James 2:5-7

2:3-7

Read 2:1-7

5

Comment:

Once again James address his audience tenderly and asks them to listen, perhaps calling back to him telling them and us to be quick to hear and slow to speak. James reminds us that Jesus constantly said that he was sent to redeem sinners, and the meek or the lowly will inherit the kingdom of heaven. To actively prefer those that are rich and powerful, because they are rich and powerful, completely goes against the foundational truth that God chose any of us for salvation as we were all completely and utterly dead and vile in comparison to the holiness of God. Also any riches that could be amassed here on Earth pale in comparison to the eternal riches we will have with our Lord and savior Jesus Christ in heaven, and this has been promised to those whom God has chosen and as a result of their election love God, those that are his and held in God’s hand never to be removed.

Question: Do we value the eternal gifts that are promised to us enough? Do we fully understand what it is to be an heirs of the kingdom?

6

Comment:

In James’ hypothetical example we can probably say that the rich man is an unbeliever, and in showing a preference over the poor, and just to be clear James is not referring to the poor in spirit from Matthew 5:3 ““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” but the economically poor, and really showing any preferential treatment based on any worldly measure of an unbeliever over a believer we have turned away from those that God has chosen. The lost that are in power, do they not try to hold onto their power and wealth by oppressing everyone?

Question: Do we fully understand and realize that everything we have, no matter how little or much, is a gift from God, who owns everything in the first place. This particular section is mostly dealing with monetary wealth but everything is a gift from God to people who only deserve death and punishment from a Holy God.

7

Comment:

We need look no further than our overloaded court system and how the famous openly and proudly deny God and belittle His sheep to see these verses in action. God has always provided for the poor through, in the Mosaic law God providing special provisions for the poor who could not afford a bull, goat, or sheep for their sacrifice but could offer a dove or pigeon, commanding not to charge interest on loans to the poor, commanding that fields not be harvested bare to allow gleaning by the poor, by instituting the redeemer who could purchase property back for them, forgiveness of debts every seven years and every fifty calling for a jubilee in which slaves would be set free if they wished to be. God has so un-partiality loved us through his every grace, so should we also love our neighbour as God has loved us.

Question: Whom do we look up to and why?