that which is believed (usually designated as "the faith"),that is the doctrine believed which ultimately is embodied in the Gospel. Are you confused? The main point is these are believers and James underscores this by identifying himself with the readers when he says Jesus is "OUR" glorious Lord Jesus Christ. They did not just say "Jesus Christ is Lord," but "Jesus is MY Lord."

Jamieson on faith (the faith) - that is, the Christian faith. James grounds Christian practice on Christian faith

Matthew Henry adds that "The character of Christians fully implied: they are such as have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ; they embrace it; they receive it; they govern themselves by it; they entertain the doctrine, and submit to the law and government, of Christ; they have it as a trust; they have it as a treasure."

Related Resource:

Study of "the faith (pistis)".

If we would seek to imitate Jesus (which we are in fact commanded to do - 1 Cor 11:1+ recalling that Jesus ministered to a wealthy Jewish leader as well as to poor beggars, to virtuous women as well as prostitutes, etc) we would avoid all hints of demonstrating partiality or favoritism. Our Lord did not look at the outward appearance; He looked at the heart (cf 1 Sa 16:7) In fact perfect impartiality is one of God's great attributes (Ro 2:11, Eph 6:9, Col 3:25) and if you are a Gentile, you should be especially thankful He did not demonstrate partiality toward you. Peter learned this great truth as the door of salvation was flung open to the Gentiles in Acts 10-11, Peter "Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality (prosopolemptes) but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.." (Acts 10:34-35+). I love what John MacArthur said writing that "The Gospel is a great leveler, available with absolute equality to everyone who believes in the Savior it proclaims."

THOUGHT - Indeed, we are all on the same level at the foot of Jesus' Cross, which is a good place to continue to remain even after we are saved, for grace flows down (James 4:6+)!

Bruce Barton comments that "In general, social distinctions did not exist in the early church. Masters sat beside their slaves during worship; sometimes a slave was the leader of the assembly. But from its beginnings, the church had many poor, outcasts, and those of little class or influence. So when a rich person was converted, the church members needed to guard against making more of a fuss over him or her than they would at the conversion of another poor person." (Ibid)

Wiersbe - We have this same problem with us today. Pyramid climbers are among us, not only in politics, industry, and society, but also in the church. Almost every church has its cliques, and often, new Christians find it difficult to get in. Some church members use their offices to enhance their own images of importance. Many of the believers James wrote to were trying to seize spiritual offices, and James had to warn them (James 3:1). (Bible Exposition Commentary)

With an attitude of personal favoritism - The Greek word for personal favoritism (prosopolepsia) is near the beginning of the sentence for emphasis. Note also that the noun is in the plural indicating that practically speaking there is more than one way to show partiality (just a look, withhold one's hand of fellowship, don't invite them to dinner, etc, etc). What James is saying that if one says he has faith in Jesus, then the action of showing personal favoritism is not compatible with one who has saving faith, which is reasonable considering that most of his readers have a Jewish background and would be very familiar with this Old Testament description of God.

MacArthur applies James 2:1 - Tragically, many otherwise biblical and faithful churches today do not treat all their members the same. Frequently, those who are of a different ethnic background, race, or financial standing are not fully welcomed into fellowship. That ought not to be. It not only is a transgression of God's divine law but is a mockery of His divine character. (Ibid)

McGee adds "What James is telling us here is not to profess faith in Christ and at the same time be a spiritual snob. Don't join some little clique in the church. All believers are brethren in the body of Christ, whatever their denomination. There is a fellowship of believers; friendship should be over them as a banner. James is addressing the total community of believers -- the rich, the poor, the common people, the high, the low, the bond and free, the Jew and the Gentile, the Greek and the barbarian, male and female. They are all one when they are in the body of Christ. There is a brotherhood within the body of believers, and the Lord Jesus Christ is the common denominator. Friendship and fellowship are the legal tender among believers." (Ibid)

Guzik points out that "We do well to remember that James wrote to a very partial age, filled with prejudice and hatred based on class, ethnicity, nationality, and religious background. In the ancient world people were routinely and permanently categorized because they were Jew or Gentile, slave or free, rich or poor, Greek or barbarian, or whatever.i. A significant aspect of the work of Jesus was to break down these walls that divided humanity, and to bring forth one new race of mankind in Him (Ephesians 2:14-15)." (Enduring Word Bible Commentary – James)

Wierse is so right when he says "We are prone to judge people by their past, not their future....We do not enjoy sitting with certain people in church because they "are not our kind of people." Jesus was the Friend of sinners, though He disapproved of their sins. It was not compromise, but compassion, that caused Him to welcome them, and when they trusted Him, forgive them." (Ibid) (Bold added)

Personal favoritism (4382)(prosopolepsia from prósopon = face + lambáno = receive) literally means "face taking", “receive face” (e.g., judging the book by its cover, judging the person by externals, not internals), the accepting of one's person. The idea is looking to see who someone is before deciding how to treat him. The idea is judging by appearance and on that basis giving or not giving special favor and respect. It pertains to judging purely on a superficial level, without consideration of a person’s true merits, abilities, or character. The Oriental custom of greeting was to bow one's face to the ground. If the one being greeting accepted the person, the one doing the greeting was allowed to lift his head again. The accepting of the appearance of a person was a Hebraic term for "partiality". In summary, the idea behind prosopolepsia is that one judges on the basis of externals or pre-conceived notions, and shows partiality or favoritism. In practice it as here in James it meant to make unjust distinctions between people by treating one person better than another.

Robertson adds that prosopolepsia is "made from prosōpon lambanein (Luke 20:21+; Galatians 2:6+), which is a Hebrew idiom for panim nasa, "to lift up the face on a person," to be favorable and so partial to him."

Hiebert adds a helpful note on prosopolepsia - This compound noun that literally means "a receiving of face" is based on the Septuagint (Lxx) rendering of a Hebrew phrase meaning "to lift up the face" (Lev 19:15; Ps. 82:2). The compound noun does not occur in secular Greek or the Septuagint and is apparently a term developed early in the Christian church. It came to be a well-known term to denote the partiality of a judge raising the face of someone to his unjust advantage. It denotes "a biased judgment based on external circumstances such as rank, wealth, or race, disregarding the intrinsic merit of the person involved." This was a common failing of Oriental judges, and the Old Testament strictly prohibited it (Lev 19:15; Deut. 1:17; 2 Chr 19:6-7; Pr 24:23). The early church, with its strong sense of justice and personal worth, was keenly aware of this evil practice. (Hiebert's Commentary – James).

Brian Bell - What does “respect of persons” actually look like?

1. Discrimination - the act, practice, or an instance of discriminating categorically rather than individually.

2. To be bias, bent, to have a tendency - an inclination of temperament or outlook, especially a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment.

3. Prejudice, from the words pre + judge: preconceived judgment or opinion; an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge.

4. Judgments based on evil motives. (Sermon)

Related Resource:

Impartial - God's Attribute

John Phillips on the impartiality of God/Jesus - God is neither partial nor prejudiced in His dealings with the human race. The color of a person's skin, the size of his bank balance, the number of degrees he has after his name, or the place he holds in the social hierarchy leaves God completely unimpressed. The Lord Jesus was as polite to the woman at the well (John 4) as He was to Nicodemus (John 5). He was as gracious to the woman who touched the hem of His garment as He was to Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue. He was as open to poor, blind Bartimaeus as He was to the rich young ruler. He had no "respect of persons." He was as honest and forthright with the Syro-Phoenician woman as He was with Pilate. He treated everyone with the same love, the same interest, and the same care and concern. He was not condescending when He was dealing with the publicans and sinners, and He was not cowed or compromising when He was dealing with those who occupied the seat of power. He gave the outcasts and the untouchables the same gentle, loving compassion that He extended to the scribes and the Pharisees. Sometimes the Lord did not approve of peoples' behavior, but He looked beyond that to the individuals and their deepest needs and treated them with dignity no matter what. (Exploring the Epistle of James: An Expository Commentary)

DOES YOUR CHURCH SHOW FAVORITISM? Ask these questions:

How closely does our congregation reflect the socioeconomic and racial neighborhood in which we gather?
In our church, people may not be ushered to good or bad seats, but in what other ways might we be favoring the rich or discriminating against the poor?
Would a poor person feel welcome in our church? Would a rich person feel welcome in our church?
In what ways do we consciously or unconsciously favor some people over others in our church? Why do we do this?
How can our ministry reach out to all people without any hint of discrimination?
What can we do to be completely free from being impressed by the wealth or power of others? (Life Application Bible Commentary – James)

The wealth of an individual is no measure of the worth of that individual.
The real measure of a person’s wealth is how much he would be worth if he lost all his money.

King Oscar - I remember reading a story about a plainly dressed man who entered a church in the Netherlands and took a seat near the front. A few minutes later a woman walked down the aisle, saw the stranger in the place she always sat, and curtly asked him to leave. He quietly got up and moved to a section reserved for the poor.

When the meeting was over, a friend of the woman asked her if she knew the man she had ordered out of her seat. “No,” she replied. Her friend then informed her, “The man you ordered out of your seat was King Oscar of Sweden! He is here visiting the Queen.” - Our Daily Bread, December 3, 1993

Sin Of The Skin

Do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. —James 2:1

Most people hate to be accused of racism. But racial bias is all too prevalent. Even Christians have had a long history of ethnic prejudice. In the first century, Jewish believers were reluctant to accept their Gentile brothers. In recent years, racial discrimination has been a dominant issue.

Prejudice can run so deep that it sometimes takes a tragedy to make a person see how wrong it is to discriminate on the basis of physical differences. Several years ago I read about a bigoted truckdriver who had no use for African-Americans. But one early morning, his tanker truck flipped over and burst into flames. A week later, he was lying in a hospital bed and looking into the face of a black man who had saved his life. He learned that the man had used his own coat and bare hands to smother the flames that had turned the trucker into a human torch. He wept as he thanked the man for his act of unselfish heroism.

We shouldn’t need a tragedy to open our eyes. We need only look to Calvary. There our Lord gave His life for people of every language, race, and nation. The universal scope of His sacrifice shows His love for every human being.

Have mercy on us, Lord, if we have fanned the fire of prejudice that You died to put out.By Mart DeHaan (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Join hands, then, brothers of the faith,
Whate'er your race may be;
Who serves my Father as a son
Is surely kin to me. —Oxenham

Prejudice is a lazy man's substitute for thinking.

No Partiality

Do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. —James 2:1

A man attended a church regularly for several months, but he was always ignored. Because no one knew who he was, and he looked out-of-place with his old and worn-out clothes, no one ever took the time to speak to him.

One Sunday as he took a seat in church, he intentionally left his hat on. As the pastor stood on the platform and looked out over the audience, he noticed the man with the hat right away. So he summoned one of the deacons and asked him to tell the man that he forgot to remove his hat. When the deacon spoke to the man, he responded with a big smile and said, “I thought that would do it. I have attended this church for 6 months, and you are the first person who has ever talked to me.”

There is no place for prejudice or favoritism in the family of God. We who have been born again through faith in Jesus are equals in God’s sight. And that equality should be evident in the way we treat other believers.

We must be hospitable and courteous to all, regardless of their race, social status, or appearance. When we show favoritism, we sin against people whom God loves and for whom Christ died. Let’s be gracious to everyone and be careful to avoid showing partiality. By: Richard DeHaan (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

All those who know and love the Lord
Must show by word and deed
That they will not discriminate
But welcome those in need.
—D. De Haan

Prejudice builds walls; love breaks them down.

A Misleading Impression

God shows personal favoritism to no man. —Galatians 2:6

Today's Scripture: James 2:1-13

He wasn’t wearing a shirt, and his car looked like it was a refugee from a junkyard. Yet the unkempt man who stopped to help them on the Chicago expressway was, to my friends, angelic.

While traveling the busy highways of Chicago, Ken and Sue’s van blew a tire. As they edged toward the shoulder of the expressway, with cars flying past, they quickly prayed for help. That’s when the man in the rusty car waved and yelled to them that he would help.

Most of us are reluctant to trust complete strangers, so my friends were understandably wary of this scraggly man. Yet they soon found out that he was a mechanic who himself had been stranded just days earlier. He grabbed his tools, got to work on their car, and quickly had them back on the road.

We often judge people by the way they look or dress, or by what kind of car they drive. Sure, we must be careful whom we trust, but that doesn’t mean we should dismiss everyone who doesn’t dress like a television news anchor.

People come in all sizes, colors, and conditions. Before we set aside those who don’t match our personal standards, we need to remind ourselves that our Creator doesn’t play favorites (Gal. 2:6). Neither should we. By: Dave Branon (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

First impressions are misleading
For we do not know the heart;
We can often be mistaken
Since we only know in part.
—Fitzhugh

Always look at others through the eyes of Christ.

MERCY OVER JUDGMENT

READ: James 2:1–13

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom. James 2:12

When my children were squabbling and came to me to tattle on one another, I took each child aside separately to hear their account of the problem. Since both were guilty, at the end of our chat I asked them each what they felt would be an appropriate, fair consequence for their sibling’s actions. Both suggested swift punishment for the other. To their surprise, I instead gave them each the consequence they had intended for their sibling. Suddenly, each child lamented how “unfair” the sentence seemed now that it was visited upon them—despite having deemed it appropriate when it was intended for the other.

My kids had shown the kind of “judgment without mercy” that God warns against (James 2:13). James reminds us that instead of showing favoritism to the wealthy, or even to one’s self, God desires that we love others as we love ourselves (v. 8). Instead of using others for selfish gain, or disregarding anyone whose position doesn’t benefit us, James instructs us to act as people who know how much we’ve been given and forgiven—and to extend that mercy to others.

God has given generously of His mercy. In all our dealings with others, let’s remember the mercy He’s shown us and extend it to others.— Kirsten Holmberg (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Lord, I’m grateful for the great mercy You’ve shown me. Help me to offer similar mercy to others as a measure of my gratitude to You.

God’s mercy prompts us to be merciful.

A PREJUDICED USHER

James 2:1-13

If you show partiality, you commit sin. James 2:9

In his autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi wrote that during his student days he read the Gospels seriously and considered converting to Christianity. He believed that in the teachings of Jesus he could find the solution to the caste system that was dividing the people of India.

So one Sunday he decided to attend services at a nearby church and talk to the minister about becoming a Christian. When he entered the sanctuary, however, the usher refused to give him a seat and suggested that he go worship with his own people. Gandhi left the church and never returned. “If Christians have caste differences also,” he said, “I might as well remain a Hindu.” That usher’s prejudice not only betrayed Jesus but also turned a person away from trusting Him as Savior.

The “prejudiced usher” described in today’s Bible passage welcomed a wealthy visitor but insulted a poor one. Perhaps he felt he was doing his job and only carrying out the wishes of the members in the church. But he displayed bad manners, and he was guilty of a sin as serious as murder and adultery (James 2:9-11).

When people visit your church, do you warmly welcome them regardless of their race or social status? —Haddon W Robinson (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

God’s love that drew salvation’s plan
embraces every class of man;
it breaks the toughest racial wall
because it offers Christ to all. —D De Haan

Prejudice distorts what it sees, deceives when it talks, and destroys when it acts.

"The Underbird"

You are of more value than many sparrows. —Luke 12:7

Today's Scripture: James 2:1-9

Charlie Brown, the comic strip character, identified with the underdog, probably because he always felt like one. In one scene he was building a birdhouse when the cynical Lucy came by. “I’m building it for sparrows,” Charlie told her. Lucy said, “For sparrows? Nobody builds birdhouses for sparrows.” “I do,” replied Charlie Brown. “I always stick up for the underbird.”

At times Christians may overlook the “sparrows,” the little people in their worlds. They may ignore those they view as less valuable.

James said it’s wrong for a Christian to practice partiality (James 2:1). It’s a sin to show personal favoritism (v.9). The reasons may be social, economic, educational, or ethnic, but there’s no excuse for disrespecting people with our attitudes and words.

Jesus didn’t do this. He crossed all kinds of traditional barriers to talk with tax-collectors, sinners, non-Jews, people of mixed races, the poor, as well as the rich. He came to identify with each of us, and to pay the price on the cross for all our sins.

When a sparrow falls, the Father takes note of it. But He cares much more for people, including the “underbird.” Perhaps we need a little more Charlie Brown in us. By: David C. Egner (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Lord, help me to love the way that You love
The humble, the lowly, the meek;
And help me to care the way that You care
For sinners, the outcasts, the weak.
—Fitzhugh

Nobody wins when we play favorites.

Cemetery Walk

My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. —James 2:1

Today's Scripture: James 2:1-13

On my way home from high school I often walked by one cemetery and cut through another. I was intrigued by the grave markers, for they revealed the social status of each person who had died. Near the cemetery entrances were crypts, gray stone buildings with ornate iron scrollwork and the family name prominently displayed. Pillars and large ornamental markers were nearby, then rows and rows of headstones. Small, flat, stone markers marked the graves of the poor.

As I recall those days, I’m reminded of a cemetery in Germany called God’s Acre. A young nobleman named Zinzendorf (1700-1760) opened his estate to religious refugees from Moravia. He gave them the freedom to worship God as they wished. In time, that little enclave became a worldwide missionary movement.

Each person buried in that cemetery, prince or pauper, count or coal miner, had an identical plain white headstone. This underscored their conviction that all believers in Christ are spiritually equal in their standing before God. They took seriously the teaching of James 2:1, that we are not to treat one another with “partiality.”

Lord, help us to treat our brothers and sisters in Christ as equals, giving honor to all. By: David C. Egner (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

In Jesus Christ we all are equal,
For God's Spirit makes us one;
As we give each other honor,
We give glory to His Son. —Fitzhugh

The ground is level at the foot of the cross.

Looks And Life

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. —1 Samuel 16:7

During the first few hours of their 30th college reunion, Mary Schmich and her friends talked mostly about how old their classmates looked. But as the event progressed, their focus began to change. Later, in her Chicago Tribune column, Mary wrote: “Once you get used to the fact that time has robbed every single one of you of something—or added it in the wrong places . . . you stop thinking about looks [and] start talking about life.”

So much of our time and attention are devoted to physical appearance that it’s easy to consider it the most important aspect of our lives. But the Bible reminds us that God wants us to see ourselves and others differently.

When the Lord sent Samuel to anoint a new king over Israel (1 Samuel 16:1), God reminded him to look deeper than physical characteristics: “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature . . . . For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (v.7).

God’s Word has some harsh condemnation for those who show favoritism based on appearances (James 2:1-2). When we begin to see people through God’s eyes, our focus will change from looks to life.By: David C. McCasland (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

God looks not at the outward form
But what is in the heart;
The beauty He is pleased to see,
His Spirit can impart.
—Hess

Our mirrors reflect the outward appearance; God’s mirror reveals the inward condition.

No More Prejudice

My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. —James 2:1

Today's Scripture & Insight: James 2:1-10

A 2010 survey by Newsweek contained some startling statistics: 57 percent of hiring managers believe an unattractive (but qualified) job candidate would have a harder time getting hired; 84 percent of managers said their bosses would hesitate before hiring a qualified older candidate; 64 percent of hiring managers said they believe companies should be allowed to hire people based on appearance. All are clear examples of unacceptable prejudice.

Prejudice is not new. It had crept into the early church, and James confronted it head-on. With prophetic grit and a pastor’s heart, he wrote: “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality” (James 2:1). James gave an example of this type of prejudice—favoring the rich and ignoring the poor (vv.2-4). This was inconsistent with holding faith in Jesus without partiality (v.1), betrayed the grace of God (vv.5-7), violated the law of love (v.8), and was sinful (v.9). The answer to partiality is following the example of Jesus: loving your neighbor as yourself.

We fight the sin of prejudice when we let God’s love for us find full expression in the way we love and treat each other.By: Marvin Williams (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Thinking It Over
Who helped you determine what is the right way to
treat people? Was it based on external things?
What are some ways you can love people as Jesus did?

Looking up to Jesus prevents us from looking down on others.

GOING TO CHURCH WITHOUT SOCKS

Do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, The Lord of glory, with partiality. --James 2:1

In his Prison Fellowship newsletter, Chuck Colson tells of a pastor who was putting the final touches on his sermon early one Sunday morning when he heard a knock on his study door. There stood three ragged boys who had received gifts from church members. Their home was ravaged by drugs and prostitution. They had never been in a church before and wanted to look around. So the pastor gave them a quick "tour." Fifteen minutes later they were back, asking what time the service started. "Can people come to your church if their socks don't match?" asked the oldest. The pastor assured them they could. "What if they don't have any socks?" Again, the pastor reassured them. "That's good," said the boy, "because my socks don't match, and my little brother hasn't any." That morning those boys came to church and were warmly welcomed. Since then the church has helped the entire family. Just as the gospel is open to everyone, everyone should feel welcome in our churches. Wealthy and poor, child and aged, police officer and ex-con, handicapped and athlete are all objects of Christ's love. They are all potential members of His body. May there be no barriers in our churches nor in our hearts toward anyone! Author: David C. Egner Lord, may some weary souls find rest Because Your people took them in And helped them see the love of Christ That frees us from our guilt and sin. --David C. Egner (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

                  Lord, may some weary souls find rest
                    Because Your people took them in
                 And helped them see the love of Christ
                  That frees us from our guilt and sin.
-DJD

Poor is the church that values programs more than people.

WELCOME?

"Do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality." -- James 2:1

Many years ago, when my father, Dr. M. R. De Haan, was president of Radio Bible Class, a well-known minister came to our office. Initially I was awed by the presence of this distinguished visitor. My impression soon began to change, however, as I listened to him talk about himself. He seemed to exemplify what the apostle Paul said a Christian should NOT do, that is, "to think of himself more highly than he ought to think" (Ro 12:3). When my father asked the noted pulpiteer about another preacher in the same town, he ridiculed the man's ministry to those who lived "on the other side of the tracks." I've never forgotten that incident. What about our attitudes? Is there favoritism in our churches? Are we as interested in the "down and outer" as much as the "up and outer"? Do we greet those on the bottom rung of the social ladder with the same enthusiasm we show to those who have riches and enjoy worldly prestige? Christians should never neglect a needy soul. The Lord is not pleased when we show undue favoritism to some and snub others. Is the word "welcome" printed on your church bulletin? Does it apply to everyone? -- Richard W. De Haan

No one is excluded from the circle of God's grace,
We cannot get beyond His love and care;
Why then do we close our minds and turn away our face
From all who in the gospel have a share?
-- Hess

A heart that is open to Christ will be open to those He loves.

James 2:2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes,

Wuest For if there comes into your synagogue [the meeting-place of Christian Jews] a man whose hand is conspicuously loaded with gold rings [and] in brightly shining clothing, and there comes in also a poor man in dirty clothing who is dependent upon others for support,

Phillips Suppose one man comes into your meeting well-dressed and with a gold ring on his finger, and another man, obviously poor, arrives in shabby clothes.

NET James 2:2 For if someone comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes,

GNT James 2:2 ἐὰν γὰρ εἰσέλθῃ εἰς συναγωγὴν ὑμῶν ἀνὴρ χρυσοδακτύλιος ἐν ἐσθῆτι λαμπρᾷ, εἰσέλθῃ δὲ καὶ πτωχὸς ἐν ῥυπαρᾷ ἐσθῆτι,

NLT James 2:2 For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes.

KJV James 2:2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

ESV James 2:2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,

ASV James 2:2 For if there come into your synagogue a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, and there come in also a poor man in vile clothing;

CSB James 2:2 For example, a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor man dressed in dirty clothes also comes in.

NIV James 2:2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.

NKJ James 2:2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,

NRS James 2:2 For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in,

YLT James 2:2 for if there may come into your synagogue a man with gold ring, in gay raiment, and there may come in also a poor man in vile raiment,

NAB James 2:2 For if a man with gold rings on his fingers and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in,

NJB James 2:2 Now suppose a man comes into your synagogue, well-dressed and with a gold ring on, and at the same time a poor man comes in, in shabby clothes,

GWN James 2:2 For example, two men come to your worship service. One man is wearing gold rings and fine clothes; the other man, who is poor, is wearing shabby clothes.

BBE James 2:2 For if a man comes into your Synagogue in fair clothing and with a gold ring, and a poor man comes in with dirty clothing,

if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring: Es 3:10 8:2 Lu 15:22
nd dressed in fine clothes: Ge 27:15 Mt 11:8,9
there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes: Isa 64:6 Zec 3:3,4
James 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

A CONCRETE EXAMPLE
OF FAVORITISM

For (gar) is a term of explanation. This supports the interpretation above that this is a direct command and not a question, for if it were the latter, the "for" would be more difficult to explain. What is James explaining? He has just issued a rebuke (in the form of a command) and is now explaining what this might look like.

If - This introduces a third class conditional statement, indicating that the illustration is hypothetical but possible and one in fact the readers may have seen or themselves carried out. James is shooting straight at the conscience of his readers!

A man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes - "A gold-fingered man" like the James Bond movie! And "In bright (lampros = shining brilliant) clothing," probably referring to the glittering color of his clothes. In short he would be hard to miss! The phrase "a gold fingered man" clearly does not mean a single ring on a man's finger but to a man whose fingers were loaded down with gold rings or multiple rings on one finger. The point it that this man was clearly a man of wealth and his expensive attire added to that impression.

THOUGHT - How do you react when you shake a man's hand in church and notice he is wearing an expensive Rolex watch?

MacArthur adds this note on lampros - It is used of the "gorgeous robe" that Herod and his soldiers mockingly placed on Jesus before they sent Him to Pilate (Luke 23:11) and of the "shining garments" of the angel who appeared to Cornelius as he was praying (Acts 10:30).(Ibid)

Hiebert on fine clothes - The reference is probably to the shining white garments often worn by wealthy Jews.

Hughes quips "The man almost glows! (Cf. Acts 10:30.) How great he looks with his Caribbean tan and the white linen Gatsbyesque suit and the panama. We are impressed! (Preaching the Word – James: Faith That Works)

Robertson on gold ring - The word occurs nowhere else, but Lucian has chrusocheir (gold-handed) and Epictetus has chrusous daktulious (golden seal-rings). "Hannibal, after the battle of Cannae, sent as a great trophy to Carthage, three bushels of gold-rings from the fingers of Roman knights slain in battle" (Vincent).

Hiebert has an interesting note on rings in the ancient world - The wearing of a ring was customary among the Jews (Luke 15:22), but in Roman society, the wealthy wore rings on their left hand in profusion. A sign of wealth, rings were worn with great ostentation. There were even shops in Rome where rings could be rented for a special occasion. No doubt this ostentatious practice also spread to the provinces and would be known to James's readers. The practice of wearing rings as a manifestation of luxury and display invaded the churches. Clement of Alexandria (c. 155-c. 220) in his Paidagogos felt it necessary to urge Christians to wear only one ring because it was needed for purposes of sealing. The Apostolic Constitutions (c. 381) warned Christians against fine clothing and rings, since these were all signs of lasciviousness. (Ibid)

Barclay adds - "We adorn our fingers with rings,' said Seneca, 'and we distribute gems over every joint.' The early Christian theologian Clement of Alexandria recommends that Christians should wear only one ring, and that it should be worn on the little finger. It ought to have on it a religious emblem, such as a dove, a fish or an anchor, and the justification for wearing it is that it might be used as a seal. (New Daily Study Bible – The Letters of James and Peter)

Your assembly (4864)(sunagoge from sunago = lead together, assemble or bring together) refers to a group of people “going with one another” (sunago) literally describes a bringing together or congregating in one place. Eventually, sunagoge came to mean the place where they congregated together. The word was used to designate the buildings other than the central Jewish temple where the Jews congregated for worship. Historically, the Synagogues originated in the Babylonian captivity after the 586 BC destruction of the temple by Nebuchadnezzar and served as places of worship and instruction. In the present context while this could mean a synagogue, the main idea is that it was the place where believers were assembled.

Hiebert - Here the reference (sunagoge) is to the place of assembly, as is evident from the mention of assigned seats. The readers are Christians (James 1:1; 2:1), and the pronoun "your" makes clear that it is not a non-Christian Jewish synagogue, since the readers are viewed as being in control of arrangements....At the time when James wrote, the Jewish Christians apparently continued to speak of their place of assembly as their "synagogue," so James used the term that would be most familiar to them.(Ibid)

Robertson - It may seem a bit odd for a Christian church (ekklēsia) to be termed sunagōgē, but James is writing to Jewish Christians and this is another incidental argument for the early date....In the fourth century an inscription has sunagōgē for the meeting-house of certain Christians.

McGee - He was ostentatious, if you please. His clothing is contrasted with that of the poor man. Someone has said, "Some go to church to close their eyes, and others go to eye the clothes." We have made Sunday a time when we Christians put on our Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes. A great many people come to church overdressed. There is a dash and a splash and a flash about them. There is a pomp and pomposity. It's glitter and gaudy, and vulgar and vain, also. This rich man makes his entrance into church with flags flying and a fanfare of trumpets. There is parade and pageant. It is as if he drives up in his gold Cadillac, getting out as his chauffer opens the door for him. He walks in, strutting like a peacock. He is like the rich man the Lord Jesus spoke of in the true story of the rich man and Lazarus: "There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day" (Luke 16:19+). He "fared sumptuously" means that life was one continual party for him. (Ibid)

And there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes - James repeats the verb "comes" which would indicate he is presenting these as two separate events. This man is poor (see ptochos below) to the point of being a beggar.

Poor ( (4434)(ptochos from ptosso = crouch, cringe, cower down or hide oneself for fear, a picture of one crouching and cowering like a beggar with a tin cup to receive the pennies dropped in!) is an adjective which describes one who crouches and cowers and is used as a noun to mean beggar. These poor were unable to meet their basic needs and so were forced to depend on others or on society. Classical Greek used the ptochos to refer to a person reduced to total destitution, who crouched in a corner begging. As he held out one hand for alms he often hid his face with the other hand, because he was ashamed of being recognized. Used 4x by James in this section to emphasize how desperately poor this man was. Jas. 2:2; Jas. 2:3; Jas. 2:5; Jas. 2:6

Dirty (4508)(rhuparos from rhupos = filth) means literally dirty, filthy, foul. In the only other NT use in Rev 22:11+ rhuparos is used figuratively of "dirty behavior", morally impure, degenerate, a morally filthy person. "“Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.”

Showing Favoritism - Why it is wrong to show favoritism to the wealthy:

It is inconsistent with Christ's teachings.
It results from evil thoughts.
It insults people made in God's image.
It is a by-product of selfish motives.
It goes against the biblical definition of love.
It shows a lack of mercy to those less fortunate.
It is hypocritical.
It is a sin.

Life Application Study Bible.

James 2:3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,"

Amplified And you pay special attention to the one who wears the splendid clothes and say to him, Sit here in this preferable seat! while you tell the poor [man], Stand there! or, Sit there on the floor at my feet!

Phillips If you pay special attention to the well-dressed man by saying, "Please sit here - it's an excellent seat", and say to the poor man, "You stand over there, please, or if you must sit, sit on the floor",

Wuest and you look upon the one wearing the clothing which is brightly shining with respectful consideration, and say, As for you, be sitting down here in this place of honor, and say to the poor man, As for you, stand in that place or be sitting down beside my footstool

NET James 2:3 do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say, "You sit here in a good place," and to the poor person, "You stand over there," or "Sit on the floor"?

GNT James 2:3 ἐπιβλέψητε δὲ ἐπὶ τὸν φοροῦντα τὴν ἐσθῆτα τὴν λαμπρὰν καὶ εἴπητε, Σὺ κάθου ὧδε καλῶς, καὶ τῷ πτωχῷ εἴπητε, Σὺ στῆθι ἐκεῖ ἢ κάθου ὑπὸ τὸ ὑποπόδιόν μου,

NLT James 2:3 If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, "You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor"-- well,

KJV 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:

ESV James 2:3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet,"

ASV James 2:3 and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool;

CSB James 2:3 If you look with favor on the man wearing the fine clothes and say, "Sit here in a good place," and yet you say to the poor man, "Stand over there," or, "Sit here on the floor by my footstool,"

NIV James 2:3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet,"

NKJ James 2:3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool,"

NRS James 2:3 and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Have a seat here, please," while to the one who is poor you say, "Stand there," or, "Sit at my feet,"

YLT James 2:3 and ye may look upon him bearing the gay raiment, and may say to him, 'Thou -- sit thou here well,' and to the poor man may say, 'Thou -- stand thou there, or, Sit thou here under my footstool,' --

NAB James 2:3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Sit here, please," while you say to the poor one, "Stand there," or "Sit at my feet,"

NJB James 2:3 and you take notice of the well-dressed man, and say, 'Come this way to the best seats'; then you tell the poor man, 'Stand over there' or 'You can sit on the floor by my foot-rest.'

GWN James 2:3 Suppose you give special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say to him, "Please have a seat." But you say to the poor man, "Stand over there," or "Sit on the floor at my feet."

BBE James 2:3 And you do honour to the man in fair clothing and say, Come here and take this good place; and you say to the poor man, Take up your position there, or be seated at my feet;

and you pay special attention Jude 1:16
you say to the poor man: Jas 2:6 Isa 65:5 Lu 7:44-46 2Co 8:9
James 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

THE DESCRIPTION CONTINUES
NOW THE REACTION

And you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes - So now James has both the rich man and the poor man standing in the assembly. The verb pay special attention is epiblepo means to look upon intently, play close attention, with the implication of showing special respect for the rich man. James uses this verb in the second person plural which pictures the eyes of the entire assembly are gazing on this rich man! Hiebert comments that "The repeated reference to his clothes underlines that their favorable response was prompted solely by his external appearance, "only the outward and the perishing attracting attention."

And say, "You sit here in a good place," - Here's a good seat for you! Note he is not cordially offered just any place but a good place, the Greek word kalos which pertains to meeting a relatively high standard of excellence and/or expectation. Perhaps it was the seat with a cushion!

This illustration recalls the sin of the scribes and Pharisees who loved the "chief seats in the synagogues" (Matthew 23:1-6).

Hiebert on seating - The fourth-century Apostolic Constitutions ordered that the bishop should place the deacons in charge of seating the people and directed that if the service already was in progress, the bishop would not interrupt the service to direct a rich visitor to "an upper place."

Craig Keener has an interesting historical note - Jewish legal texts condemn judges who make one litigant stand while another is permitted to sit; these hearings normally took place in synagogues (James 2:2). To avoid partiality on the basis of clothing, some second-century rabbis required both litigants to dress in the same kind of clothes. (IVP Bible Background Commentary)

And you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool" - Notice the order. The rich man is attended to before the poor man and brusquely told to stand and specifically "over there" (so you won't be conspicuous!) Or he could set literally "under my footstool." So stand out of the way or sit on the floor in a somewhat degrading position.

See Jesus' instructions when He observed the behavior of people arriving for an important social event - Read Luke 14:7-11+, cf His words in Mt 25:35.

Robertson on down by - For this use of hupo "down against" or "down beside" see Exodus 19:17 hupo to oros ("at the foot of the mountain") and hupo se ("at thy feet") (Deut. 33:3). Conquerors often placed their feet on the necks of the victims (Luke 20:43+).

MacArthur - To ask another person, especially a visitor or guest, to sit down by my footstool was therefore a double show of disrespect. The person on a bench or in a chair not only would not give that seat to the visitor but would not even allow him to sit on his footstool.

Bruce Barton - The Jews had a practice of seating the most important people nearest the sacred scrolls. Other people would be seated in the back. This unhealthy practice was still carried on by some Christians. Those with the most important jobs or roles would get preferred seating. James speaks out against this. It is our relationship with Christ that gives us dignity, not our profession or possessions.The Christian answer is not reverse discrimination—treating the poor like royalty and the rich like scum. Our goal is to treat people without consideration for their status. No one is unworthy to be seated. (Ibid)

Jon Courson - If you knew that in ten minutes you would have a half-hour meeting with Donald Trump, would you comb your hair, brush your teeth, think about what you would say? What if you knew that in ten minutes you would meet with a homeless man? Would you expend the same kind of energy? This is what James is getting at. We're all vulnerable; we're all guilty of treating people differently, depending on how we view them outwardly. But almost without exception, the irony is that the people we try to impress the most are those who care about us the least—while the people who really would be open to receiving from us are those for whom we think we don't have time. On the high-school campus, so often the goal is to see the quarterback or the head cheerleader saved. The real key, however, is to go for the kid who sits in the back of the cafeteria all alone, for he's the one who is most often the one ready to listen. The same holds true where you work. We tend to get all excited about the people we highly esteem financially or professionally, economically or intellectually. But it's the poor people who will be most responsive to the gospel and most welcoming of us. Because we so often waste our time trying to impress people who are impressed with themselves, we need to change our perspective. That is what James is championing. "Why is it," he asks, "that when someone comes into your congregation who is dressed in fine clothes, who has a name, or who is esteemed highly, you give him the best seat in the house?" Oh, how we need to be aware of our own fleshly tendencies. (Jon Courson's Application Commentary New Testament)

Kent Hughes on James' hypothetical event - But even if the event were hypothetical, subsequent church history has documented that this sin repeats itself in the church. We do not even have to look back to the so-called Dark Ages to find it. Because the eighteenth-century Church of England had become so elitist and inhospitable to the common man, in 1739 John Wesley had to take to graveyards and fields to preach the gospel. And thus we have poignant accounts of his preaching to 30,000 coal miners at dawn in the fields, and the resulting saving power of the gospel evidenced by tears streaming white trails down their coal-darkened faces. Wesley was no schismatic, but because there was no room in the established church for common people, he reluctantly founded the Methodist-Episcopal Church. (Preaching the Word – James: Faith That Works)

Read a story about William Booth (of Salvation Army fame) written by Richard Collier and which relates to favoritism of James 2...

But time and again, in the vast cold barracks of Broad Street Chapel, Booth noted one thing lacking. Their sermons done, revivalists like Caughey and Marsden, following time-honoured Methodist procedure, would urge people to the communion rail--called also the mourner's bench, a kind of Protestant confessional--in public acceptance of Christ. Yet the poorest and most degraded never came forward. Nor were they present even at Booth's own street sermons.

Booth, of course, knew where they congregated--down in "The Bottoms," one of Nottingham's cruellest slums, where men shunned church as they shunned prison. These lost sheep he now set out to find.

Those who made part of Broad Street congregation never forgot that electric Sunday in 1846: the gas jets, dancing on whitewashed walls, the Minister, the Rev. Samuel Dunn, seated comfortably on his red plush throne, a concord of voices swelling into the evening's fourth hymn:

Foul I to the fountain fly,
Wash me, Saviour, or I die
(from Rock of Ages)

(ED: YOU HAVE TO LOVE BOOTH'S TIMING - AS THESE WORDS ARE BEING SUNG, BOOTH IS BRINGING INTO THE CHAPEL A HOST OF FOUL MEN AND WOMEN!) The chapel's outer door suddenly shattered open, engulfing a white scarf of fog. In its wake came a shuffling shabby contingent of men and women, wilting nervously under the stony stares of mill-managers, shop-keepers and their well-dressed wives. In their rear, afire with zeal, marched "Wilful Will" Booth, cannily blocking the efforts of the more reluctant to turn back. To his dismay the Rev. Dunn saw that young Booth was actually ushering his charges, none of whose clothes would have raised five shillings in his own pawnshop, into the very best seats; pewholders' seats, facing the pulpit, whose occupants piled the collection-plate with glinting silver.

This was unprecedented, for the poor, if they came to chapel, entered by another door, to be segregated on benches without backs or cushions, behind a partition which screened off the pulpit. Here, though the service was audible, they could not see--nor could they be seen.

Oblivious of the mounting atmosphere, Booth joined full-throatedly in the service--even, he later admitted, hoping this devotion to duty might rate special commendation. All too soon he learned the unpalatable truth: since Wesley's day, Methodism had become "respectable."

The service done, Booth found himself facing a drumhead meeting of deacons under the Rev. Dunn and their instructions left no room for doubt. In future, if Booth brought such a flock to chapel they would enter by the side door--and sit in their appointed seats.

Head bowed, Booth accepted the rebuke--but in many ways, it would seem, this first gesture came to symbolise the entire credo of the army of men and women who would one day hail him as its founder. (Read the full account of The General Next to God online)

James 2:4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?

Amplified Are you not discriminating among your own and becoming critics and judges with wrong motives?

Phillips doesn't that prove that you are making class-distinctions in your mind, and setting yourselves up to assess a man's quality? - a very bad thing.

Wuest are you not divided in your own mind [expressing a doubt as to the requirements of the faith you have in the Lord

NET James 2:4 If so, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives?

GNT James 2:4 οὐ διεκρίθητε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐγένεσθε κριταὶ διαλογισμῶν πονηρῶν;

NLT James 2:4 doesn't this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

KJV James 2:4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

ESV James 2:4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

ASV James 2:4 Do ye not make distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

CSB James 2:4 haven't you discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

NIV James 2:4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

NKJ James 2:4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

NRS James 2:4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

YLT James 2:4 ye did not judge fully in yourselves, and did become ill-reasoning judges.

NAB James 2:4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs?

NJB James 2:4 In making this distinction among yourselves have you not used a corrupt standard?

GWN James 2:4 Aren't you discriminating against people and using a corrupt standard to make judgments?

BBE James 2:4 Is there not a division in your minds? have you not become judges with evil thoughts?

have you not made distinctions among yourselves: Jas 1:1-27 Job 34:19 Mal 2:9
become judges with evil motives: Jas 4:11 Job 21:27 Ps 58:1 82:2 109:31 Mt 7:1-5 Joh 7:24
James 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

JAMES' CONCLUDING
APPLICATION QUESTION

The question in this passage is based on the hypothetical example James had just presented in James 2:2-3. James is pithy and likes to prick the conscience so he zeroes in on the evil attitude of favoritism. Like a judge he announces his verdict in the form of a question - guilty of discrimination. Favoritism is always bad but it is especially bad in God's Church because it gives a wrong impression of the character of our Father Who is perfectly Impartial.

THOUGHT - As a personal testimony I (as a successful physician) have definitely experienced this discrimination (I was on the "positive" side of it) and it was very apparent to me what the pastor (no names will be mentioned) was doing attempting to curry favor with me. Although this has been over 20 years ago, I can still recall the very uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach. I did not want to be shown favoritism and it made me very uneasy. Unfortunately I did not yet understand the message of James 2 or I would have taken it to the pastor. The upshot is that discrimination can actually work adversely both ways - toward the rich and toward the poor! Pastors, elders, church leaders, assiduously avoid the temptation to show favoritism to the "rich and famous" in your flock. It is not even theologically logical for before God in Christ Jesus we are ALL in effect "rich and famous!" Amen? Amen!

Have you not made distinctions among yourselves - This is rhetorical and expects an affirmative response as does the second part of the question if the reader is honest in his answer! Yourselves conveys the idea of "in your own minds" (and sadly in dependence on the fallen fleshly thinking of the old man).

These passages in James 2:1-13 raise the ugly issues of outward show versus inward spirituality, temporal versus eternal. Which do you prefer? Sadly too many in the church today prefer outward show and temporal values.

Have you not made distinctions (1252)(diakrino from diá = separation, "thoroughly back and forth" + kríno = distinguish, decide, judge) basically means to separate wholly, to judge "back and forth" between two and thus divide between two. Positively it can refer to close-reasoning (discrimination) or negatively as here in James 2:4 to "over-judging" or going too far. The primary idea of diakrino is that they would be differentiating between rich and poor by separating. In other words they have discriminated and made unjustified divisions in their assemblies, in effect making social distinctions. Robertson says "They are guilty of partiality (a divided mind) as between the two strangers."

Gilbrant has an interesting thought on the use of diakrino in this passage - When these believers made prejudicial distinctions between classes of people they wavered between the thinking of the world which made class distinctions and the faith they claimed to possess which forbade showing partiality." (Complete Biblical Library – Hebrews-Jude)

James used this same verb in James 1:6+ writing that one "must ask (James 1:5) in faith without any doubting (diakrino), for the one who doubts (diakrino) is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind."

Brian Bell has an interesting comment on the closely related word diakrisis (derived from diakrino) writing that "This type of judging (James 2:4) is wrong because of the motive or attitude behind it. Right Discerning! = Hebrews. 5:14+ "Solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern (diakrisis) good and evil. a) diakrino (prefix added) meaning, “to separate, to distinguish, to select.” b) It’s the idea of distinguishing on the basis of comparison, coupled with careful thinking c) The mark of a mature Christian is the ability to discern good from evil, strengths from weaknesses, to be concerned for the welfare of those we correct. (Sermon)

Constable explains that "The usher made two errors. First, he showed favoritism because of what the rich man might do for the church if he received preferential treatment. He should have treated everyone graciously, as God does. This reflects a double-minded attitude, thinking like the world in this case while thinking as God thinks in other respects (James 1:8).Second, the usher, who represents all the believers, manifested evil motives in judging where to seat the two visitors. His motive was what the church could obtain from them rather than what it could impart to them. The Christian and the church should seek primarily to serve others rather than getting others to serve them (cf. Mark 10:45). (James 2 Expository Notes)

And become judges with evil motives - Some translate this as "Judges with vicious intentions." Again the affirmative is expected. If they demonstrated favoritism as in this illustration of a rich man and a poor man they would in effect have made themselves judges and bad ones at that because their motives were evil.

James speaks against judging others again in chapter 4 - "Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it." (Jas 4:11+)

MacArthur Study Bible - James feared that his readers would behave just like the sinful world by catering to the rich and prominent while shunning the poor and common.

ESV Study Bible - Christians are not to “judge” each other (Matt. 7:1-5; Rom. 14:4; 1 Cor. 5:12), and to do so can only mean one’s mind is consumed with evil “thoughts” (Gk. dialogismos, which can mean “opinions,” “reasoning,” or “conclusions”).

Judges (2923)(krites from krino = to judge) were those who decided making their decisions based on examination and evaluation, in this context, the way the person appeared! We never do that do we? (Compare Lev 19:15+).

Evil (wicked, bad) (4190)(poneros from poneo = toil) means evil including evil, malignant character, pernicious and denotes determined, aggressive, and fervent evil that actively opposes what is good. Poneros is not just bad in character (like kakos), but bad in effect (injurious)! That is a vivid description of what personal favoritism does! In short, partiality is vicious, injurious and destructive!

Motives (reasonings) (1261)(dialogismos from diá = through + logizomai = reckon) means literally they were reasoning through and doing so with relative thoroughness and completeness but sadly not with integrity.

Brian Bell - So why can’t I show partiality? Because it’s impossible to judge another person’s motives simply on the basis of outward appearance or any other external force. No one can determine the heart of another especially in a 1st-time encounter. That is why James says it’s wrong! Judges with evil thoughts (motives) - It might be in hopes of selfish gain; or to maintain class distinctions; or simply out of pride & contempt. In his autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi wrote that during his student days he read the Gospels seriously and considered converting to Christianity. He believed that in the teachings of Jesus he could find the solution to the caste system that was dividing the people of India. So one Sunday he decided to attend services at a nearby church and talk to the minister about becoming a Christian. When he entered the sanctuary, however, the usher refused to give him a seat and suggested that he go worship with his own people. Gandhi left the church and never returned. “If Christians have caste differences also,” he said, “I might as well remain a Hindu.” WOE! (Sermon)

As Charles Swindoll says "James couldn’t be clearer. This kind of prejudice is sin. If there’s one place where class distinctions should be broken down, it’s in our places of worship. Discrimination over color, political persuasion, financial status, fashion, or appearance doesn’t belong in the church, either inside or outside its doors, in private or in public." (Swindoll's Living Insights New Testament Commentary – James)

Life Application Study Bible - Sometimes we do this (MAKE DISTINCTIONS) because: (1) poverty makes us uncomfortable; we don't want to face our responsibilities to those who have less than we do; (2) we want to be wealthy, too, and hope to use the rich person as a means to that end; (3) we want the rich person to join our church and help support it financially. All these motives are selfish, stemming from the view that we are superior to the poor person. If we say that Christ is our Lord, then we must live as he requires, showing no favoritism and loving all people regardless of whether they are rich or poor.

William MacDonald - Probably the most glaring example of it in the church today is the discrimination shown against people of other races and colors. Black believers have been ostracized in many instances or at least made to feel unwelcome. Converted Jews have not always been accepted cordially. Oriental Christians have tasted discrimination in varying degrees. It is admitted that there are enormous social problems in the whole area of racial relations. But the Christian must be true to divine principles. His obligation is to give practical expression to the truth that all believers are one in Christ Jesus. (Believer's Bible Commentary)

Craig Keener historical note - Roman laws explicitly favored the rich. Persons of lower class, who were thought to act from economic self-interest, could not bring accusations against persons of higher class, and the laws prescribed harsher penalties for lower-class persons convicted of offenses than for offenders from the higher class. Biblical law, most Jewish law and traditional Greek philosophers had always rejected such distinctions as immoral. (Ibid)

John Phillips - After C. S. Lewis became a Christian, he decided that it would be appropriate for him to join a local church. There he found himself in the company of that very collection of his neighbors he had formerly sought diligently to avoid. The local grocer came sidling up to him to unctuously present him with a hymnbook. He looked around him and noticed that the man over there had boots that squeaked, the woman in front of him was wearing a ridiculous hat, and the man behind him sang off-key. He found himself drawing the unwarranted conclusion that these peoples' faith must somehow be ridiculous. Only later did he learn that some of these people were, in fact, devout, well-taught, and valiant Christians—believers whom Satan himself had reason to fear. It is a great mistake to judge people by their appearance. (Exploring the Epistle of James: An Expository Commentary)

ILLUSTRATION - Treating rich visitors with great respect and Treating poor visitors with no respect (at least one's he thought were poor!). -- In 1884 a young man died, and after the funeral his grieving parents decided to establish a memorial to him. With that in mind they met with Charles Eliot, president of Harvard University. Eliot received the unpretentious couple into his office and asked what he could do. After they expressed their desire to fund a memorial, Eliot impatiently said, “Perhaps you have in mind a scholarship.” “We were thinking of something more substantial than that...perhaps a building,” the woman replied. In a patronizing tone, Eliot brushed aside the idea as being too expensive and the couple departed. The next year, Eliot learned that this plain pair had gone elsewhere and established a $26 million memorial named Leland Stanford Junior University, better known today as Stanford! (Today in the Word)

Charles Swindoll has a great illustration of not showing favoritism entitled "General Seating No Longer Available"

When I was stationed on the island of Okinawa, our general liked to sit down front during chapel services. There was always a place reserved for him and his entourage of aides—all those guys that waited on him hand and foot. He would usually arrive about five minutes after the worship started, and you could just hear all of them marching in step to go sit down in that one spot that everybody knew belonged to them.

Well, we had a fine Christian chaplain who was a real maverick, a strong preacher, and a courageous fellow. He was one of the only chaplains I knew who was genuinely born-again. One Easter Sunday morning the chapel was packed. There were guys outside who couldn’t get a seat. The chaplain wanted to make as much room as possible for all the troops, so he packed them in wherever there was space. He told the ushers, “Bring ’em down.” And guess who sat in the general’s seat? A private. Now in the Marine Corps, trust me, no one else sits where generals are supposed to sit—especially buck privates! But this Easter Sunday he did. Then in came the general. He surveyed the chapel and saw there was no place available. The general obviously didn’t like that, because our fine chaplain was sent off that island in less than three months’ time. The chaplain paid a big price for a valuable virtue. He refused to show partiality, even if it meant seating an on-time private over a tardy general. But God works in mysterious ways. I found out months later that our chaplain who got booted off Okinawa wound up being stationed in Hawaii. How good is that! (Swindoll's Living Insights New Testament Commentary – James, 1 & 2 Peter)

Illustration of Partiality - Pastor Stuart Silvester told me of a conversation he had with an acquaintance who frequently flew his small private plane in and out of Toronto International Airport. He asked the pilot if he ever encountered problems taking of and landing a small craft at an airport that was dominated by so many large jets. His friend responded, “My plane may be small, but I have the same rights, the same privileges, and the same access to that airport as anyone else—even the jumbo jets!” Beloved you can see the application - the small planes can fly at the same level as the jumbo jets around here. The poor man should be as welcome as the rich man in the church of Jesus.

Talk About Prejudice! - An African-American minister Raleigh Washington said the following "When I was born, I was black. When I grew up, I was still black. When I go out in the cold, I'm still black. When I go out in the sun, I get more black. When I'm sick, I'm black, and when I die, I'm sure I'll still be black. But I found out that when white people are born, you're pink. When you grow up, you become white. When you go out in the cold, 'lOU turn blue. And when you stay out in the sun, you turn reg. When you're sick, they say, "You look green," and when you die, you turn purple. Now what I want to know is why do they call blacks "colored people?"

Sad Illustration of Favoritism - The late Max Cadenhead, when he was pastor of First Baptist Church in Naples, Florida, riveted his congregation one day with a bold confession. "My message today is on the parable of the Good Samaritan," Max announced. "Let me start with an illustration. "Remember last year when the Browns came forward to join the church?" he asked. Everyone nodded ; the Browns were a very influential family. "Well, the same day a young man came forward and gave his life to Christ. I could tell he needed help and we counseled him." No one nodded; no one remembered. "We worked with the Browns, got them onto committees. They've been wonderful folks," ' Cadenhead said to muffled amens. "The young manOwell, we lost track. "Until yesterday, that is, as I was preparing today's message on the Good Samaritan. I picked up the paper, and there was that young man's picture. He had shot and killed an elderly woman." Chins dropped throughout the congregation, mine included, as the pastor continued. "I never followed up on that young man, so I'm the priest who saw the man in trouble and crossed to the other side of the road . I am a hypocrite." More of that kind of sober honesty in the church would be very healthy. For God's kingdom is just the opposite of ours. We go after the rich or the influential, thinking if we can just bag t his one or that one, we'll have a real catch for the kingdom . Like the folks profiled by the apostle James, we offer our head tables to the wealthy and well-dressed and reserve the back seats for those we consider unimportant.

BIBLE ILLUSTRATION - The Lord even had to remind Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7 “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world [to be] rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

Amplified 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and in their position as believers and to inherit the kingdom which He has promised to those who love Him?

Phillips For do notice, my brothers, that God chose poor men, whose only wealth was their faith, and made them heirs to the kingdom promised to those who love him.

Wuest Listen, my brethren, beloved ones. Did not God select out for himself those who are poor in the world’s estimation to be wealthy in the sphere of faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

NET James 2:5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?

GNT James 2:5 Ἀκούσατε, ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί· οὐχ ὁ θεὸς ἐξελέξατο τοὺς πτωχοὺς τῷ κόσμῳ πλουσίους ἐν πίστει καὶ κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας ἧς ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν;

NLT James 2:5 Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn't God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren't they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?

KJV 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?

ESV James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

ASV James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?

CSB James 2:5 Listen, my dear brothers: Didn't God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that He has promised to those who love Him?

NIV James 2:5 Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

NKJ James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

NRS James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?

YLT James 2:5 Hearken, my brethren beloved, did not God choose the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the reign that He promised to those loving Him?

NAB James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers. Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?

NJB James 2:5 Listen, my dear brothers: it was those who were poor according to the world that God chose, to be rich in faith and to be the heirs to the kingdom which he promised to those who love him.

GWN James 2:5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Didn't God choose poor people in the world to become rich in faith and to receive the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?

BBE James 2:5 Give ear, my dear brothers; are not those who are poor in the things of this world marked out by God to have faith as their wealth, and for their heritage the kingdom which he has said he will give to those who have love for him?

Listen, my beloved brethren: Jud 9:7 1Ki 22:28 Job 34:10 38:14 Pr 7:24 8:32 Mk 7:14 Ac 7:2
did not God choose the poor of this world: Jas 1:9 Isa 14:32 29:19 Zep 3:12 Zec 11:7,11 Mt 11:5 Lu 6:20 Lu 9:57,58 16:22,25 Joh 7:48 1Co 1:26-28 2Co 8:9
to be rich in faith: Pr 8:17-21 Lu 12:21 1Co 3:21-23 2Co 4:15 6:10 Eph 1:18 3:8 1Ti 6:18 Heb 11:26 Rev 2:9 3:18 21:7
heirs of the kingdom: Mt 5:3 25:34 Lu 12:32 22:29 Ro 8:17 1Th 2:12 2Th 1:5 2Ti 4:8,18 1Pe 1:4 2Pe 1:11
which He promised to those who love Him, Jas 1:12 Ex 20:6 1Sa 2:30 Pr 8:17 Mt 5:3 Lu 6:20 12:32 1Co 2:9 2Ti 4:8
James 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

REAL RICHES ARE
"OUT OF THIS WORLD!"

In this next section (James 2:5-11) James will advance three arguments against the practice of favoritism and each argument is in the form of a question which expects an affirmative answer. James really knows how to draw his reader into the text but forcing them to answer! This is a good practice when teaching the Bible - rather than lecturing (often in one ear and out the other), interacting (including interrogating), which tends to engage the hearers.

Listen, my beloved (agapetos) brethren (same address in James 1:16+, James 1:19+) - James is kind (motivated by love) but firm and once again addresses them as his fellow believers adding that they are beloved, the very adjective God used of His own Son (Mt 3:17). They are dear to him. Beloved is used (other than of Jesus) only of Christians who are united with God and with each other in this divine love. Agapetos speaks of love called out of one’s heart by preciousness of the object loved. Believers are greatly loved (held dear) by God Himself! James is saying that he is motivated by this quality of love and desires the best for them. Beloved, is that how you are loving your brothers and sisters in Christ?

THOUGHT - There may be another reason James began this sentence with the attention grabbing verb Listen. The same Greek verb akouo is found in the Septuagint (Lxx) of the famous Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear (Septuagint - akouo) O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! And so this verb would have been very familiar to the Jewish believers who very likely had heard and/or recited the Shema every morning and evening as was the typical practice in orthodox Jewish homes.

Listen is akouo in the aorist imperative a command in essence saying "Give me your full attention! This is important!" It is interesting that only James uses Listen as an attention grabber in all of the epistles. The other uses are in the Gospels and Acts. One of the uses in Acts 15:13+ is in the context of the Jerusalem Council where Luke records that "After they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Brethren, listen to me. (Mt. 13:18; Mt. 21:33; Mk. 7:14; Lk. 18:6; Acts 2:22; Acts 7:2; Acts 13:16; Acts 15:13; Acts 22:1; Jas. 2:5)

Did not God choose the poor of this world (kosmos) [to be] rich in faith - Answer? Yes! Note the paradox - the poor will be rich (of course not every poor person will be saved and there is no merit with God because of their poverty). The very ones they treat with contempt God treats with amazing (unmerited) grace! God's order is frequently to invert the world's order - the weak will be strong, more blessed to give than receive, the low (humble) will be lifted up (exalted), etc, etc. Little wonder that the unbelieving world often considers Christians as crazy!

James' point is that when they show partially to the rich and thus sin against the poor they are go against the very ones whom the Lord had specially chosen

THOUGHT - As a successful physician, I was relatively well off by the world's standards when I was born again at age 39. So I am especially sensitive to passages like James 2:5ff and eternally grateful that the Spirit birthed me into God's Kingdom. The words of Jesus are a continual, precious reminder to me of the my having been made rich in faith at age 39...

And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Lk 18:24-25+)

Choose (1586)(eklego from ek = out, out of, out from + légo = select, choose, cf eklektos) literally means to select out, single out or choose out of. The idea in eklego speaks of the sizable number from which the selection is made. It implies the taking of a smaller number out of a larger. We will not here address the too often contentious topic of election except to say the verb eklego means to choose out for oneself, but does not imply rejection of those not chosen.

Hiebert comments that "When men become Christians, it is not due to their own unaided decision to accept the gospel but to the fact that God has chosen and drawn them unto Himself (John 15:16; 1 John 4:10; Rom. 9:11)." (Ibid)

Guzik - When we choose people by what we can see on the surface, we miss the mind of God. Remember that Judas appeared to be much better leadership material than Peter.

Related Resources:

Poor ( (4434) see preceding note on ptochos. Note that this is the same noun Jesus used in the Beatitudes but the meaning there was poor in spirit, while here the reference is to the economically poor. The world considers the financially poor to be "inferior," but clearly that is not God's view, even as this passage teaches. While there are clearly exceptions, the general rule is that those persons who enter the Kingdom of God by grace through faith are more often poor than rich. Paul clearly states the same general idea writing

For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that (HERE IS THE PURPOSE OF GOD'S CHOOSING THE FOOLISH, WEAK, BASE, THINGS THAT ARE NOT) no man may boast before God. (1 Cor 1:26-29)

Meyer has an interesting analysis - “The rich man may trust Him; but the poor man must. . . . the poor man has no fortress in which to hide, except the two strong arms of God.”

Abraham Lincoln said "God must love the common people because He made so many of them."

So here the promise to the poor is that they will be rich in faith, they would receive the divine gift of faith to believe in the Gospel and then faith to persevere to the end of their life when they step off into eternal life.

Paul described some of the present riches of "poor" believers including the fact that He has been blessed "with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3+). Peter adds that "His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him Who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust." (2 Peter 1:3-4+)

Rich (4145)(plousios from ploutos = wealth, abundance, riches) is an adjective which defines that which exists in a large amount with implication of its being valuable. Literally plousios generally refers to having an abundance of earthly possessions that exceeds normal experience. Here is James clearly it refers to a poor believer who has an abundance of heavenly blessings because they are rich in faith. Compare a similar use of plousios in Jesus' description of the believers in Smyrna declaring "‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich)" (Rev 2:9+). Plousios is a "key word" in the epistle of James with 5 of the 28 NT uses - Jas. 1:10+; Jas. 1:11+; Jas. 2:5+; Jas. 2:6+; Jas. 5:1+.

Faith (4102)(pistis) means trust, the "state of believing on the basis of the reliability of the one trusted." It has well been said that faith is not believing in spite of evidence—that’s superstition—but obeying in spite of circumstances and consequences. Swindoll makes the important distinction about Christian faith - The term implies both knowledge and action. One may receive knowledge of a certain truth and may even offer verbal agreement, but “trust” or “confidence” is not said to be present until one’s behavior reflects that truth.

Puritan Thomas Manton wrote that faith "is the open hand of the soul, to receive all the bounteous supplies of God." I would add that it is even God's Spirit Who "prys" our hand open, so to speak! Indeed, salvation is "from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen" (Ro 11:33+)

And heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him - Answer? Yes! Who are those who love Him? Those who have been born again and received His Spirit, "because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who was given to us." (Ro 5:5+) Now the Holy Spirit bears as part of His spiritual fruit this supernatural love (Gal 5:22+) in believers who are filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18+), walk by the Spirit (Gal 5:16+) and are led by the Spirit (Gal 5:18+).

Heirs (2818)(Kleronomos from kleros = a lot - lots were cast to divide property or select an heir + nemomai = to possess, to distribute among), literally refers to one who obtains a lot or portion. It is one who receives something as a possession or a beneficiary (the person named as in an insurance policy to receive proceeds or benefits). An heir does not attain that status through meritorious effect but through a personal relationship with God through faith in His Son's fully atoning sacrifice. Of course here (as in most NT uses) applies primarily to the realm of spiritual inheritance. The emphasis is on the heir's right to possess. And so kleronomos signifies more than simply one who inherits something but also includes the idea of taking into one's possession. In this context the poor become possessors of God's glorious kingdom.

Paul alludes to the believer's status now as an heir writing " if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him." (Ro 8:17+).

Gilbrant - God chose those whom the world classified as poor in order that He might make them rich—not as the world considers riches, but rich in faith. See Luke 12:21; 16:11; 2 Corinthians 8:9. The richness included future blessing as "heirs of the kingdom." There are present (Romans 14:17) and future (Matthew 26:29) blessings of the Kingdom. (Ibid)

Kingdom (932)(basileia from basileus = a sovereign, king, monarch) denotes sovereignty, royal power, dominion. Basileia is the realm in which a king sovereignly rules, in this context King Jesus. Kingdom is one of those concepts which has "how but not yet" ("here but still future") aspects. For every believer in Christ, the "now" aspect is the rule of Christ in our hearts. The "then" (future) aspect most likely refers to the rule of Christ in the Millennial Kingdom, when Christ reigns as King of the earth, preceding the coming Kingdom in the New Heaven and New Earth. Recall James is writing to Jewish readers and they would be especially attuned to the prophetic promises of Messiah's future earthly reign which is the answer to the disciples' question just prior to His ascension when they asked Him "“Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). Clearly these Jewish disciples were looking for a Kingdom and Jesus did not refute their belief. See commentary on the nature of the Kingdom they were anticipating in their question in Acts 1:6.

It has been well said that the only kingdom that will prevail and persist in this world is the kingdom which is not of this world! Amen!

Promised (1861)(epaggello from epi = intensifies + aggello = to tell, declare) means to proclaim, promise, declare, announce. BDAG says it means "to declare to do something with implication of obligation to carry out what is stated."

Love (25)(agapao related study agape) means to love unconditionally and sacrificially as God Himself loves sinful men (John 3:16), the way He loves the Son (John 3:35, 15:9, 17:23, 24). Note that agapao is a verb and by its verbal nature calls for action. This quality of love is not an emotion but is an action initiated by a volitional choice. Here in James 2:5 apagao is in the present tense (calling for habitual practice only possible as one continually relies on the Holy Spirit) and active voice (conscious choice of one's will). James used agapao in James 1:12+ declaring a promise - "Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." Hiebert in fact feels "the crown of life and the coming kingdom are practically synonymous expressions, both relating to the eschatological future."

MacArthur adds that agapao "expresses the purest, noblest form of love, which is volitionally driven, not motivated by superficial appearance, emotional attraction, or sentimental relationship." (1 & 2 Thessalonians. Moody Press)

Phillips writes that "It is the height of folly to despise poor people, especially in the church. We ought, rather, to sing with Hattie E. Buell the song of the Christian poor, "A Child of the King":

I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, and an alien by birth!
But I've been adopted, my name's written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown.

Charles Swindoll observes that James gives 3 reasons to show that favoritism should not be practiced by believers - "a theological reason, a logical reason, and a biblical reason. A Theological Reason (James 2:5). God shows no partiality, so neither should His children. The apostle Paul develops this theological principle in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29....A Logical Reason (James 2:6-7)...indiscriminately showing favoritism toward the rich and mistreating the poor made no sense at all!....A Biblical Reason (James 2:8-11). Finally, James points his readers to Scripture, which excludes all partiality." (Ibid)

F B Meyer - Hath not God chosen the poor of this world?
There is nothing that men dread more than poverty. They will break every commandment in the Decalogue rather than be poor. But it is God’s chosen lot. He had one opportunity only of living our life, and He chose to be born of parents too poor to present more than two doves at his presentation in the temple. All his life was spent among the poor. His chosen apostles and friends were, with few exceptions, poor. He lived on charity, rode in triumph on a borrowed steed, ate his last meal in a borrowed room, and lay in a borrowed grave. “Hath not God chosen the poor of this world?” Why is poverty so dear to God?
It is in harmony with the spirit of the Gospel. — The world-spirit aggrandises itself with the abundance of its possessions. Its children vie with each other in luxury and display. The spirit of Christ, on the other hand, chooses obscurity, lowliness, humility; and with these poverty is close akin.
It compels to simpler faith in God. — The rich man may trust Him; but the poor man must. There is so much temptation to the well-to-do classes to interpose their wealth between themselves and the pressure of daily need; but the poor man has no fortress in which to hide, except the two strong arms of God. He waits on Him for his daily bread, and gathers the manna falling straight from the sky.
It gives more opportunities of service. — The rich are waited on, and pay for servants to wait on those they love. The poor, on the contrary, are called to minister to one another, at every meal, and in all the daily round of life. Herein they become like Him who was, and is, as one that serveth, and who became poor, that through his poverty we might be rich.

CHILDREN OF THE KING

Hath not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom? James 2: 5

At prayer meeting last night during "testimony time," one of the ladies related an experience she had in a supermarket. She noticed that the woman at the cash register seemed excited and elated. When she arrived at her station, this clerk blurted out, "Wouldn't you like to touch me? I just shook hands with a movie star!" Mentioning his name she continued, "He passed through this very line a few minutes ago. Wouldn't you like to touch my hand?" "No, thank you," the other replied, "but wouldn't you like to touch me? I'm better than a movie star. I'm a child of the King!" She went on to explain that she was one of the "heirs of the kingdom of God" through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The world doesn't pay much attention to Christians. In fact, those who really believe the Bible and talk about being "born-again" are often snubbed. Yet, our relationship with God through Christ sets us apart from all others. By faith in Him, we have been born into the family of God. We are "heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ" (Rom. 8:17). Heaven is our real home. We are just passing through this world while our mansions are being prepared for our eternal habitation. "The cattle upon a thousand hills" belong to our Father. United to Him, the Ruler of the universe, we become true royalty.

When things look dark and the world mistreats you, take heart, believer. The day is coming when your true identity will be revealed at the ". . . manifestation of the sons of God" (Rom. 8:19). We may not amount to much in the eyes of men, but God views us as His dear children and "heirs of the Kingdom"! (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

A tent or a cottage, why should I care?
They're building a palace for me over There;
Though exiled from Home, yet still I may sing:
All glory to God, I'm a child of the King.
—H. E. Buell

No man is poor who is heir to all the riches of God!

James 2:6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?

Amplified But you [in contrast] have insulted (humiliated, dishonored, and shown your contempt for) the poor. Is it not the rich who domineer over you? Is it not they who drag you into the law courts?

Phillips And if you behave as I have suggested, it is the poor man that you are insulting. Look around you. Isn't it the rich who are always trying to "boss" you, isn't it the rich who drag you into litigation?

Wuest But as for you, you dishonored the poor man. Do not those who are wealthy exploit, oppress, and dominate you, and they themselves drag you into law-courts?

NET James 2:6 But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich oppressing you and dragging you into the courts?

GNT James 2:6 ὑμεῖς δὲ ἠτιμάσατε τὸν πτωχόν. οὐχ οἱ πλούσιοι καταδυναστεύουσιν ὑμῶν καὶ αὐτοὶ ἕλκουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς κριτήρια;

NLT James 2:6 But you dishonor the poor! Isn't it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?

KJV James 2:6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

ESV James 2:6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?

ASV James 2:6 But ye have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats?

CSB James 2:6 Yet you dishonored that poor man. Don't the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?

NIV James 2:6 But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?

NKJ James 2:6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?

NRS James 2:6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court?

YLT James 2:6 and ye did dishonour the poor one; do not the rich oppress you and themselves draw you to judgment-seats;

NAB James 2:6 But you dishonored the poor person. Are not the rich oppressing you? And do they themselves not haul you off to court?

NJB James 2:6 You, on the other hand, have dishonoured the poor. Is it not the rich who lord it over you?

GWN James 2:6 Yet, you show no respect to poor people. Don't rich people oppress you and drag you into court?

BBE James 2:6 But you have put the poor man to shame. Are not the men of wealth rulers over you? do they not take you by force before their judges?

But you have dishonored the poor man: Jas 2:3 Ps 14:6 Pr 14:31 17:5 Ec 9:15,16 Isa 53:3 Joh 8:49 1Co 11:22
Is it not the rich who oppress you: Jas 5:4 Job 20:19 Ps 10:2,8,10,14 12:5 Pr 22:16 Ec 5:8 Isa 3:14,15 Am 2:6,7 4:1 5:11 8:4-6 Mic 6:11,12 Hab 3:14 Zec 7:10
personally drag you into court: Jas 5:6 1Ki 21:11-13 Ac 4:1-3,26-28 5:17,18,26,27 13:50 16:19,20 Ac 17:6 18:12
James 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

JAMES INDICTS
HIS READERS

But you - In contrast (term of contrast) to the way God treats the poor! You is emphatic which sharpens the contrast. So the contrast is God chose the poor BUT you dishonored the poor! The point is clear that when a believer dishonors the poor, he is treating them essentially exactly the opposite of the way God treats them!

Have dishonored the poor man - But telling the poor man to stand out of the way or to sit on the floor, either of which would signify their degrading, contemptuous treatment of the poor man. In this section the fascinating irony which they should have grasped (if their spiritual eyes had been opened and they were not relying on their fleshly logic) is that the rich man was much less likely to become a believer in Jesus Christ than the poor man.

John Calvin - To dishonor the poor is to dishonor those whom God honors, and so to invert the order of God.

Dishonored (treat shamefully) (818)(atimazo from a = without + time = honor) means to be treated with indignity, cause to be disgraced or degraded, to be treated shamefully, to suffer shame or to be dishonored (treated in a degrading manner). To dishonor is to bring reproach or shame on; to stain the character of; to lessen the reputation. To treat with disrespect. This is the very word that Peter and the other apostles used after being beaten by the Jewish council "So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame (atimazo) for His name." (Acts 5:41+)

Poor ( (4434) see preceding note on ptochos

JAMES ASKS
THREE QUESTIONS

James now proceeds to evaluate the absurdity of their favoritism of the rich man by asking three questions, all of which expect an affirmative reply.

Is it not the rich who oppress you? Answer? Yes! The NIV renders it "Is it not the rich who are exploiting you?" Amplified has "Is it not the rich who domineer over you?" Wuest has "Do not those who are wealthy exploit, oppress, and dominate you." Phillips has "Isn't it the rich who are always trying to "boss" you." Oppress is in the present tense picturing this as the continual practice of the rich to whom they are showing favoritism! The Greek word (katadunasteuo) gives us the picture of a potentate exercising his sovereign power over those under his control in a way that is hurtful, exploitative and oppressive! The only other use of this verb describes those "who were oppressed by the devil" (Acts 10:38+) giving us some idea of the nature of the oppression James attributes to the rich man!

Barton - The rich exploiting the poor was not a new development; there are references to this throughout the Old Testament (Jeremiah 7:6; 22:3; Ezekiel 18:7; Amos 4:1; 8:4; Malachi 3:5)...In first-century Palestine, landowners and merchants often accumulated wealth and power, forcing the poor people from the land and causing them to become even poorer. (Ibid)

William Barclay - "in the society which James inhabited the rich oppressed the poor. They dragged them to the law courts. No doubt this was for debt. At the bottom end of the social scale men were so poor that they could hardly live, and moneylenders were plentiful and extortionate. In the ancient world there was a custom of summary arrest. If a creditor met a debtor on the street, he could seize him by the neck of his robe, nearly throttling him and literally drag him to the law courts. That is what the rich did to the poor! They had no sympathy; all they wanted was the uttermost farthing. It is not riches that James is condemning. It is the conduct of riches without sympathy."

And personally drag you into court? Answer? Yes! Here James speaks of the legal harassments of the believers by the rich who they favored! Of course, James is not indicting every rich person, but stating this as a general (and well known) rule.

Rich (4145)see note above on plousios

Oppress (2616)(katadunasteuo from katá = down, against + dunasteúo = to rule or dunastes = a ruler or potentate) means to exercise inordinate power or dominion over others, to tyrannize. In two NT uses (here and Acts 10:38+) it conveys the sense of tyrannize, oppress harshly. Hiebert adds that "The term, frequently used in the Septuagint (Lxx) of the exploitation of the poor and needy (Jer. 7:6; Ezek. 22:29; Amos 4:1; Zech. 7:10), does not denote religious persecution but social and economic exploitation by the unprincipled rich who were "lording it over" them...It is an inveterate social evil that has plagued human relations in all ages."

Dragged (1670)(helko) means to drag or draw toward without necessarily the notion of force as in suro. In Acts 16:19+ and Acts 21:30+ helko is used of physically dragging the victims, but here in James 2:6 it is used in a more figurative sense (although some writers see a physical component) in that the rich are forcing them to come into court. Drag here is in the present tense picturing this as the continual practice of the rich.

MacArthur - Aren't the rich the ones who take advantage of you financially and drag you into civil court to sue you and take all you have? Aren't they the ones who belittle you and depreciate your human value? (Ibid)

As Constable says "How inconsistent it is to despise one's friends and honor one's foes!"

Hiebert - The rich were using the courts to exploit the poor, either through appeal to unjust legal enactments or by their power with the judges to deprive the poor of their just rights. (Ibid)

Craig Keener notes that "Roman courts always favored the rich, who could initiate lawsuits against social inferiors, although social inferiors could not initiate lawsuits against them. In theory, Jewish courts sought to avoid this discrimination, but as in most cultures people of means naturally had legal advantages: they were able to argue their cases more articulately or to hire others to do so for them." (Ibid)

Wiersbe: "The religious experts in Christ's day judged Him by their human standards, and they rejected Him. He came from the wrong city, Nazareth of Galilee. He was not a graduate of their accepted schools. He did not have the official approval of the people in power. He had no wealth. His followers were a nondescript mob and included publicans and sinners. Yet He was the very glory of God! No wonder Jesus warned the religious leaders, 'Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment' (John 7:24, NIV)."

James 2:7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?

Amplified Is it not they who slander and blaspheme that precious name by which you are distinguished and called [the name of Christ invoked in baptism]?

Phillips Isn't it usually the rich who blaspheme the glorious name by which you are known?

Wuest Is it not they themselves who revile and defame the honorable name [Christian] which was given you?

NET James 2:7 Do they not blaspheme the good name of the one you belong to?

GNT James 2:7 οὐκ αὐτοὶ βλασφημοῦσιν τὸ καλὸν ὄνομα τὸ ἐπικληθὲν ἐφ᾽ ὑμᾶς;

NLT James 2:7 Aren't they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?

KJV James 2:7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

ESV James 2:7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

ASV James 2:7 Do not they blaspheme the honorable name by which ye are called?

CSB James 2:7 Don't they blaspheme the noble name that was pronounced over you at your baptism?

NIV James 2:7 Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

NKJ James 2:7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?

NRS James 2:7 Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?

YLT James 2:7 do they not themselves speak evil of the good name that was called upon you?

NAB James 2:7 Is it not they who blaspheme the noble name that was invoked over you?

NJB James 2:7 Are not they the ones who drag you into court, who insult the honourable name which has been pronounced over you?

GWN James 2:7 Don't they curse the good name of Jesus, the name that was used to bless you?

BBE James 2:7 Do they not say evil of the holy name which was given to you?

Do they not blaspheme: Ps 73:7-9 Mt 12:24 27:63 Lu 22:64,65 Ac 26:11 1Ti 1:13 Rev 13:5,6
the fair name: Ps 111:9 Song 1:3 Isa 7:14 9:6,7 Jer 23:6 Mt 1:23 Ac 4:12 Php 2:9-11 Rev 19:13,16
by which you have been called: Isa 65:15 Ac 11:26 Eph 3:15
James 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

BLASPHEMY BY
THE RICH

Do they not blaspheme the fair Name by which you have been called? - Answer? Yes! The fair name would be Christ (or Jesus), for they are called Christians (Acts 11:26+). Literally it reads the Name "which has been called upon you" which would mark their personal relationship to the Name.

Hiebert explains that "The expression is a Hebraism (Name by which you have been called) denoting that they belong to the one whose name they wear (Deut. 28:10; 2 Chron. 7:14; Isa. 4:1; Jer. 14:9; Amos 9:12). So Christians belong to Christ. The New English Bible renders it "the honoured name by which God has claimed you....The expression is a gentle reminder that they belong to Christ Jesus and are not at liberty to practice partiality, for it dishonors that honorable name."

Hiebert on this question which is the third and final question says "This question concerning "the rich" establishes that they were not Christians. The passage best suits the view that they were wealthy Christ-rejecting Jews. Their blasphemous utterances against Jesus Christ may be viewed as expressed in the court in order to intensify the hostility of the judge toward the Christians, but it need not be confined to the courts. It may well be their reaction to the testimony of believers to Christ in daily life.

Blaspheme (987)(blasphemeo) means literally to speak to harm and therefore to bring into ill repute, to slander, to defame. "Blasphemy involves much more than taking God’s name in vain, though that is at the heart of it. A person blasphemes God when he takes His Word lightly and even jests about it or when he deliberately defies God to judge Him." (Wiersbe)

Fair (2570)(kalos) is good with emphasis on that which is beautiful, handsome, excellent, surpassing, precious, commendable, admirable. In classical Greek kalos was originally used to describe that which outwardly beautiful. Play this great old classic "Beautiful Isn't He."

NET Note on by which you were called - "that was invoked over you," referring to their baptism in which they confessed their faith in Christ and were pronounced to be his own. To have the Lord's name "named over them" is OT imagery for the Lord's ownership of his people (cf. 2 Chr 7:14; Amos 9:12; Isa 63:19; Jer 14:9; 15:16; Dan 9:19; Acts 15:17 ).

Kistemaker - Christians revere the name of Jesus—a name that James describes as noble. They are the ones who have to listen to rich people blaspheme the name of Jesus. If they keep silent while the rich slander that noble name, they themselves sin against the command not to take the name of God in vain (Exod. 20:7; Deut. 5:11). By keeping silent these people who belong to Jesus give assent to slandering the name of Jesus. They have turned against him by showing deference to the rich. (Baker New Testament Commentary – Exposition of James, Epistles of John, Peter, and Jude)

James 2:8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well.

Amplified If indeed you [really] fulfill the royal Law in accordance with the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as [you love] yourself, you do well.

Phillips If you obey the royal law, expressed by the scripture, 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself', all is well.

Wuest If indeed you fulfill the royal law of the scripture, namely, You shall love with a divine and self-sacrificial love your neighbor as you love yourself, you are doing splendidly.

NET James 2:8 But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.

GNT James 2:8 εἰ μέντοι νόμον τελεῖτε βασιλικὸν κατὰ τὴν γραφήν, Ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν, καλῶς ποιεῖτε·

NLT James 2:8 Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

KJV James 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

ESV James 2:8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.

ASV James 2:8 Howbeit if ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:

CSB James 2:8 Indeed, if you keep the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well.

NIV James 2:8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.

NKJ James 2:8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well;

NRS James 2:8 You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

YLT James 2:8 If, indeed, royal law ye complete, according to the Writing, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,' -- ye do well;

NAB James 2:8 However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.

NJB James 2:8 Well, the right thing to do is to keep the supreme Law of scripture: you will love your neighbour as yourself;

GWN James 2:8 You are doing right if you obey this law from the highest authority: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."

BBE James 2:8 But if you keep the greatest law of all, as it is given in the holy Writings, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself, you do well:

If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture,: Jas 2:12 1:25 1Pe 2:9
YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,: Lev 19:18,34 Mt 22:39 Mk 12:31-33 Lu 10:27-37 Ro 13:8,9 Ga 5:14 Ga 6:2 1Th 4:9
you are doing well.: Jas 2:19 1Ki 8:18 2Ki 7:9 Jon 4:4,9 Mt 25:21,23 Php 4:14
James 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

FULFILLING THE
ROYAL LAW

James quotes from Leviticus 19:18+ which says " ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD." This is the supreme or highest law governing all human relationships.

If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture - The "IF" is a first class conditional statement assuming that it is true. The idea is "since" or "because" you are fulfilling the royal law. Notice the source of this Law is not from the machinations of fallen men, but from the Word of God, according to the Scripture, for Who else would decree such a high and holy law! The phrase according to the Scripture would also in effect serve to validate or authenticate that the book of Leviticus from which this quote came is Holy Scripture. And once again we see how tho Old is the New "concealed" (at least relatively speaking) and the New is the Old revealed.

Hiebert on royal law - The expression "a royal law" occurs only here in the New Testament. Varied reasons for the designation have been suggested: "(a) as describing the law of love as sovereign over all others (cf. Mt. 22:36-40; Ro 13:8-9; Gal. 5:14); (b) as fitted for kings and not slaves (cf. vv 5, 12); (c) as given by the King." Huther dismissed the last suggestion as "far-fetched." The first is the most common suggestion. (Ibid)

MacArthur explains it this way - "The meaning therefore is: If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture—and you are—then, as the law requires, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Royal carries the ideas of supreme and sovereign, indicating the absolute and binding authority of the law. When a sovereign king gives an edict, it is incontestably binding on all his subjects. There is no court of appeal or arbitration. According to the Scripture indicates that God's sovereign, royal law and His biblical commands are synonymous. What James calls the royal law is, in essence, the sum and substance of the complete Word of God, summarized in Matthew 22:37-40 as perfectly loving God and loving one's neighbor. Paul says, "Love is the fulfillment of the law"(Rom. 13:10; cf. vv. 8-9). When one loves God with perfect devotion, he does not break any of His commands. When one loves his neighbor perfectly, he never violates another person. Thus perfect love keeps all the commands, thereby fulfilling the whole law. (Ibid)

Henry Morris on the royal law - This law was first set forth in Scripture in Lv 19:18. It was cited by Christ as a parallel law to that of loving God (Mt22:39 Mk12:31 Lu10:27). It is also quoted in Mt 5:43; 19:19 Ga5:14 (where Paul says it sums up the whole body of the Mosaic laws as they deal with human behavior and relationships). Thus, the Bible cites it specifically eight times. No wonder it is called the royal law.

Are fulfilling (carrying out, accomplishing) (5055)(teleo) is an interesting verb to use here because it means to complete something, not merely to end it, but to bring it to perfection or its destined goal. The present tense would picture this as a process, because we will never carry it out perfectly in this short life. It is no accident that this same verb is used of the perfect fulfillment of God's love for sinful men because teleo was one of the last words uttered by Jesus on the Cross when He declared "Tetelestai" which is the perfect tense (speaks of its lasting effect!) of teleo and means "It is Finished!" And all God's people shout "Thank You God. Thank You Jesus. Hallelujah! Amen!"

J Vernon McGee writes that "If you want to please God, to obey Him, and to discharge your responsibility, James makes it very clear what you are to do: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." That is the summation of the whole manward aspect of the Mosaic Law." (Thru The Bible)

Wiersbe asks Why is "love thy neighbor" called "the royal law"?

(1) For one thing, it was given by the King. God the Father gave it in the Law, and God the Son reaffirmed it to His disciples (John 13:34). God the Spirit fills our hearts with God's love and expects us to share it with others (Ro 5:5). True believers are "taught of God to love one another" (1 Th 4:9).

(2) But "love thy neighbor" is the royal law for a second reason: it rules all the other laws. "Love is the fulfilling of the Law" (Ro 13:10). There would be no need for the thousands of complex laws if each citizen truly loved his neighbors.

(3) But the main reason why this is the royal law is that obeying it makes you a king. Hatred makes a person a slave, but love sets us free from selfishness and enables us to reign like kings. Love enables us to obey the Word of God and treat people as God commands us to do. We obey His Law, not out of fear, but out of love. (BEC)

Royal (937)(basilikos from basileus = king) means royal, kingly, of a king. Zodhiates - belonging to a king (Acts 12:20, a territory; Jn 4:46, 49, a nobleman, a person attached to a court; Sept.: Nu 20:17; 21:22; 2 Sa 14:26; Esther 8:15). Befitting a king, of kingly dignity (Acts 12:21, a robe; James 2:8, noble, excellent, preeminent, referring to law)." (Ibid)

Basilikos - 5x - king's (1), royal (2), royal official (2)

Jn 4:46; Jn 4:49; Acts 12:20; Acts 12:21; Jas 2:8

Basilikos in the Septuagint (Lxx) -

Nu 20:17; Nu 21:22; 2 Sa 14:26; Est. 1:19; Est. 2:9; Est. 2:23; Est. 8:12; Est. 8:15; Est. 9:3; Job 18:14; Da 1:3; Da 1:5; Da 1:13; Da 1:15; Da 2:5; Da 2:49; Da 6:7; Da 8:27

YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF - Note that this commandment is to love your neighbor is the antithesis of our fallen natural tendency to show partiality or prejudice (the root of prejudice means "pre-judge!). Of course the only way to keep this (second) great commandment is by being continually filled with and controlled by the Spirit Who Alone can bring forth this quality of selfless, supernatural love from a human heart (Gal 5:22, Ro 5:5). Note what this verse clearly teaches -- men do NOT need to learn to love themselves. It is a basic trait of every human to love themselves for as Paul clearly states "no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it." (Eph 5:29+). So what this OT quote teaches us is that we know how to love ourselves and are to show that same quality of love to others. When we do that, we are in effect fulfilling the royal law and clearly will have no problem with the sin of favoritism or impartiality! Paul gives a similar teaching in Philippians

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests (WHICH COMES NATURALLY TO ALL MEN), but also for the interests of others. (Php 2:3-4+)

Neighbor is anyone whose need you can meet. So this command for love includes Christians and non-Christians. Compare Paul's exhortation in Galatians 6:10+ "So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people (INCLUDING NON-CHRISTIANS), and especially to those who are of the household of the faith (CHRISTIANS)."

Hiebert adds that "In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37+), Jesus revealed that the term is not to be limited by considerations of race but incorporates every human being, including foreigners (Luke 10:25-37+) and enemies (Matt. 5:44+), whom our circumstances enable us to benefit." (Ibid)

Neighbor (Near) (4139)(plesion from pélas = near, near to or from plesios = close by) literally means near (literal use only in Jn 4:5), quite near, nearby = position quite close to another position. Figuratively, plesion means to be near someone and thus be a neighbor. Generally, plesion refers to a fellow man, any other member of the human family. TDNT explains that "Ho plesion" is the "neighbor," the person next to one" then more generally the “fellow human being.”

NET Note on "You Shall Love..." - A quotation from Lev 19:18 (also quoted in Matt 19:19; Mt 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Rom 13:9; Gal 5:14).

Love (25) see note above on agapao. The verb is singular which indicates this is the duty of each individual Christian. No love by proxy, so to speak. Compare this love to Christ's instructions in John 13:34-35.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Comment - "Consistent obedience to this precept throughout the church," Johnstone observes, "would be of itself an evangelistic power immeasurably surpassing anything else she could bring into action." Christianity's adoption of, and demand for, such a love has transformed social and domestic relations wherever it has been carried into practice. (Hiebert)

Wiersbe on you shall love your neighbor - Christian love does not mean that I must like a person and agree with him on everything. I may not like his vocabulary or his habits, and I may not want him for an intimate friend. Christian love means treating others the way God has treated me. It is an act of the will, not an emotion that I try to manufacture. The motive is to glorify God. The means is the power of the Spirit within ("for the fruit of the Spirit is love"). As I act in love toward another, I may find myself drawn more and more to him, and I may see in him (through Christ) qualities that before were hidden to me. Also, Christian love does not leave the person where it finds him. Love should help the poor man do better; love should help the rich man make better use of his God-given resources. Love always builds up (1 Cor. 8:1); hatred always tears down. We only believe as much of the Bible as we practice. If we fail to obey the most important word—"love thy neighbor as thyself"—then we will not do any good with the lesser matters of the Word. (BEC)

Grant Osborne on the phrase as yourself - They must be loved as yourself, meaning that you must have as deep and sacrificial a love for others as you have for yourself. However, this does not mean a "self-disregard" that involves denial of self, nor does "as yourself" reflect a narcissistic centering on self. Rather, it concerns a consideration and care for others as being part of yourself. (Cornerstone Biblical Commentary – James)

You are doing well - "You are doing excellently." Why excellent? For this is loving others like God loves them! It is being an imitator of God and of Jesus as Paul commands in Eph 5:1-2+ = "Therefore be imitators (present imperative = as your habitual practice only possible as we continually rely on the Holy Spirit to obey this command) of God, as beloved children; and walk (present imperative = habitual practice in reliance on the Holy Spirit to obey this command) in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. "

Such a life can surely expect to hear Jesus declare...

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ (Mt 25:21, cf Lk 19:17+)

Doing well is the conclusion of the conditional statement beginning with "IF." James' point is that believers are doing well when they "Love your neighbor as yourself." It would be implicit if they are keeping this second great commandment, they by default would be keeping the first great commandment - "And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' This is the great and foremost commandment." (Mt 22:37-38). How can one love his neighbor if he does not first love God Who created his neighbor?

John Phillips gives a hypothetical illustration of keeping the royal law - The spirit of this "royal law" runs very deep. Here you are, coming home from work one day when, on alighting from the bus, you notice that the sky ahead is black with smoke. "Hello!" you say. "It looks as though there is a house on fire." Just then, with sirens blaring, the fire truck roars by. You hurry your steps and turn a corner. Now you can see a crowd of people up ahead, and the fire truck is unloading its men and equipment. "It's on my block!" you say, as you break into a run. Then you notice that it is your house that's on fire. "Praise the Lord!" you exclaim. "I'm so glad it's not my neighbor's house." So a person would react if he were motivated by the royal law. That is a rare person indeed. (Exploring the Epistle of James: An Expository Commentary)

Two apples up in a tree were looking down on the world. The first apple said, “Look at all those people fighting, robbing, rioting - no one seems willing to get along with his fellow man. Someday we apples will be the only ones left. Then we’ll rule the world.” Replied the second apple, “Which of us - the reds or the greens?”

Doing Well

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well. —James 2:8

Today's Scripture:James 1:1-13

In the book Flags of Our Fathers, James Bradley recounts the World War II battle of Iwo Jima and its famous flag-raising on Mount Suribachi. Bradley’s father, John, was one of the flag-raisers. But more important, he was a Navy corpsman—a medic.

In the heat of battle, facing a barrage of bullets from both sides, Bradley exposed himself to danger so he could care for the wounded and dying. This self-sacrifice showed his willingness and determination to care for others, even though it meant placing himself at great personal risk.

Doc Bradley won the Navy Cross for his heroism and valor, but he never spoke of it to his family. In fact, it was only after his death that they learned of his military decorations. To Doc, it wasn’t about winning medals; it was about caring for his buddies.

In James 2:8 we read: “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well.” By intentionally seeking to care for others in the way that we would hope to be treated, James says we “do well.” The word well means “rightly, nobly, so there is no room for blame.”

Selflessly “doing well” expresses the heart of God, and fulfills His law of love. By: Bill Crowder (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Let the road be rough and dreary,
And its end far out of sight;
Foot it bravely, strong or weary;
Trust in God and do the right. —Macleod

Love is at the heart of obedience.

James 2:9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Amplified But if you show servile regard (prejudice, favoritism) for people, you commit sin and are rebuked and convicted by the Law as violators and offenders.

Phillips But once you allow any invidious distinctions to creep in, you are sinning, you have broken God's Law.

Wuest But if, as is the case, you are showing partiality [to certain individuals], you are committing a sin, being effectually convicted by the law as transgressors

NET James 2:9 But if you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators.

GNT James 2:9 εἰ δὲ προσωπολημπτεῖτε, ἁμαρτίαν ἐργάζεσθε ἐλεγχόμενοι ὑπὸ τοῦ νόμου ὡς παραβάται.

NLT James 2:9 But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.

KJV James 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

ESV James 2:9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

ASV James 2:9 but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

CSB James 2:9 But if you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

NIV James 2:9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

NKJ James 2:9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

NRS James 2:9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

YLT James 2:9 and if ye accept persons, sin ye do work, being convicted by the law as transgressors;

NAB James 2:9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

NJB James 2:9 but as soon as you make class distinctions, you are committing sin and under condemnation for breaking the Law.

GWN James 2:9 If you favor one person over another, you're sinning, and this law convicts you of being disobedient.

BBE James 2:9 But if you take a man's position into account, you do evil, and are judged as evil-doers by the law.

But if you show partiality: Jas 2:1-4 Lev 19:15
you are committing sin: Joh 8:9,46 16:8 1Co 14:24 Jude 1:15
are convicted by the law as transgressors Ro 3:20 7:7-13 Ga 2:19 1Jn 3:4
James 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

TRANSGRESSING THE
ROYAL LAW

Some of the readers might have thought showing favoritism was not that big of a deal and at best was only a minor transgression. James refutes the soft-peddling of the showing of favoritism and brings it out into the light of God's holy word -- to discriminate against anyone is sin!

Barton writes "The believers had not made the connection between God's command to love their neighbor (ED: "THE ROYAL LAW") and their discrimination against the poor." (Ibid)

Constable writes that "The type of preferential treatment James dealt with in this pericope (James 2:1-13) violates the royal law because it treats some as inferior and others as sources of special favor (cf. Acts 10:34+). It also violates specific commands found in God's Word that reveal God's will in interpersonal dealings (Matt. 7:12+; cf. Lev. 19:15+). (Ibid)

But (term of contrast) if you show partiality - Just as the "IF" in James 2:8 is a first class conditional, so too is this "IF" which assumes the follow as a true statement. That is, you are showing favoritism (present tense). It would seem that James gives the readers the two extremes - obeying or disobeying the royal law, and respectively, doing well or committing sin. The choice is theirs!

But habitual, blatant partiality (present tense) is a serious sin. MacArthur comments that "just as loving one's neighbor as one's self fulfills God's "royal law according to Scripture" and gives sure evidence of being God's child, so does habitual (present tense) partiality transgress that divinely revealed law and give sure evidence to the contrary." (See related comment below)

Showing partially is in the active voice indicating conscious, volitional choice. Similarly committing ("committing sin") is in the reflexive middle voice indicating even more the personal involvement in committing the sin - the idea is "you yourself are committing" and committing is also in the present tense.

Hiebert adds that "The evil (SHOWING PARTIALITY) was not some unfortunate action into which they had accidentally fallen but was a deliberate practice (SEE NOTE ABOVE ON VOICE OF THE VERBS SHOWING PARTIALITY AND COMMITTING SIN). As Roberts pungently remarks, "Partiality is not a trifling fault, it is a foul travesty of the law of God fully exposed in the Scriptures!" (Ibid)

Show partiality (only here in Bible)(4380)(prosopolempteo from prosopon = face + lambano = receive) means to accept or respect persons and in this context means to show partiality or favoritism by treating one person better than another. Zodhiates adds that it is "Equivalent to the Hebraism prósōpon lambánō (prosopon = face, presence, person; lambano = to receive, take into account), to show favor or partiality (Lk 20:21+ "You [JESUS] are not partial" ~ "You do not receive face"). See Septuagint (Lxx): Lev. 19:15+ = "you shall not be partial to the poor"; Mal. 2:9+ = "you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction." (Complete Word Study Dictionary)

James now presents two conclusions of showing partiality - (1) you are committing a sin and (2) you are guilty of breaking the law.

You are committing sin - NET has "if you show prejudice, you are committing sin." So showing partiality, favoritism or prejudice (Ouch! You've never been guilty of this have you?) is a sin! The verb for commiting is ergazomai which is picturesque for it means to engage in an activity involving considerable expenditure of effort, as when one toils energetically and diligently in a field! (Mt 21:28). It is as if one is working hard to show partiality and as noted above doing so continually (present tense)! Did you ever consider that committing sin is hard work? Interesting thought. It is so much easier to rest in God's commandments which brings peaceful fruit of righteousness (Heb 12:11+) instead of guilt and angst!

Sin (266)(hamartia) literally conveys the idea of missing the mark as when hunting with a bow and arrow (in Homer some hundred times of a warrior hurling his spear but missing his foe). Later hamartia came to mean missing or falling short of any goal, standard, or purpose. Hamartia in the Bible signifies a departure from God's holy, perfect standard of what is right in word or deed (righteous). It pictures the idea of missing His appointed goal (His good and acceptable and perfect will - Ro 12:2+) which results in a deviation from what is pleasing to Him. In short, sin is conceived as a missing the true end and scope of our lives, which is the Triune God Himself. As Martin Luther put it "Sin is essentially a departure from God."

John would add that those showing partiality are lawbreakers -

Everyone who practices (recall showing favoritism was present tense = habitual practice) sin also practices (present tense) lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. (1 Jn 3:4+).

ESV Study note adds that "Favoritism toward the rich breaks the OT commands to treat the poor equitably (Lev. 19:15; Deut. 16:19; Job 34:19) and is a serious transgression of God’s law."

And are convicted by the law as transgressors (lawbreakers) - James says the law convicts and so personifies the law. In this case the phrase the law looks back to the royal law in James 2:8. But the law is impersonal and it is actually the Holy Spirit Who uses the transgressed law to convict (cf Jn 16:8). The Spirit like a prosecuting attorney finds those showing favoritism as guilty of deliberately breaking the the royal law.

Grant Osborne observes that James' "point is that any act of bias whatsoever—whether on the basis of race, gender, looks, social status, or economics—breaks the laws of God and is a sin. Before God all people stand equally as his creation. As Paul says, "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus...There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Gal 3:26, 28+)." (Cornerstone Biblical Commentary – James)

Convicted (exposed)(present tense) (1651)(elegcho a primary verb but related to elegchos = bringing to light) means to bring to the light (to reveal hidden things) with the implication that there is adequate proof of wrongdoing. To expose, to reprove, to shame or disgrace and thus to rebuke in such a way that one is compelled to see and to admit the error of their ways, in this case that they are demonstrating favoritism. The idea also has implicit the summons to the transgressor to repent. This verb is preeminently used of the Holy Spirit producing conviction in the heart, that inner conviction which convinces us that we have missed God's mark and have missed His approval. We constantly need the Holy Spirit to convict us about what is right as well as what is wrong so we don't hate what is wrong more than love what is right!

This same verb elegcho is used in Hebrews 12 to describe the chastening or discipline of sons and daughters by our Father, the writer of Hebrews declaring that "you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM." (Heb 12:5+)

Elegcho is used in John 3 which helps illustrate the meaning of this verb. Jesus explains that "everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed (elegcho)." (John 3:20)

Kent Hughes comments that "James views such an action (SHOWING FAVORITISM) as deliberate and ugly. It is not merely an excusable lack of courtesy, but a scandalous breach of God's love." (Ibid)

John Phillips on transgressors - The word here for "transgressors" means literally "one who oversteps." A transgressor breaks through a boundary. He goes too far. He breaks God's law. God does not want cliques in His church. Those who belong to cliques go too far. (Ibid)

Transgressors (3848)(parabates from pará = beyond or contrary to + baíno = to go; cf parabasis) describes one who steps on one side and thus goes beyond or steps across a line. A transgressor is a violator of the God's law, one who goes beyond the law. It refers to the the person who steps beyond a fixed limit into forbidden territory. The point is that the royal law draws the line that should not be crossed or "stepped over" and discrimination against anyone, whether on the basis of dress, race, social class, wealth, sex, etc., is a clear violation of the royal law.

MacArthur comments on the difference between sin and transgressors - Hamartia, translated simply sin, pertains to missing the mark of God's standard of righteousness, whereas parabates (transgressors) refers to someone who willfully goes beyond God's prescribed limits. In the one case, a person comes short; in the other, he goes too far. Both are sinful, just as adding to or subtracting from God's revealed Word are both sinful (Rev. 22:19+). (Ibid)

Hiebert has a interesting if somewhat technical note on law and transgressors - Since the Mosaic law prohibits partiality (Lev 19:15; Deut. 1:17; 16:19), and the law of love is violated when anyone is treated with discourtesy and snobbery, they cannot escape the verdict that they are "lawbreakers" (parabatai), people who are guilty of having passed over a forbidden boundary. Their partiality is not a trivial fault to be dismissed lightly as of no consequence, but a clear case of disobedience to a known demand of the Law. Adamson notes that "to the rabbis such transgression was 'rebellion,' and broke 'the fence of the Torah.'" Behind the noun "lawbreakers" lies the picture of the law laying out the way of righteousness in which a man should walk. But they have not stayed on the marked road; they have stepped defiantly over the boundary to engage in a forbidden practice. If the word "sin" conveys the negative truth that they have not measured up to the requirements of the Law but have fallen short, "lawbreakers" (AS RENDERED IN THE NIV = James 2:9NIV) marks the "positive side" (ED: MAYBE BETTER PHRASED THE "ANTITHETICAL" SIDE) of sin in that they have deliberately violated the restrictions of the law. (Ibid)

Phillips gives an illustration - In his book The Source, James Michener tells of a Jewish boy who grew up ostracized by society because he was an illegitimate child. The Law of Moses was explicit: "A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the Lord" (Deut. 23:2). It was a law that was intended to secure the sanctity of sex and the strength of family life. The rabbis went to work on this prohibition, expounded it, amplified it, and probed all of its nuances and ramifications. They came up with a thousand ways to make life intolerable for the victim and invented extraordinary measures for getting around them. As long as the young man in Michener's story was small, it was not so bad, although the stigma of his birth clung to him. But as he grew older, he was forced to shoulder an increasingly intolerable burden. The full horror of his situation dawned upon him when he faced the fact that, as a bastard and a social outlaw, he could not marry a respectable Jewish girl. The parents of the girl, the rabbis, and the community as a whole militated against any such unthinkable arrangement. Then, in the midst of his grief and bitterness, he found the church! Here was a group of people, emancipated from the law, both able and willing to receive even a person such as him heartily and without reservation into its fellowship. It opened up a new life. James is at pains, through thirteen verses of his epistle, to see that the church remained that way—free from prejudice, discrimination, and partiality. Such attitudes are sinful in the sight of God. (Exploring the Epistle of James: An Expository Commentary)

James 2:9 If you show partiality, you commit sin.

Clothing companies try to offer garments that match the public's perception of what a successful person wears. To determine this, a clothing analyst performed an experiment with raincoats. An actor wearing a tan raincoat approached people at a subway station. He explained that he had left his wallet home and asked to borrow train fare. People were surprisingly generous with this supposedly unfortunate executive. Then the actor wore a dark raincoat and approached people in the same way with the same story. This time he was treated differently Not only would no one give him money, but he was physically threatened. The opposite reaction was linked to the color of the coat. People saw the dark garment as threatening and judged the man with suspicion.

Aren't we also guilty of judging by appearances? Don't we let externals determine how we respond to people? Whenever we discriminate according to race, age, gender, or income level, we are sinning (James 2:9). God is impartial, and when we accept all people equally we are reflecting His character.—D. C. Egner (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

PREJUDICE LETS YOU FORM OPINIONS WITHOUT GETTING THE FACTS.

Garlic And Sapphires

If you show partiality, you commit sin. —James 2:9

Today's Scripture: James 2:1-9

In her fascinating book Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise, Ruth Reichl reflects on her 6 years as a New York Times restaurant critic. Because she was the most influential critic in the country, top restaurants posted her photograph so their employees could recognize her. Hoping to earn a high rating in the New York Times, the staff intended to provide her with their top service and best cuisine.

In response, Reichl developed a clever strategy. Hoping to be treated as a regular patron, she disguised herself. On one occasion, she dressed up as an old woman. The restaurant made her wait a long time to be seated and then was unresponsive to her requests.

In the early church, James spoke out against favoritism: “[If] you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and say to the poor man, ‘You stand there,’ or, ‘Sit here at my footstool,’ have you not shown partiality among yourselves?” (2:3-4).

When people attend our churches, are they treated impartially? Or do we show favoritism to the wealthy or elite? God calls us to show concern for and interest in all people, regardless of their social status. Let’s welcome all to join us in worshiping the King! By: Dennis Fisher (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Dear Lord, You welcomed us into Your kingdom, not because of who we are but because of who You are— our loving and merciful God. Help us to open our arms of fellowship to all who enter in. Amen.

God lets us into His fellowship. Who are we to keep others out?

The Outcast

If you show partiality, you commit sin. —James 2:9

Today's Scripture: James 2:1-9

His face was grimy, his hair long and dirty. Beer stained his clothing and perfumed the air around him. When he stepped into the church building, the Sunday worshipers ignored him. They were stunned when the man approached the pulpit, took off his wig, and began preaching. That’s when they realized he was their pastor.

I don’t know about you, but I tend to be friendly and shake hands with the people I know and those who pre-sent themselves well.

James issued a serious warning for people like me. He said, “If you show partiality, you commit sin” (2:9). Favoritism based on appearance or economic status has no place in God’s family. In fact, it means we have “become judges with evil thoughts” (v.4).

Fortunately, we can guard against preferential treatment by loving our neighbor as ourselves—no matter who our neighbor may be. Reaching out to the homeless man, the hungry woman, or the heartbroken teen means we “fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture” (v.8).

In a world that keeps the outcast at arm’s length, let’s show the love of Christ and embrace the one who needs our care the most. By: Jennifer Benson Schuldt (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Forgive me, Lord, for prejudice— Remove its subtle lie; Oh, fill my heart with Your great love That sent Your Son to die. —D. De Haan

True Christian love helps those who can’t return the favor.

James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

Amplified For whosoever keeps the Law [as a] whole but stumbles and offends in one [single instance] has become guilty of [breaking] all of it.

Phillips Remember that a man who keeps the whole Law but for a single exception is none the less a law-breaker.

Wuest For whoever observes the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all [the commandments].

NET James 2:10 For the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

GNT James 2:10 ὅστις γὰρ ὅλον τὸν νόμον τηρήσῃ πταίσῃ δὲ ἐν ἑνί, γέγονεν πάντων ἔνοχος.

NLT James 2:10 For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws.

KJV James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

ESV James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.

ASV James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is become guilty of all.

CSB James 2:10 For whoever keeps the entire law, yet fails in one point, is guilty of breaking it all.

NIV James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

NKJ James 2:10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

NRS James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.

YLT James 2:10 for whoever the whole law shall keep, and shall stumble in one point, he hath become guilty of all;

NAB James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law, but falls short in one particular, has become guilty in respect to all of it.

NJB James 2:10 You see, anyone who keeps the whole of the Law but trips up on a single point, is still guilty of breaking it all.

GWN James 2:10 If someone obeys all of God's laws except one, that person is guilty of breaking all of them.

BBE James 2:10 For anyone who keeps all the law, but makes a slip in one point, is judged to have gone against it all.

whoever keeps the whole law: De 27:26 Mt 5:18,19 Ga 3:10
James 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

SERIOUSNESS OF
STUMBLING!

For (gar) is a term of explanation. You would think that telling us that showing partiality was sin and breaking the royal law would have been enough to get his reader's attention. But now in this context, James is led by the Spirit to explain why this sin of favoritism is so serious. It is so easy for all of us to excuse some breach of the law that we consider to be just a minor matter ("It's just a little white lie," etc). James is going to explode that misconception which all of us have bought into at one time or another! It may seem "minor" to us, but before a perfectly holy God it is no different than Adam's sin which catapulted the entire human race into sin and spiritual death! Another "myth" that James exposes is the rationalization that we may have disobeyed one commandment, but what is that compared to all those that we obeyed? Don't we get some credit for those?

McGee writes "The Law condemns discriminating between the rich and poor. Someone will say, "Well, I didn't commit murder, and I haven't committed adultery." You haven't? Listen to what James says."

God doesn’t grade on the curve. And if you’re thinking you’re going to be accepted by you’ve got a pretty good record with a few ups and downs, I’ve got to give you the news, you aren’t going to make it.

MacArthur explains that "The Jews tended to regard the law as a series of detached commands. To keep one of those commands was to gain credit. To break one was to incur debt. Therefore, a man could add up the ones he kept and subtract the ones he broke and, as it were, emerge with a moral credit or debit balance.That philosophy, of course, is common to every works-righteousness system of religion. The idea is that acceptance or rejection by God depends essentially on the moral standing of the person himself. If he does more good than bad, he is accepted by God. If the scale tilts the other way, he is rejected. That totally unbiblical notion is firmly believed by many, many people, including many who name the name of Christ. God's standard, however, is perfection. (cf Mt 5:48+ = "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.")." (Ibid) (Bold added)

Kistemaker has a similar comment noting that "The Jews in the time of James made a distinction between the more important laws and those that were less significant. For example, they considered the law on sabbath observance most pressing. But other commandments, like the one against swearing, they did not consider very important (see Mt. 5:33-37; James 5:12). (Baker New Testament Commentary – Exposition of James, Epistles of John, Peter, and Jude)

Hiebert - This principle of the unity of the law was also taught by the rabbis. "If he do all, but omit one, he is guilty for all severally" (shabbath. 70.2). But as Billerbeck points out, more frequently the rabbis reversed this teaching and held that obedience to certain specific laws was as good as obedience to the whole, usually in connection with the observance of the Sabbath. "The Sabbath weighs against all the precepts; if they keep it, they were reckoned as having done all" (Shemoth Rabb. 25). There was a constant tendency among the rabbis to make the ceremonial cover up moral and spiritual lapses. But Scripture does not allow us to make such compensatory value judgments concerning the various demands of the law In Galatians 5:3 Paul declares that those who place themselves under the law are obligated to obey the whole law. (Ibid)

Craig Keener - Jewish teachers distinguished “heavier” from “lighter” sins, but felt that God required obedience to even the “smallest” commandments, rewarding the obedient with eternal life and punishing transgressors with damnation. That willful violation of even a minor transgression was tantamount to rejecting the whole law was one of their most commonly repeated views. (Ancient writers often stated principles in sharp, graphic ways but in practice showed more mercy to actual transgressors in the community.) Stoics (against the Epicureans) went even farther in declaring that all sins were equal. The point here is that rejecting the law of economic impartiality in Leviticus 19:15, or the general principle of love behind it (Leviticus 19:18), was rejecting the whole authority of God (James 2:8). Jewish teachers often used “stumbling” as a metaphor for sin. (The IVP Bible Background Commentary – New Testament)

Barton - James' point here is not that showing favoritism is as "bad" as murder, but that no matter what commandment someone breaks, that person is guilty of an offense against God. He or she has violated the will of God. We cannot excuse the sin of favoritism by pointing to the rest of the good we do. Sin is not simply balanced against good—it must be confessed and forgiven. (Ibid)

For whoever keeps (tereo) the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all - Note the "whoever" which is equivalent to "anyone who" which is another way to say that no one can claim he or she is an exception to this principle.

John Phillips pictured the unity of the law as like a chain - "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link." One link is broken and the anchor plunges to the depths of hell unless one believes in Christ Who perfectly obeyed whole law because only "through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses." (Acts 13:39+).

F B Meyer pictured the unity of the law this way "A person may observe all the laws of health, but if he inhales one whiff of poison, he may die; so we may be outwardly obedient to the entire Decalogue, but delinquency in love will invalidate everything."

James is not saying that "whoever" has broken every law of God, but that he is guilty of breaking the law regardless of which one it is that he broke. Think of the law as like a window pane - if you break part of the pane, you have broken the entire window pane. MacArthur adds "You may hit it only once, and that rather lightly, but the whole window is shattered. In the same way, some sins are relatively light and some are extremely vile. But breaking ("annuls" = breaks) even "one of the least of these commandments" (Matt. 5:19+) shatters the unity of God's holy law and turns the guilty person into a transgressor." (Ibid)

Hughes adds "James sees the Law as a seamless garment which, when ripped in one place, tears the whole garment. Early Jewish writings said similar things, and later writings such as the Talmud were explicit: "If he do all, but omit one, he is guilty of all severally" (Shabbath 70, 2). Jesus Himself alluded to the Law's unity (cf. Matthew 5:18, 19+; Matthew 23:23), and Paul would say, "All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law'" (Galatians 3:10+; Galatians 5:3+ = "And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.").

Barton addresses the question "So why is a person who commits one sin guilty of breaking them all? James is not attempting to discuss greater or lesser sins. He is pointing to the overall effect of any sin on our relationship with God. Where we tend to see God's rules like a fabric, James sees glass. If we throw a small or large stone at the fabric, the hole will be similar in shape and size to the rock thrown. If we throw a stone at the glass, however, any sized stone will shatter the glass (ED: THINK "ANY SIZED SIN"). This does not mean that breaking any commandment is just as bad as breaking any other (for example, stealing bread instead of murdering a person). It does mean that deliberately breaking any commandment shows our attitude toward God's direction for our life." (Ibid)

A T Robertson - This is law. To be a lawbreaker one does not have to violate all the laws, but he must keep all the law (holon ton nomon) to be a law-abiding citizen, even laws that one does not like. See Matthew 5:18-19 for this same principle. There is Talmudic parallel: "If a man do all, but omit one, he is guilty for all and each." This is a pertinent principle also for those who try to save themselves. (Word Pictures in the New Testament)

Stumbles (4417)(ptaio) means literally to lose one's footing and so to fall, stumble or “to be tripped up. Ptaio is used only figuratively in the NT of failing to do God's will and thus "going astray," erring or sinning. In the present passage stumbles indicates one trips over (so to speak) the "boundary line" established by the royal law. James is not necessarily saying we do this on purpose or willfully, but that we stumble and disobey a law out of carelessness or inattention. Ptaio - 4 uses in NT - Ro 11:11+; Jas. 2:10; Jas. 3:2+; 2 Pet. 1:10+

Grant Osborne - "The point is that "failing" (STUMBLES) in one area is enough to lead a person away from God. Thus, such a one "is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws." The courtroom metaphor continues, and the thrust is that God will judge them guilty. This does not mean that discrimination is the same as murder but rather that both are equally breaking God's law. (Ibid)

Kistemaker has a comment that is apropos to "stumbles" writing that "If I stub my toe, not only my toe but also my whole body hurts. Every part of my body is integrally related to the whole (cf 1 Cor 12:26). If I break one of God's commandments, I sin against the entire law of God." (Ibid) Kistemaker of course is illustrating how the law of God is viewed as a unity (= an undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting; the quality of being united into one).

ESV Study Bible on "fails in one point has become accountable for all of it" (ESV translation) - The law was considered an interdependent whole, (ED: cf unity) and any infraction constituted a breaking of the law as a whole. Jesus said, “not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (Mt. 5:18+). Thus favoritism (James 2:9) makes one “accountable” (Gk. enochos, a legal term for “liable” or “guilty” before God’s court) for the whole law.

He has become guilty of all - James is not saying he is guilty of all in the sense that that he has violated every single law of God. He is saying he is guilty of all, because as discussed above, the law is considered a unity. MacArthur adds that "One transgression makes fulfilling the law's most basic commands—to love God perfectly and to love one's neighbor as oneself—impossible." (MacArthur Study Bible)

Hiebert on has become guilty of all explains that here James "categorically states the sweeping result. "Has" (gegonen) renders a perfect tense and asserts that his failure has brought him into the abiding condition of being guilty of all, all the things demanded by the law. Guilty does not mean that James charges the man with having actually violated all the other parts of the law Nor does it mean that all violations of the law are equally serious. Guilty (enochos) is literally "in the power of" and means that the transgressor has been "brought into the condemning power of" the whole. In the words of Davids, "although penalties may vary, one is counted a criminal no matter which particular section of the code one may have broken." He who deliberately violates one part of the law, while observing the rest, reveals in himself "a sinful disposition which will manifest itself in many other ways when there is convenient opportunity and adequate inducement." Our obedience to God's will cannot be on a selective basis; we cannot choose that part that is to our liking and disregard the rest. God's will is not fragmentary; the entire law is the expression of His will for His people; it constitutes a grand unity. (Ibid)

Guilty (liable, accountable) (1777)(enochos from enecho = to hold in) literally means held fast in or caught in. Enochos means being guilty of having done wrong and thus deserving some particular penalty. As the NLT says the one who stumbles over only one point "is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws." The Amplified says this one "has become guilty of [breaking] all of it."

POSB summaries James 2:10 - Showing partiality makes a person guilty of the whole law of God (James 2:10). How is this possible? How can a person be guilty of all the law if he breaks only one law? Men follow God or else they do not follow God. There is no such thing as subtracting the laws that one does not like and keeping the laws that one does like. Every law has been given by God. They all form a whole pattern, a complete style of life. They are all necessary to point one in the right direction and toward the right goal.Thus, to offend in one point or to slip from one law makes one short of the goal. One side-steps from the right direction. One goes astray from the whole law of God and one becomes guilty of the whole law.Simply stated, if a person breaks one law, he has violated the law of God, the whole package of God's law. Although he broke only one law, he is still guilty; he is still a transgressor. He has still broken God's law. He is no less guilty than if he had broken every law. He stands as a transgressor before God and he must be forgiven by God just as much as any other transgressor. This is significant for us to notice and heed, for it means (2) that we cannot pick and choose what laws we will keep and what laws we will violate, (2) that we cannot build up a merit system with God by keeping most of the laws and be allowed to break a few of the laws, (3) that we cannot become more acceptable to God because we keep most of the laws and break only a few, (4) that we are more righteous than other people because we keep more laws than they do and break fewer of what men call the more meaningful laws. The point is this: showing partiality makes a person a terrible law-breaker, the most serious offender imaginable. We are guilty of breaking the great royal law of God, the law of love, the very basic law of God's kingdom. We are guilty of breaking all the laws of God. We stand as guilty as the the most base transgressor of God's holy law, and we are just as liable and subject to punishment as any other transgressor. (The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Hebrew, James)

JAMES 2:10
READ: James 2:8-13
WHAT happens when we break a law of God? Is the law damaged? Does it chip, crack, bend, or shatter? Does it suddenly cease to operate? Consider, for example, a person who tries to break the law of gravity. A deluded person might jump from a second-story balcony convinced that he can fly. But in violating the law of nature, he himself is broken. The law remains unscathed. The same is true of the moral law of God. Sometimes we talk about breaking it as if the law itself suffers due to our action. But the law of God is not broken. We are. We damage our health. We damage our relationships. We damage our reputations. We dam-age our spiritual sensitivity. We damage our future. As a result, we are in constant need of repair, which we receive from the very One whose law we've broken. And for this we have every reason to thank God continually for His mercy, forgiveness, grace, and patience.—M R De Haan II (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Lord, make me ever more aware of the eventual and inevitable results of my sin. May I realize that by violating Your spiritual laws I damage myself and the ones I love, not the law. Relieve me of my foolish thinking which tells me that because the consequences are not immediately evident, there are none.

GOD'S MERCY SYSTEM

"Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty in all." - James 2:10

In the United States justice system, it's important that jurors have an open mind. They can't have their minds made up before they get into the courtroom. They must always remember that a person is considered innocent until proven guilty. Even for those who never expect to find themselves on the wrong side of the law, it's a comfort to know that guilt is not assumed, but has to be proven. Yet, this system of justice is not like the one God has devised for mankind. We are declared guilty before we even enter His courtroom! And though that may not sound fair, it is. God's perfect holiness demands it. In a courtroom, when a person is found guilty, he or she faces punishment. But the wonderful thing about God's courtroom is that when we admit our guilt, we are offered mercy! We are all guilty and face an eternal life-sentence of death. Yet the penalty for sin is meted out only to those who refuse to acknow- ledge their sin, and who reject God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Guilty -- that's our status. But we can be granted forgiveness and be pardoned from our sin through the blood of Jesus Christ. That's God's mercy system! -- J. David Branon (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. — Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

God's pardon is so full and free,
For Jesus died on Calvary;
It's granted to each sinful soul
Who truly longs to be made whole.
-- Dennis J. De Haan

God's justice condemns us -- but His mercy redeems us

James 2:11 For He who said, "DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," also said, "DO NOT COMMIT MURDER." Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

Amplified For He Who said, You shall not commit adultery, also said, You shall not kill. If you do not commit adultery but do kill, you have become guilty of transgressing the [whole] Law.

Phillips The one who said, 'Do not commit adultery', also said, 'Do not murder'. If you were to keep clear of adultery but were to murder a man you would have become a breaker of God's whole Law.

Wuest For He who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not commit murder. Now if, as is the case, you are not committing adultery, but are committing murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

NET James 2:11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a violator of the law.

GNT James 2:11 ὁ γὰρ εἰπών, Μὴ μοιχεύσῃς, εἶπεν καί, Μὴ φονεύσῃς· εἰ δὲ οὐ μοιχεύεις φονεύεις δέ, γέγονας παραβάτης νόμου.

NLT James 2:11 For the same God who said, "You must not commit adultery," also said, "You must not murder." So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law.

KJV James 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

ESV James 2:11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

ASV James 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

CSB James 2:11 For He who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. So if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you are a lawbreaker.

NIV James 2:11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

NKJ James 2:11 For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

NRS James 2:11 For the one who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

YLT James 2:11 for He who is saying, 'Thou mayest not commit adultery,' said also, 'Thou mayest do no murder;' and if thou shalt not commit adultery, and shalt commit murder, thou hast become a transgressor of law;

NAB James 2:11 For he who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not kill." Even if you do not commit adultery but kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.

NJB James 2:11 He who said, 'You must not commit adultery' said also, 'You must not kill.' Now if you commit murder, you need not commit adultery as well to become a breaker of the Law.

GWN James 2:11 After all, the one who said, "Never commit adultery," is the same one who said, "Never murder." If you do not commit adultery but you murder, you become a person who disobeys God's laws.

BBE James 2:11 For he who said, Do not be untrue in married life, is the same who said, Put no man to death. Now if you are not untrue in married life, but you put a man to death, the law is broken.

DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,: Ex 20:13-14 De 5:17-18 Mt 5:21-28 19:18 Mk 10:19 Lu 18:20 Ro 13:9
Now if you do not commit adultery,: Lev 4:2,13,22 Ps 130:3,4
James 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

CLASSIFYING FAVORITISM
WITH "SERIOUS" SINS

For (gar) - James will illustrate the unitary nature of the law by explaining that to break one law is to break the whole law. In so doing, he shows that favoritism is no minor sin, but ranks with sins considered far more "serious." Clearly, James is trying to make the point that practicing favoritism is a serious transgression, for these "serious" sins and favoritism are both equally glaring violations of the law of love (cf Ro 12:9, Ro 13:10, Ro 15:1-2, Gal 5:14).

THOUGHT - The practical implication would be that if there were any in the assembly who were actively practicing this sin, they need to understand it was serious and they needed to confess and repent of it.

Don Anderson - God doesn’t grade sin. Sin is sin. And you’re saying “What about adultery? And murder? Certainly partiality’s not as bad as that?” Well James has been reading your mail! (Notes)

POSB adds that "Partiality is a sin that selects and favors one person over another. It ignores and neglects a person. It casts one into oblivion, wipes one out; treats one as though he is nothing, absent, or non-existent. Thus, it is comparable to murder. It is the same root, the same cause, the same selfishness, the same lust, the same sin as killing. This stresses the seriousness of showing partiality. Scripture is clear in its warning: the church and believers are not to show partiality or favoritism to anyone." (Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Hebrew, James)

Kistemaker - James has selected the two commandments that are mentioned first in the section of the law that pertains to the neighbor (see Mt. 19:18-19 and parallels). The simple logic is that if a person keeps the one commandment but violates the other (ED: BECAUSE OF THE UNITY OF THE LAW), he is nonetheless a lawbreaker and God declares him guilty. (Baker New Testament Commentary – Exposition of James, Epistles of John, Peter, and Jude)

Barton comments that "Jewish theologians of the day would have disagreed with James, saying some laws were "light" and some "heavy," meaning that breaking some was not as serious as breaking others. It might seem that stumbling on the act of showing favoritism is breaking one of those "least commandments," not nearly as bad as committing adultery or murdering. But God's law was not written with "heavy" and "light" commands so that obedience to some outweighed obedience to others. Believers are called to consistent obedience. From our perspective, there do seem to be degrees of sin. The immediate effects of some sins seem much more destructive and horrible than others. This is true. What we must remember, however, is God's perspective. He not only sees immediate effects, but he also sees hidden and long-term effects. And the long-term effect of all sin is rebellion against God." (Ibid)

He who said - Hiebert calls this "another Jewish circumlocution for God." Kistemaker adds that "this is a typical Jewish way to avoid using the name of God." Interesting thought considering the Jewish background of the believers James is addressing.

Hiebert explains that "God explicitly set forth both of these laws. The one Lawgiver underlines the unity of the laws He established. The two laws cited, the first two precepts of the second table of the Decalogue, are both negatively stated: the negative mē with the aorist subjunctive expresses a peremptory prohibition; not even a single act of adultery or murder can be condoned. But the interest of James centers not on the individual commands but on the fact that the same God gave both. They equally express the will of the one Lawgiver." (Ibid)

DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," also said, "DO NOT COMMIT MURDER"- So to illustrate the seriousness of favoritism, James selects two of what most of us would consider the "more serious" sins, the breaking of either of which in the Old Testament would incur the death penalty. James will go on to conclude that those who commit these "serious" sins have become a transgressor (parabates) of the law just those who committed the sin of favoritism were considered as transgressors (parabates) of the royal law (James 2:9).

Robertson notes that "The unity of the law lies in the Lawgiver who spoke both prohibitions."

Hughes comments that "It may seem like James is making a "big deal" out of the rather common sin of favoritism—"everyone does it." But he isn't, for favoritism indicates the tilt of one's soul. Christians who practice favoritism are flagrant lawbreakers. James has made favoritism a notorious sin, listing it with murder and adultery....Lives of favoritism are lives in jeopardy (ED: SEE THE THOUGHT BELOW - JEOPARDY MEANS "a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune"). What is our attitude in our heart of hearts toward the poor, toward other races, toward the uneducated? Do we favor the privileged? These are the questions of a moral theologian who is concerned that we have a real faith (ED COMMENT: "REAL FAITH" VERSUS "FALSE FAITH" IS THE MAIN SUBJECT OF THE REMAINDER OF THIS CHAPTER. THUS IN THIS CONTEXT THE PRACTICE OF THE SIN OF FAVORITISM RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GENUINENESS OF ONE'S FAITH. THIS WOULD ALSO EXPLAIN WHY JAMES HAD GONE TO SUCH GREAT LENGTHS TO POINT OUT THAT IT IS A SERIOUS TRANSGRESSION, NOT A TRIVIAL MATTER TO BE IGNORED! IT IS NOT BE "SWEPT UNDER THE RUG" BUT "PUT UNDER THE BLOOD!"). (Preaching the Word – James: Faith That Works) (Bold added)

THOUGHT - LET ME REPEAT A COMMENT FROM James 2:9 - "But habitual, blatant partiality (present tense) is a serious sin."

MacArthur comments that "just as loving one's neighbor as one's self fulfills God's "royal law according to Scripture" and gives sure evidence of being God's child, so does habitual (present tense) partiality transgress that divinely revealed law and give sure evidence to the contrary."

Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law - How absurd to assume that if one does not commit adultery, he may commit murder with impunity. James says the truth is that you have still become a lawbreaker. Ronald Blue says "Utilizing the extreme instances of adultery and murder, James showed the absurdity of inconsistent obedience." (Bible Knowledge Commentary)

George Stulac sums up James' message as "Don't think you are keeping the law of Christ while you are practicing favoritism. It is as much a contradiction as if you claimed you were keeping the law just because you were not committing adultery even though you were practicing murder. James's language is stark and emphatic in James 2:9: If you show favoritism, you sin." (The IVP New Testament Commentary Series – James)

In the context of the sin of favoritism, the point is that while favoritism might not seem to be as serious as some other sins (adultery, murder), especially when one considers the social consequences (and the OT penalty of death for adultery or murder), ALL sins (including favoritism) are just as serious as murder and adultery because all sins represents a violation of God's perfect and holy will.

Transgressor (3848) see note above on parabates

Brian Bell succinctly summarizes James thoughts in James 2:8-11 - If are a “respect of persons”, you are sinning, you are a transgressor of the law: Its inconsistent with God’s character (v5); Its inconsistent with sound logic (v6,7); It’s inconsistent with Scripture (v8-11); It’s sin (v9); It makes you guilty of the whole law of God (v10); It is just as serious a sin as adultery and killing (11); God will judge Sin (v11).

Kistemaker has an interesting Doctrinal Consideration of James 2:8-11 - Too often we look at the commandments from a negative point of view. We do so because most of them are cast in a negative form: for example, do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal. But the Ten Commandments have a positive side, too. They teach us that within the boundaries of God's protective laws we have perfect freedom. As fish thrive in water because water is their natural habitat, so the child of God flourishes in the setting of the law. He realizes that God has graciously given him these laws for his protection and safety. He knows that "the law of the Lord is perfect" and that "the precepts of the Lord are right" (Ps. 19:7, 8). He experiences the love of God in these commandments, so that he in turn can express his love to God and his neighbor.Why does the believer keep the law of God? He keeps the law (ED: SEE BELOW) because in this way he is able to show his gratitude to God. The law of God, then, is a rule of gratitude for the believer. (Ibid)

Comment: I would add that "he keeps the law" because he is now able to keep the law for in the New Covenant (1) it is written on his heart (Jer 31:33+, Hebrews 8:10+) (2) he has the Spirit living inside Who gives the supernatural power he needs to obey the law (Gal 5:18+ cf Ro 8:13+, Gal 5:16+), and (3) he has the love of God poured out in his heart (Ro 5:5) and now is motivated to obey out of love not out of legalism (cf Jn 14:15).

James 2:12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.

Amplified So speak and so act as [people should] who are to be judged under the law of liberty [the moral instruction given by Christ, especially about love].

Phillips Anyway, you should speak and act as men who will be judged by the law of freedom.

Wuest In this manner be speaking and in this manner be doing, namely, as those who are about to be judged by a law of liberty,

NET James 2:12 Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom.

GNT James 2:12 οὕτως λαλεῖτε καὶ οὕτως ποιεῖτε ὡς διὰ νόμου ἐλευθερίας μέλλοντες κρίνεσθαι.

NLT James 2:12 So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free.

KJV James 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

ESV James 2:12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.

ASV James 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty.

CSB James 2:12 Speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of freedom.

NIV James 2:12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,

NKJ James 2:12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

NRS James 2:12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.

YLT James 2:12 so speak ye and so do, as about by a law of liberty to be judged,

NAB James 2:12 So speak and so act as people who will be judged by the law of freedom.

NJB James 2:12 Talk and behave like people who are going to be judged by the law of freedom.

GWN James 2:12 Talk and act as people who are going to be judged by laws that bring freedom.

BBE James 2:12 Let your words and your acts be those of men who are to be judged by the law which makes free.

So speak and so act Php 4:8 Col 3:17 2Pe 1:4-8
the law of liberty: Jas 2:8 1:25
James 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

MOTIVATION FOR
PRESENT PRACTICE

We must all soberly ponder the truth that how we live today will impact eternity in one way or another. We should ever speak and ever act as those who are about to be judged by Jesus! Such an attitude under grace and enabled by the Spirit would doubtless exert a radically transforming effect on virtually every aspect of our life!

Hiebert adds that "James is insistent that all of Christian conduct be motivated by the realization of future judgment (cf. 2 Cor. 5:9-10)." (Ibid)

So speak and so act - Speaking and doing are seen in the earlier example of partiality in what one said and how one treated the rich man and the poor man (James 2:2-3+). So in this context what one says and what one does are the two ways discrimination was shown. James is basically saying: Don’t just talk the talk; you are accountable to walk the walk.

James' combination of speech and action is similar to phrases like "in words and deeds" (describing Moses in Acts 7:22) or John's exhortation "Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth." (1 John 3:18).

Speak and act are both commands in the present imperative calling for habitual speech and action. All of us need to regularly watch our speech and our actions. Ultimately the only way to obey these commands is by reliance on the indwelling Spirit, Who will give us the desire and the power (Phil 2:13NLT+), to work out this aspect of our salvation in fear and trembling (Phil 2:12+). Stated another way, godly speech and actions are not the result of external pressure to keep a list of rules and regulations, but are made possible because the love of Christ has been poured out within our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who God has given us (Ro 5:5). Love is the fulfillment of the Law (Romans 13:10), so if we love God, serving Him and keeping His commandments will not be a burden or a battle. Love makes obedience a blessing and not a burden and God's Spirit makes this obedience possible.

Don Anderson - What James is suggesting here is that our speech and our actions should be saturated by love. What we say and what we do are the final proof of what is really in our hearts. (Notes)

Remember that the context for James issuing these commands is the danger of showing favoritism or partiality. In that context the POSB comments that "Who a person is—his social standing and wealth, clothing and appearance—are to have no effect upon us whatsoever. We are to receive people, actually reach out to them through our speech and behavior, no matter who they are. God is going to judge us on the basis of how we have loved and reached out to people, regardless of who they are." (Ibid)

Wiersbe adds that "Our words will be judged. Note the words spoken to the two visitors in James 2:3. What we say to people, and how we say it, will come up before God. Even our careless words will be judged (Matt. 12:36). Of course, the words we speak come from the heart; so when God judges the words, He is examining the heart (Matt. 12:34-37). Jesus emphasized caution when speaking in some of His warnings in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:21-26, 33-37; Mt 7:1-5, 21-23). Our deeds will be judged. Read Colossians 3:22-25 for additional insight. It is true that God remembers our sins against us no more (Jer. 31:34; Heb. 10:17); but our sins affect our character and works. We cannot sin lightly and serve faithfully. God forgives our sins when we confess them to Him, but He cannot change their, consequences. (BEC) (Bold added)

As those who are to be judged by the law of liberty - Notice what seems to be an oxymoron - freedom and law. The NIV has "the law that gives freedom," a description that applies only to those who have "faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Chris" (James 2:1)

Believers are to continually order their speech and their steps (so that their walk matches their talk) in light of the truth that they will each stand individually at the Bema Seat of Christ "so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." (2 Cor 5:10+, see also Ro 14:10-12+; 1 Cor 3:10-15). Unbelievers will be judged by the law at the Great White Throne judgment, but it will bring them the "recompense" of condemnation and eternal punishment (Rev 20:11-15+).

THOUGHT - So while believers will not be judged for their sin which was judge at Calvary, we will be judged according to our works. Did we live according to God’s will for our lives? Have we laid up any treasure in heaven? Will any of our works follow us home? Will they survive the judgment of God?

Kent Hughes has a sobering comment on this awesome day in the life of every believer when we will be judged by the law of liberty - This judgment will be no casual prelude to eternity. It will be a solemn time. True, some believers' works will be seen as "gold, silver, costly stones," but others will suffer immense shame for their "wood, hay or straw." Truly, our "work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames" (1 Cor. 3:12-15). James, the Lord's brother, lived in awareness of this reality, and so commands those prone to favoritism to "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom" (James 2:12). "Speak" and "act" are present active imperatives: keep on speaking and keep on acting in the reality of the coming judgment.This is sobering grist for spiritual meditation. You do not know my heart, and I do not know yours, but God does. And we are going to be relentlessly and perfectly judged. (Preaching the Word – James: Faith That Works)

The phrase are to be is the verb mello which describes a future event that is sure to happen and can even convey the sense of an event which is about to take place at any time (imminent). In James 5:9+, James reminds his reads "Behold (PAY ATTENTION), the Judge is standing right at the door!"

And the verb judged (krino) in this context does not mean we are to be condemned, but that we will each stand before the Judge Jesus Christ Who will evaluate our character and contact using the law of liberty.

Warren Wiersbe said "Believers today must find their life and victory in God’s Word. Unless we know what God commands (ED: THE LAW OF LIBERTY), we can’t obey Him; but if we know His commandments, believe them, and obey them, then His power goes to work in our lives. “And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3+). Obeying the Lord becomes a joyful privilege when you realize that His commandments are expressions of His love, assurances of His strength, invitations to His blessing, opportunities to grow and bring Him glory, and occasions to enjoy His love and fellowship as we seek to please Him. God’s Word is the open door into the treasury of His grace." (Commentary on Deuteronomy)

Ross: "We shall be judged… not so much by the observance or neglect of this or that external rule as by the degree in which our heart and life have been dominated by the spirit of love."

John Trapp on law of liberty - It is also called a law of liberty, because it is freely and willingly kept of the regenerate, to whom it is no burden or bondage.

Ronald Blue explains why the the law gives one the experience of liberty - God's Law, because of its wise constraints, brings true freedom (cf. James 1:25+). Disobedience to God's Law brings bondage. (Bible Knowledge Commentary)

Brian Bell says the Law of liberty is "Not freedom from the obligations of moral law; it is freedom to fulfill the just requirements of the law."

So while believers are still called on to obey God's law, for believers His law is no longer a burden (as it is to the unregenerate) but gives us freedom because instead of obeying now out of legalistic constraint or compulsion, we obey out of love and joy. We obey with thankful hearts because we are free from law's death penalty and we have the indwelling Spirit Who enables us to obey.

Peter gives believers a caution regarding living under the law of liberty (using the same noun eleutheria used in this passage by James -

Act (verb added by translators - this verse is a continuation of the sense of the command in 1 Pe 2:13+) as free (eleutheria) men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves (doulos) of God. (1 Peter 2:16+).

Liberty (1657) (eleutheria from eleutheros - that which is capable of movement, freedom to go wherever one likes, unfettered; see word study on verb eleutheroo) describes the state of being free and stands in opposition to slavery or bondage. It depicts the state of being free as opposed to being in bondage to the Law (cp Gal 2:4+, Ro 7:4+) or enslaved to Sin (Ro 6:16+, Ro 6:17, 18+).

MacArthur in his comments on law of liberty in James 1:25 has this note - by referring to the Word as the law of liberty, James focused on its redemptive power in freeing believers from the bondage of sin and then freeing them to righteous obedience (John 8:34, 35, 36). It allows us to serve God not out of fear or mere sense of duty, but out of gratitude and love. One day it also will free us from this world and its corruption; from our fallenness; from our flesh; from temptation; and from the curses of sin, death, and hell. (Macarthur J. James. Moody)

For believers the law of liberty could be summarized as follows...

Freedom is not the right to do as we please.
Freedom is the power to do as we should.

The law of liberty is related to what Jesus said when He promised...

So if the Son makes you free (eleutheroo), you will be free (eleutheros) indeed. (John 8:36)

Related Resource:

Excursus on Freedom - discussion of eleutheria, etc

In MacArthur's comment on James 2:12 he writes that "The Gospel is the law of liberty because it frees those who place their faith in Jesus Christ from the bondage, judgment, and punishment of sin and brings them ultimately to eternal freedom and glory. It liberates us sinners from falsehood and deception and from the curses of death and hell. Even more marvelously, it frees us to obey and serve God, to live faithfully and righteously according to His Word and by the power of His indwelling Spirit. And it frees us to follow our Lord willingly out of love rather than reluctantly out of fear. In every sense, it is the "royal law" of God (v. 8), the divine and wondrous law of liberty. (Macarthur J. James. Moody)

Hiebert agrees writing that it "is not a law of liberty because it liberates us from obedience to God's holy Commandments, or as even from a single point in any of them; the Gospel itself and true faith impel us to this obedience." It is a divinely wrought motivation in the hearts of "those who love Him" (James 1:12; 2:5). (Ibid)

Mitton on the law of liberty - This is the law which operates, not by outward enforcement, but when the love of Christ inwardly constrains. It is part of the freedom of the children of God, which issues in glad and spontaneous obedience to Him, for the sake of pleasing Him who has done so much for them, and in the glad assurance that what He commands is life's surest guide to deep and lasting happiness." (Mitton, C. Leslie. The Epistle of James. 1966)

Barclay - He calls it the law of liberty; that is, the law in the keeping of which a man finds his true liberty (Ed: Again freedom enabled by the indwelling Spirit - cf Ro 8:2-note, 2Cor 3:17-note). All the great men have agreed that it is only in obeying the law of God that a man becomes truly free. "To obey God," said Seneca, "is liberty." "The wise man alone is free," said the Stoics, "and every foolish man is a slave." Philo said "All who are under the tyranny of anger or desire or any other passion are altogether slaves; all who live with the law are free." So long as a man has to obey his own passions and emotions and desires, he is nothing less than a slave. It is when he accepts the will of God that he becomes really free--for then he is free to be what he ought to be. His service is perfect freedom and in doing His will is our peace. (James 1 - William Barclay's Daily Study Bible)

Vine - liberty, is rendered “freedom” in Gal 5:1, “with freedom did Christ set us free.” The combination of the noun with the verb stresses the completeness of the act, the aorist (or point) tense indicating both its momentary and comprehensive character; it was done once for all. The RV margin “for freedom” gives perhaps the preferable meaning, i.e., “not to bring us into another form of bondage did Christ liberate us from that in which we were born, but in order to make us free from bondage.” The word is twice rendered “freedom” in the RV of Gal 5:13 (KJV, “liberty”). The phraseology is that of manumission from slavery, which among the Greeks was effected by a legal fiction, according to which the manumitted slave was purchased by a god; as the slave could not provide the money, the master paid it into the temple treasury in the presence of the slave, a document being drawn up containing the words “for freedom.” No one could enslave him again, as he was the property of the god. Hence the word apeleutheros, No. 2. The word is also translated “freedom” in 1Pe 2:16, rv. In 2Co 3:17 the word denotes “freedom” of access to the presence of God. See liberty. (Vine, W E: Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. 1996. Nelson)

Eleutheria refers to personal liberty but not license. True liberty is living as we should, not as we please. Eleutheria was used especially in NT times of the freeing of slaves.

Eleutheria is used 11 times in the NT - Ro 8:21; 1Co 10:29; 2Co. 3:17; Gal 2:4; 5:1, 13; James 1:25; 2:12; 1Pe 2:16; 2Pe 2:19.

John Murray wrote that "The law of God is the royal law of liberty and liberty consists in being captive to the word and law of God. All other liberty is not liberty but the thraldom of servitude to sin."

Hiebert - The genitive "of liberty" is subjective, denoting that this law "gives" the experience of freedom in the lives of those who voluntarily observe it. The definite article with "liberty" "the liberty," points to the well-known Christian freedom from bondage that the believer knows through faith in Christ (John 8:31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36). As he submits himself to its transforming power, this law of liberty works in his life a disposition and ability to do God's will joyfully (Php 2:12-note, Php 2:13-note). It does not promote antinomianism but prompts obedience without compulsion. In Jas 2:12, the only other place in the New Testament where the designation "law of liberty" occurs, James associates it with the law of love. The believer is not free from the obligation to do God's will as revealed in His Word, but love works in him the desire to do his Father's will. Men are free when they want to do what they ought to do. This is the "splendid paradox" produced by a living faith in the gospel through the indwelling Holy Spirit. (Ibid)

Related Resource:

What is the law of liberty?

Kent Hughes gives an illustration of the radical change Spirit enabled obedience to James' commands in this passage produced inthe life of Amy Carmichael the celebrated missionary to India.

The decisive moment which determined the direction of her life came on a dull Sunday morning in Belfast as the family was returning from church. They saw what they had never seen before in Presbyterian Belfast—an old woman lugging a heavy bundle. Amy and her brothers turned around, took the bundle, and helped her along by the arms. "This meant facing all the respectable people who were, like ourselves, on their way home. It was a horrid moment. We were only two boys and a girl, and not at all exalted Christians. We hated doing it. Crimson all over (at least we felt crimson, soul and body of us) we plodded on, a wet wind blowing us about, and blowing, too, the rags of that poor old woman, till she seemed like a bundle of feathers and we unhappily mixed up with them." There was an ornate Victorian fountain in the street, and just as they passed it, "this mighty phrase was suddenly flashed as it were through the grey drizzle: 'Gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble—every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be declared by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide—'" Amy turned to see who had spoken. There was nothing but the fountain, the muddy street, the people with their politely surprised faces. The children plodded on with the bundle of feathers, but something had happened to the girl which changed forever life's values. (From the great book A Chance to Die, the Life and Legacy of Amy Carmicheal by Elisabeth Elliot).

The knowledge that God was her judge, and that judgment was coming, gave Amy Carmichael the strength of character to ignore the pressures of a class-driven society and forever identify with the poor, which she did in her legendary ministry. She no longer courted the favor of the privileged. (Preaching the Word – James: Faith That Works)

Bertrand Russell, no friend of Christianity (an avowed atheist) made a fascinating statement - There are certain things that our age needs...The root of the matter (if we want a stable world) is a very simple and old-fashioned thing, a thing so simple that I am almost ashamed to mention it, for fear of the derisive smile with which wise cynics will greet my words. The thing I mean — please forgive me for mentioning it — is love, Christian love, or compassion. If you feel this, you have a motive for existence, a guide in action, a reason for courage, an imperative necessity for intellectual honesty. If you feel this, you have all that anybody should need in the way of religion. Although you may not find happiness, you will never know the despair of those whose life is aimless and void of purpose, for there is always something that you can do to diminish the awful sum of human misery.

ILLUSTRATION OF PRE-JUDGING (ROOT WORDS OF PREJUDICE) - A woman was waiting at an airport one night. With several long hours before her flight. She hunted for a book in the airport shop, Bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop. She was engrossed in her book, but happened to see, That the man beside her, as bold as could be, Grabbed a cookie or two from the bag between, Which she tried to ignore, to avoid a scene. She read, munched cookies, and watched the clock, As the gutsy “cookie thief!” diminished her stock. She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by, Thinking, “If I wasn’t so nice, I’d blacken his eye!” With each cookie she took, he took one, too.When only one was left, she wondered what he’d do. With a smile on his face and a nervous laugh, He took the last cookie and broke it in half. He offered her half, as he ate the other. She snatched it from him and thought, “Oh brother, This guy has some nerve, and he’s also rude, Why, he didn’t even show any gratitude!” She had never known when she had been so galled, And sighed with relief when her flight was called. She gathered her belongings and headed for the gate, Refusing to look back at the “thieving ingrate.” She boarded the plane and sank in her seat, Then sought her book, which was almost complete. As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise. There was her bag of cookies in front of her eyes! “If mine are here, she moaned with despair, Then the others were his and he tried to share! Too late to apologize, she realized with grief, That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief!”

James 2:13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

Amplified For to him who has shown no mercy the judgment [will be] merciless, but mercy [full of glad confidence] exults victoriously over judgment.

Phillips The man who makes no allowances for others will find none made for him. It is still true that "mercy smiles in the face of judgment."

Wuest for the judgment will be without mercy to the person who did not show mercy; mercy exults in triumph over judgment.

NET James 2:13 For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.

GNT James 2:13 ἡ γὰρ κρίσις ἀνέλεος τῷ μὴ ποιήσαντι ἔλεος· κατακαυχᾶται ἔλεος κρίσεως.

NLT James 2:13 There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.

KJV James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

ESV James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

ASV James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment.

CSB James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who hasn't shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

NIV James 2:13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

NKJ James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

NRS James 2:13 For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

YLT James 2:13 for the judgment without kindness is to him not having done kindness, and exult doth kindness over judgment.

NAB James 2:13 For the judgment is merciless to one who has not shown mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

NJB James 2:13 Whoever acts without mercy will be judged without mercy but mercy can afford to laugh at judgement.

GWN James 2:13 No mercy will be shown to those who show no mercy to others. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

BBE James 2:13 For the man who has had no mercy will be judged without mercy, but mercy takes pride in overcoming judging.

judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy Jas 5:4 Ge 42:21 Jud 1:7 Job 22:6-10 Pr 21:13 Isa 27:11 Mt 5:7 Mt 6:15 7:1,2 18:28-35 25:41-46 Lu 16:25
mercy triumphs over judgment.: Ps 85:10 Jer 9:24 Eze 33:11 Mic 7:18 Eph 1:6,7 2:4-7 1Jn 4:8-16,18,19
James 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries

A TERRIFYING PROVERB-
LIKE STATEMENT

How we treat others today will impact how we are treated in the future.

For (because = NIV)(gar) (term of explanation) James explains the reason for the commands just issued in James 2:12.

Vincent writes that James "puts himself at the stand-point of the judgment, and looks backward.

Judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy - In context this would describe those who showed partiality to some (rich) and discriminated against others (poor), in effect showing no mercy to the latter group. In the context James is clearly referring to unbelievers. And note that James is not teaching that by showing mercy we merit mercy from God. That is works righteousness and simply stated it does not work. Besides if we were able to earn mercy, it would not be mercy (Just as with grace)! Sinners can do absolutely nothing to merit God's mercy in salvation. More to James' point is that if you are a person who habitually, repeatedly fails to show compassion/mercy to your fellow man, then, simply, soberly stated, you are utterly destitute of Christian character. You are lost and will receive no mercy at the Great White Throne Judgment. On the other hand the children of God will imitate their Father and are energized by His Spirit to show mercy and shun partiality (Of course none of us will ever be perfect in not showing partiality -- it is not about perfection but about direction). We are never more like our Lord than when show mercy (and love). And to reiterate, because we have the indwelling Holy Spirit of God, it is impossible for a believer not to show mercy/compassion to some degree. As stated, we will never do it perfectly, but to NEVER do it signifies that such a person has never been born again!

MacArthur describes the one who has shown no mercy - Their lives are characterized by partiality, hardness, selfishness, and lack of concern for others—in short, lovelessness. They are far from loving others as they love themselves, reflecting nothing of God's love and care for those in need.

Robertson - For this principle of requital see Matthew 5:7; Matthew 6:14; Matthew 7:1-2; Matthew 18:33.

Wiersbe - Mercy and justice both come from God, so they are not competitors. Where God finds repentance and faith, He is able to show mercy; where He finds rebellion and unbelief, He must administer justice. It is the heart of the sinner that determines the treatment he gets. (BEC)

R C H Lenski - For, certainly, that last judgment is without mercy for him who did not exercise mercy. Has Jesus himself not said so in describing this judgment (Matt. 25:41-45)? What is all this about letting Jesus be hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick, in prison, and doing nothing for him, but failure to exercise mercy?...Yes, these people will say what Jesus states in Matt. 7:22+; but see what an answer they have already received (ED: cf Mt 7:23+). Even doing the greatest works without faith in the gospel will leave them guilty in all points of the law. (The Interpretation of The Epistle to the Hebrews and The Epistle of James)

Kent Hughes - an unmerciful spirit reveals a heart that has not received mercy, but the heart which has been the object of divine mercy will be merciful. This is why the fifth beatitude proclaims, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" (Matthew 5:7+). If we are not merciful we have much to fear, for the beatitude becomes a curse parallel to James' words. The unmerciful will not receive mercy. A terrifying thought! A deeper terror in James' words is this: favoritism is evidence of an unmerciful spirit. The merciful do not ignore the poor in favor of the privileged, but reach out to them. James is saying that a life characterized by discrimination and favoritism indicates a damned soul! This is frightening moral theology from the brother of Jesus. (Ibid) (Bold added)

Judgment (justice)(2920)(krisis from krino = to judge, decide) means a decision or judgment, verdict, justice, court (tribunal). The first use is by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount declaring "‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court." ("in danger of judgment") (Mt 5:21+, cp Mt 5:22+) Mt 10:15, 11:22, 24 all describe Jesus' sobering warning to the Jews of a specific future and frightening "day of judgment." (cp "sentence [krisis] of hell" Mt 23:33, see related uses of krisis in 2 Peter 2:9+, 2 Peter 3:7+) Krisis is also used by James in James 5:12+.

Merciless (415)(aneleos from a = without + eleos = mercy) means unmerciful, merciless, pitiless, without compassion. This is the only use in Scripture and describes God's judgment. And this is so sad because one of God's great attributes is in fact Mercy.

Mercy (compassion)(1656)(eleos) is the outward manifestation of pity and assumes need on the part of those who are recipients of the mercy and sufficient resources to meet the need on the part of those who show it. The idea of mercy is to show kindness or concern for someone in serious need or to give help to the wretched, to relieve the miserable. Here the essential thought is that mercy gives attention to those in misery. Wuest that eleos is used of God it describes "God’s “kindness and goodwill toward the miserable and afflicted, joined with a desire to relieve them” (Vincent). Grace meets man’s need in respect to his guilt and lost condition; mercy, with reference to his suffering as a result of that sin."

Ronald Blue writes that "Just as love triumphs over prejudice, mercy triumphs over judgment." (BKC)

Grant Osborne comments on mercy triumphs over judgment - There is some question as to whether the "mercy" is God's or ours. If it is God's, it is saying that the mercy of God will predominate in the end and provide forgiveness for our shortcomings (Adamson, Hort, Martin). If it is human mercy, it means that by the grace of God people can overcome their prejudices and find mercy toward the less fortunate (Laws, Hiebert, Moo). Both aspects have their strengths, and both fit the context. Thus, it is best to see a "both-and" here. As McCartney (2009:150) states, this "specifically shows the relation between God's mercy in judgment toward people and the mercy of those people, who will be judged." "True believers (the ones showing mercy to others) will find God's mercy in Christ annuls the condemnation they otherwise would have received" (Blomberg and Kamell 2008:120). The NLT captures this well = "There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you." (Cornerstone Biblical Commentary - James)

Mercy triumphs over judgment (krisis) - Mercy will triumph at the judgment seat of Christ because judgment can find nothing against it. Impartial love and acts of kindness will triumph at the Judgment Seat. Paul writes that "against such things (including love as shown by one's speaking and acting - Jas 2:12) there is no law." (Gal 5:23+)

In other words when a man or woman shows mercy to others, it is a clear indication that their life has been transformed by God's grace and mercy. And because they have received saving mercy, their sins which justly deserved God's judgment are forever removed by the fully atoning work of Jesus Christ. Any charges that might have been brought against this person have in effect been "dropped," in fact, in a sense "dropped" on our Sin Bearer, Jesus Christ (Read 2 Cor 5:21+, 1 Pe 2:24+, Isa 53:5-6+).

Lenski explains mercy triumphs over judgment beautifully writing "James closes most effectively: "Mercy boasts against judgment." The unmerciful shall not find mercy in the judgment; the merciful shall boast even in the face of judgment. This is not the language of legalism, which would be farcical in view of James 2:9 plus James 3:2; it is the language of Christ and of the gospel (Mt. 5:7; Mt 25:40). "Mercy" is to be understood in the same sense as it was in the previous sentence, the mercy produced in the believer's heart and life by the mercy of God, the evidence of true faith. Jesus will publicly acknowledge this mercy as an evidence of faith, and so it may indeed "boast against judgment," no judgment condemns the man who has this evidence." (Ibid)

Augustus Toplady puts the great truth of mercy triumphing over judgment into verse...

The judgments of Your holy law
With me can have nothing to do
My Savior’s obedience and blood
Hide all my transgressions
From view

Dear believer who has received divine mercy and now are privileged to dispense mercy as God's representative, take a moment to play and ponder Toplady's beautiful hymn A Debtor to Mercy

A debtor to mercy alone
Of covenant mercy I sing
I come with Your righteousness on
My humble offering to bring
The judgments of Your holy law
With me can have nothing to do
My Savior’s obedience and blood
Hide all my transgressions
From view

The work which Your goodness began
The arm of Your strength will complete
Your promise is yes and amen
And never was forfeited yet
The future or things that are now
No power below or above
Can make You Your purpose forego
Or sever my soul from Your love

VERSE 3
My name from the palms of Your hands
Eternity will not erase
Impressed on Your heart it remains
In marks of indelible grace
Yes I, to the end will endure
Until I bow down at Your throne
Forever and always secure
Forever and always secure
Forever and always secure
A debtor to mercy alone

Jamieson echoes this thought - Mercy, so far from fearing judgment in the case of its followers, actually glorifieth against it, knowing that it cannot condemn them. Not that their mercy is the ground of their acquittal, but the mercy of God in Christ towards them, producing mercy on their part towards their fellow men, makes them to triumph over judgment, which all in themselves otherwise deserve.

A T Robertson - Only mercy can triumph over justice with God and men. "Mercy is clothed with the divine glory and stands by the throne of God" (Chrysostom). See Romans 8:31-39; Matthew 9:13; Matthew 12:7.

Triumphs (2620)(Katakauchaomai from kata = against + kauchaomai = to boast) means to boast against. The basic idea of the verb is of exulting in being able to prevail over something or someone else. Used with this meaning it is used positively in James 2:13 and negatively in James 3:14+.

Louw-Nida says it means "to boast about something by downgrading something else." It is an expression of a feeling of one's comparative superiority and so to look down upon another, boasting at the expense of another (negative sense in Ro 11:18, James 3:14). In James 2:13 the idea expresses what is better or victorious, that which wins out over. The force of katakauchaomai is to brag about oneself in comparison with others. The meaning is clearly illustrated by an inscription on a grave in Asia Minor. The monument cites a gladiator as he gloats over a defeated foe. Katakauchaomai emphasizes one’s superiority over others with whom one is being compared (Bauer).

Katakauchaomai - 3x - arrogant(2), arrogant toward(1), triumphs over(1). - Ro 11:18, James 2:13, James 3:14.

Romans 11:18+ do not be arrogant (present imperative with a negative only possible to accomplish this by continually relying on the Holy Spirit to obey) toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.

James 3:14+ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.

Brian Bell summarizes James 2:12-13 - Three basic principles:

1. Let the Scriptures be your standard, not how we were raised! (verse 12) a) Instead of excusing our prejudices w/statements like, “That’s the way I was brought up!” - “That’s just the way I am!” Allow God to change how you think, speak, & act by living according to his word.

2. Let love be your law! a) Some of the most needy people get treated the worse. Ask, How can I love this person? - What’s needed to build this person up?

3. Let Mercy be your message! (verse 13) a) To show no mercy is to receive no mercy! We are commanded to temper justice with mercy

Mercy triumphs over judgment (not over justice, but judgment/condemnation). It was once said that when we see a brother or sister in sin, there are 2 things we do not know: First, we do not know how hard he or she tried not to sin. And second, we do not know the power of the forces that assailed him or her. We also do not know what we would have done in the same circumstances. When I recognize my prejudice, I will tell myself I lack sound information & am prejudging that person, which makes my opinion irrational & unfair. (Sermon)

Paul Apple has 4 rather pithy devotional questions based on James 2:1-13

1) Do we minister to others based on how gracious God has been to us or based on what we think we will receive in return from the other individual? Is our selection of church officers ever influenced by the person's professional or economic status? Do we refrain from preaching on certain controversial topics so as not to offend the rich and powerful in the church?

2) What type of prejudices do we have based on judging others on external appearance? We all are guilty of this from time to time. How can we work at viewing others from God's perspective?

3) What can the wealthy do to improve the vitality of their faith and protect against the danger of trusting in their own resources? How can they stay humble and not let their money or power affect how they relate to others?

4) Why should we be overly impressed with the rich and powerful since we are ourselves children of the King of Kings? Does our concept of church family brotherhood make for a level playing field as we relate to one another?

James 2:14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?