Contents

Reading

James 2:1-13

KJV ¹ My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 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; 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: ⁴ Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 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? ⁶ But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? ⁷ Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? ⁸ If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: ⁹ But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. ¹⁰ For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 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. ¹² So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. ¹³ For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. CEV ¹ My friends, if you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, you won't treat some people better than others. ² Suppose a rich person wearing fancy clothes and a gold ring comes to one of your meetings. And suppose a poor person dressed in worn-out clothes also comes. ³ You must not give the best seat to the one in fancy clothes and tell the one who is poor to stand at the side or sit on the floor. ⁴ This is the same as saying that some people are better than others, and you would be acting like a crooked judge. ⁵ My dear friends, pay attention. God has given a lot of faith to the poor people in this world. God has also promised them a share in his kingdom that he will give to everyone who loves him. ⁶ You mistreat the poor. But isn't it the rich who boss you around and drag you off to court? ⁷ Aren't they the ones who make fun of your Lord? ⁸ You will do all right, if you obey the most important law in the Scriptures. It is the law that commands us to love others as much as we love ourselves. ⁹ But if you treat some people better than others, you have done wrong, and the Scriptures teach that you have sinned. ¹⁰ If you obey every law except one, you are still guilty of breaking them all. ¹¹ The same God who told us to be faithful in marriage also told us not to murder. So even if you are faithful in marriage, but murder someone, you still have broken God's Law. ¹² Speak and act like people who will be judged by the law that sets us free. ¹³ Do this, because on the day of judgment there will be no pity for those who have not had pity on others. But even in judgment, God is merciful!

Examination

God is not a respecter of persons

1. With what warning does this chapter open?

James 2:1

KJV ¹ My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. CEV ¹ My friends, if you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, you won't treat some people better than others.

We should not treat some people better than others.

NOTE a

2. How are the rich and the poor frequently recognised?

James 2:2

KJV 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; CEV ² Suppose a rich person wearing fancy clothes and a gold ring comes to one of your meetings. And suppose a poor person dressed in worn-out clothes also comes.

By their outer appearance - their clothes.

3. How was “respect of persons” often manifested?

James 2:3

KJV 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: CEV ³ You must not give the best seat to the one in fancy clothes and tell the one who is poor to stand at the side or sit on the floor.

People pleasing was demonstrated by providing a person of high regard with a comfortable place to seat.

TREATMENT OF THE POOR:

Stand – The poor man is given no courteous consideration. The alternative is between standing inconspicuously along the wall or sitting on the floor between the footstools of the presumably more respected members or guests.

Under That is, beside, another’s footstool. Having a footstool as well as a seat, this favored person treats the poor man as though he were not worth the least attention.

4. What had those who made these distinctions become?

James 2:4

KJV ⁴ Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? CEV ⁴ This is the same as saying that some people are better than others, and you would be acting like a crooked judge.

They had become crooked judges.

5. How does God look upon the people of this world?

Psalm 33:13-16

KJV ¹³ The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. ¹⁴ From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. ¹⁵ He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. ¹⁶ There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. CEV ¹³ The Lord looks at the world ¹⁴ from his throne in heaven, and he watches us all. ¹⁵ The Lord gave us each a mind, and nothing we do can be hidden from him. ¹⁶ Mighty armies alone cannot win wars for a king; great strength by itself cannot keep a soldier safe.

The Lord looks equally at everyone regardless of rank or strength.

6. What does the apostle Peter have to say about this matter?

Acts 10:34-35

KJV ³⁴ Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: ³⁵ But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. CEV ³⁴ Peter then said: Now I am certain that God treats all people alike. ³⁵ God is pleased with everyone who worships him and does right, no matter what nation they come from.

God treats all people equally and He is pleased by everyone who worships Him and does right, no matter what nation they come from.

Our attitude toward all men

7. What should be our attitude toward all men?

Proverbs 24:23

KJV ²³ These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. CEV ²³ Here are some more sayings that make good sense: When you judge, you must be fair.

When we judge, we should be fair.

JUDGE NOT!

Matthew 7:1

KJV ¹ Judge not, that ye be not judged. CEV (Luke 6.
37,38,41,42) ¹ Don't condemn others, and God won't condemn you.
is one of the Bible's most misquoted verse.

Proverbs 28:21

KJV ²¹ To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress. CEV ²¹ It isn't right to be unfair, but some people can be bribed with only a piece of bread.

To show partiality is not good: We should be those who do not favor or condemn others based on their race, class, nationality, or influence. [SOURCE: b ]

Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress: Because justice and the opinion of others can be easily bought, we should determine that we will not be bribed for partiality and we should be aware that others may be easily bought.

“For a piece of bread”

“For a trifle he will transgress, and sell his soul dog cheap for a groat, or less money.”
– (Trapp)

“The price can go still lower, to as little as the fancied approval of a stronger personality; and the preacher (Ezekiel 13:19

KJV ¹⁹ And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies? CEV ¹⁹ They charge my people a few handfuls of barley and a couple pieces of bread, and then give messages that are insulting to me. They use lies to sentence the innocent to death and to help the guilty go free. And my people believe them!
) is as vulnerable as the judge.” – (Kidner)

NOTE c

8. To whom is the kingdom of God promised?

Matthew 5:3

KJV ³ Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. CEV ³ God blesses those people who depend only on him. They belong to the kingdom of heaven!

Matthew 5:5

KJV ⁵ Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. CEV ⁵ God blesses those people who are humble. The earth will belong to them!

Matthew 5:10

KJV ¹⁰ Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. CEV ¹⁰ God blesses those people who are treated badly for doing right. They belong to the kingdom of heaven.

The poor in spirit (those who depend only on God), the meek (the humble), and those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (those treated badly for doing right).

Oppressing the poor; the royal law

9. What accusation is made against some? What do the rich do?

James 2:6-7

KJV ⁶ But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? ⁷ Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? CEV ⁶ You mistreat the poor. But isn't it the rich who boss you around and drag you off to court? ⁷ Aren't they the ones who make fun of your Lord?

Some mistreat the poor.

They boss the poor around (oppress) and take them to court. In doing so, they make fun of (blaspheme) the Lord.

10. How is the royal law fulfilled?

James 2:8

KJV ⁸ If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: CEV ⁸ You will do all right, if you obey the most important law in the Scriptures. It is the law that commands us to love others as much as we love ourselves.

The most important law in the Scriptures (to love God with all our hearts) is fulfilled (obeyed) by loving others as much as we love ourselves.

Jesus explained this in Matthew 22:35-40

KJV ³⁵ Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, ³⁶ Master, which is the great commandment in the law? ³⁷ Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. CEV ³⁵ One of them was an expert in the Jewish Law. So he tried to test Jesus by asking, ³⁶ “Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the Law?” ³⁷ Jesus answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. ³⁸ This is the first and most important commandment. ³⁹ The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as much as you love yourself.” ⁴⁰ All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets are based on these two commandments.

NOTE d

Transgressors of the law

11. What do those who have respect of persons (those who are bias or unfair) do? By what is this sin shown?

James 2:9

KJV ⁹ But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. CEV ⁹ But if you treat some people better than others, you have done wrong, and the Scriptures teach that you have sinned.

They do wrong and the law convinces that they have sinned.

12. Of what are people guilty who offend even one command?

James 2:10

KJV ¹⁰ For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. CEV ¹⁰ If you obey every law except one, you are still guilty of breaking them all.

Guilty of all.

NOTE e

13. How is this illustrated?

James 2:11

KJV 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. CEV ¹¹ The same God who told us to be faithful in marriage also told us not to murder. So even if you are faithful in marriage, but murder someone, you still have broken God's Law.

God treats every command equally.

Standard of God’s Judgment

14. What is this law called? How are we encouraged to speak?

James 2:12

KJV ¹² So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. CEV ¹² Speak and act like people who will be judged by the law that sets us free.

The “the law of liberty”.

We are to speak and act in accordance to the law.

15. How will those be judged who have shown no mercy to others?

James 2:13

KJV ¹³ For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. CEV ¹³ Do this, because on the day of judgment there will be no pity for those who have not had pity on others. But even in judgment, God is merciful!

On the day of judgment, God will show no mercy to those who have not had mercy on others.

a The Revised Version, margin, of this text reads, “My brethren, do ye, in accepting persons, hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory?” None who profess the pure and undefiled religion of our Lord should countenance any distinction, or manifest any partiality, among members of the church, because of difference in wealth or social standing. We are all one in Christ Jesus.

b https://bit.ly/3Klf7hT

c While God is no respecter of persons, He is a respecter of character. He will immortalize a pure and holy character in His kingdom. We, too, should love and respect good character, no matter in whom it may be found.

d We are here cited to the higher, supreme law, before which all will stand on an equality. There will be no rich or poor, no high or low. Right and wrong, guilt and innocence alone will be considered. It is the “royal law” because it is the law of the great King. Before this law all must bow. By it all differences must finally be settled.

e The moral law “is that revelation of the divine will which relates to the duties men owe both to their Maker and to their fellow men, or neighbors, as explained in Luke 10:33-37

KJV ³³ But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, ³⁴ And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵ And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. ³⁶ Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? ³⁷ And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. CEV ³³ A man from Samaria then came traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he felt sorry for him ³⁴ and went over to him. He treated his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put him on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. ³⁵ The next morning he gave the innkeeper two silver coins and said, “Please take care of the man. If you spend more than this on him, I will pay you when I return.” ³⁶ Then Jesus asked, “Which one of these three people was a real neighbor to the man who was beaten up by robbers?” ³⁷ The expert in the Law of Moses answered, “The one who showed pity.” Jesus said, “Go and do the same!”
. This law is spiritual and perfect, extending to all the inward creations and outward actions of men, and can never be changed or annulled.” – Binney's Theological Compend, page 153.