God Wants His Children to Imitate Him (Faulty Favoritism - Part 2)

No favoritism is the first elaborated example since “be doers of the word and not hearers only” James 1:22-25.

No Favoritism (v. 1-12)

Context

Be doers (1:22-25)

Command (v. 1)

Example (v. 2-3)

You are judges with your own law (v. 4)

God’s Values vs. The World’s Values (vv. 5-7)

The poor are rich from God’s perspective (v. 5)

You have dishonored what God has esteemed (the poor) (v. 6a)

The rich oppress by dragging you into court and blaspheming the fair name of christ. Why would you want to show favoritism to their kind? (v. 6b - 7)

God’s Law vs. The World’s Law (vv. 8-11)

If instead you are following God’s law, you’re doing well! (v. 8)

But (this is a contrast to following God’s law) if you show partiality, your law that you’re setting over God’s law is condemned by God’s law (you’re not looking intently at the perfect law of liberty - Jas 1:25) (v. 9)

Elaboration on violating God’s law (v. 10-11)

God’s Children Follow God’s Law (vv. 12-13)

Speak and act as those who are to be judged by God’s law (v. 12)

If you don’t show mercy, you may not be a Christian (v. 13)