Untitled Sermon (81)

James 2:5 ESV

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?

“My beloved brothers”

James gives a picture of the sovereignty of God.

A Handbook on the Letter from James James 2:5

James adds an additional argument as to why his readers should not flatter the rich and despise the poor

God has chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith…

Those who are poor so far as this world is concerned, or those who have not wealth. This is the first argument which the apostle suggests why the poor should not be treated with neglect. It is, that God has had special reference to them in choosing those who should be his children. The meaning is not that he is not as willing to save the rich as the poor, for he has no partiality; but that there are circumstances in the condition of the poor which make it more likely that they will embrace the offers of the gospel than the rich

James 2:6 ESV

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

“But”

You have dishonored the poor man!

Dishonored: to dishonor v. — to bring shame or dishonor upon or fail to respect.

Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? James reminded his readers that the rich often sin against them (oppress you… drag you). This is often because the love of money is the root of every kind of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). For this reason alone, the rich are not worthy of the partiality often shown to them.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 2:5–7

Are not the rich the ones who are consistently guilty of oppression, extortion, and slander

James 2:7 ESV

Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 2:5–7

Are they not the ones who slander Jesus’ noble name?

Blaspheme: to slander v. — to charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone.

James 2:8 ESV

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 2:8–9

The alternatives are clear. Love is right. Favoritism is sin. James was optimistic; the “if-clause,” if you really keep the royal law, was written in Greek in such a way that an obedient response was anticipated. The “royal law” was given in Leviticus 19:18 and affirmed by Christ (Matt. 22:39): Love your neighbor as yourself. The law is royal or regal (basilikon, from basileus, “king”) because it is decreed by the King of kings, is fit for a king, and is considered the king of laws.

A Handbook on the Letter from James James 2:8

Verses 8 to 13 explain that the person who favors the rich at the expense of the poor is showing favoritism. This person is a lawbreaker, having failed to love his or her neighbor. Anyone who breaks part of the law breaks the whole and is to be judged by that law.

James 2:9 ESV

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

A Handbook on the Letter from James James 2:9

You show partiality: the verb is used only here in the New Testament. It is a verbal form of the noun used in 2:1. It means discrimination, that is “to treat people according to their outward appearance” (TEV).

A Handbook on the Letter from James James 2:9

You commit sin: for James favoritism is contradictory to the command to love and is therefore an act of sin. To show partiality is to commit sin. The verb you commit sin is a strong statement, literally “you are working sin,” indicating that the sinning is deliberate and intentional

James 2:10 ESV

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

James 2:11 ESV

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.

James 2:12 ESV

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.

Command #18 “So peak and so act”

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 2:12–13

Total obedience is the key. One must both habitually speak and act (Gr. pres. tense imper.) as those to be judged by the Law. God’s Law, because of its wise constraints, brings true freedom (cf. 1:25). Disobedience to God’s Law brings bondage

James 2:13 ESV

For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

we should always show mercy to others by refraining from partiality. The mercy we show will be extended to us again on the day of judgment, and that mercy triumphs over judgment.

Matthew 7:2 ESV

For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.