James 2
James 2:1-5:
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?
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?
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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? |
 Albert Barnes
Referring probably to something in their conduct which existed particularly then. The meaning is not that they oppressed the poor as such, but that they oppressed those whom James addressed. It is probable that then, as since, a considerable portion of those who were Christians were in fact poor, and that this would have all the force of a personal appeal; but still the particular thought is, that it was a characteristic of the rich and the great, whom they were disposed peculiarly to honor, to oppress and crush the poor. The Greek here is very expressive: “Do they not imperiously lord it over you?” The statement here will apply with too much force to the rich in every age. --Albert Barnes
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John Gill
Or dishonoured, and reproached them, by showing respect of persons, in preferring the rich to them, and in distinguishing them in such a manner as was to their contempt and injury; which is a reproaching not only of them, but their Maker; and is in effect saying, that God has done either a weak or a wrong thing, in choosing them to be rich in faith, and heirs of a kingdom, it being directly contrary to his conduct --John Gills Exposition of the Bible
There are two things being dealt with in these verses. James is still correcting the behavior of those in the synagogue who were giving preferential treatment to the wealthy over the poor based solely on their standing within the community. He is reminding the recipients of this letter that making value judgments on a person’s place in the Kingdom, especially those value judgments based on money or earthly things, is wrong. God is the only rightful judge and respecter of persons, and He does so because He can see a person’s heart. God is not interested in wealth, so neither should we be. However, James is also dealing with something more figurative. He is not saying that the rich are horrible and should be shunned either, simply because they are wealthy. He is again pointing to what emphasis all of us should place on value, and that is certainly not on earthly things. Those who find their place within the confines of worldly goods are not looking to the only true Source of joy and completeness, and that is our Lord. In so doing, they blaspheme God’s name and His place. James is reminding us of what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God.” ---Love Everlasting
James 2:7-8:
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:
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:
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James 2:9: “If you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors”
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 Jim Denison
God’s word is blunt: “If you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors” (James 2:9). “Partiality” translates prosopolempsia, meaning to show favoritism or prejudice, to treat one person as inherently better than another. Such prejudice is “sin.” God told his people: “You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 19:34). Jesus taught us: “Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). We are to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39, quoting Leviticus 19:18). Peter testified to the Gentiles who sought to hear the gospel: “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean” (Acts 10:28). - Jim Denison; Denison Forum; 5.11.20
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James 2:10-14:
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.
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.
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James 2:14-15:
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, |
 Neil T Anderson Files
There is nothing wrong about being attracted to the opposite sex. God made us that way. Such natural drives are intended for our pleasure and such will be the case as long as we don't cross and moral barriers. David saw that Bathsheba "was very beautiful in appearance" (2 Sam 11:2). Had he left it at that, everything would have been fine. "But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death." (James 2:14-15).
-Neil T Anderson; Overcoming Addictive Behavior; [c]2003 |
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James 2:16-18:
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. |
 Timothy Whitt
James 2:17, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
James once again wants to make it clear. Faith in God equals working to be God’s hands, feet and voice in this world. The Bible is clear in verses like Ephesians 2:8-10, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.” we are not saved by our works. However, in verses like James 2:17, and again in James 2:26, “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” The Bible is clear that your life must exhibit a working faith. So now is the time for you to reflect on your life of faith. If you do not see yourself doing, going or speaking for God then it might be time to give your faith life some CPR. --Timothy Whitt; LetterPile; Your Faith - Dead or Alive, a Devotion From James 2:14-19 8.2.23 |
James 2:19-26:
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.