Partiality
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Intro:
Scripture Intro:
Scripture Reading (“Please stand…”)
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,
and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,”
have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
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?
But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?
Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
Pray...
Intro:
Intro:
Do you remember the day that a car caught on fire in the parking lot?
A friend of a friend
Nearly homeless
Didn’t believe anything
Ascribing Glory Where Glory is Due
Ascribing Glory Where Glory is Due
(Timer: ~ 20 minutes left)
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
“Lord Jesus Christ” is, of course, a common combination of titles in the NT;
but nowhere else is the word “glory” added to the series.
The closest is 1 Cor 2:8
None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But it doesn’t use the explicit name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Many translations make this word “glory” into an adjective,
b/c it’s obviously describing Jesus.
“our glorious Lord”
“Glory” has enough theological significance in its own right in the NT that turning it into a simple adjective—“glorious”—might weaken the sense James intends here.
“Glory” is that state of “being-like-God” to which Christians are destined (e.g., Rom. 5:2; 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:17) and in which Jesus even now exists.
Why does this matter?
B/c the people James is addressing are giving too much “glory” to people around them.
They ascribe glory to the rich.
But James is saying...
there is only one who is the possessor of glory...
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Don’t try to give his glory to someone else.
Partiality - “to receive the face”
To treat people differently based on their wealth, clothes, color of skin,
or any aspect of physical appearance
For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.
He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.
Jesus - the Lord of glory...
Think about his incarnation (taking on flesh)
Fully God… Full of glory
Yet, who did he associate with?
he came right down to the poorest level, identifying himself with the least and worst.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
James Adamson - the verb ‘indicates their “facing both ways” …
nominally to Christ and actually to worldly snobbery’.
What does God look at?
The heart.
Viewing People as God Views Them
Viewing People as God Views Them
(Timer: How much time left?)
(v. 2-4)
If… Then
If (v. 2-3)...
If a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing AND a poor man
If you pay attention to the rich man
Then (v. 4)...
you’ve made distinctions
became judges with evil thoughts
For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,
and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,”
have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Setting - a meeting for worship, instruction, and encouragement in their faith.
Rich:
The “gold ring” was an emblem of the upper-level Roman “equestrian” class
“fine” clothing - “bright,” “shining.”
It is a luxurious festal garment, befitting a king or a celestial being,
like the angel who appeared to Cornelius “in shining raiment” (Acts 10:30).
The accent is on beauty, richness, and magnificence, as is the case in Jas 2:2–3
fine clothes indicate the high social rank
Poor man:
“Shabby” translates a word from the same root as the word James used in 1:21
to characterize the sinful “filth” that Christians must put off.
The image James conjures up is of the typical homeless person in our day,
dressed in mismatched, stained, and smelly rags.
The sin of partiality is the sin of judging by accidentals and externals
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
Certainly,
James grew up in the household of Joseph and Mary (as Jesus’ brother)
definitely aware of the inequality of wealth
and the disadvantages of the poor and in favor of the rich.
This is not saying that wealth is evil.
James later writes about both Abraham and Job,
both were exceedingly wealthy men (Gn. 13:2; Jb. 1:3; 42:12).
Not many...
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
Notice that...
both these people have to be told where to go after entering the meeting
“You sit here...”
“You stand over there”
“pay attention” can mean simply “look at”
but often has the connotation of “look at with favor,” “have regard for”
swayed by the mere chance that one possesses worldly advantages such as money and the other does not
(v. 4) The conclusion.
Two rhetorical questions, expecting the answer “yes”
(Greek uses the particle ou to indicate this kind of a question;
we accomplish the same thing in English by using the word “not”).
“Judgment”
The place of God alone
discriminating against people is inconsistent with true faith in Christ.
How does God view people that he sets his affection on?
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?
“to dishonor the poor (6), as illustrated in verses 2–3, is to contradict the mind of God.”
“You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.
He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.
Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
Viewing Life as God Views It
Viewing Life as God Views It
(Timer: How much time left?)
the divine choice brings with it great spiritual riches,
and the poor person becomes rich in faith and a heir of the kingdom which God has promised to those who love him (5)
The word “heir” for the poor man is not something he celebrates in this life.
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?
kingdom
heirs
promise
Eternity matters supremely more than here and now
James reminds us of our own new position
using kingdom as a summary word for the eternal sphere of blessing into which we have already entered.
Entering into the kingdom is entering into the life which Jesus imparts (Mk. 9:45, 47); to be in the kingdom is to be saved (Lk. 18:25–26). The kingdom is not of this world (Jn. 18:36). It is not modelled on the earthly notion of a kingdom, nor does it arise from an earthly source, nor does it, or will it, find expression in an earthly, territorial expanse. It is the rule of Christ in and over believing hearts and brings the present kingdom benefits of righteousness, joy and peace, enjoyed through the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17). It is also—and probably in the present passage in James even predominantly—the heavenly kingdom, the great and sure hope of every believer.
They oppose believers, taking them to court (6); they also blaspheme that honourable name by which you are called (7).
But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?
Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
the name marks a new relationship
personal blessing of high dignity accorded to every believer: we have each been called by that honourable name (7). The common marriage custom, whereby a wife takes her husband’s surname, begins to illustrate what has happened. The taking of the name speaks of an intimate, personal and permanent relationship.
Close in Prayer
Close in Prayer
Closing Song:
Closing Song:
“Be Thou My Vision”
Living all of life in view of God’s glory.
Living for him
That who he is...
frames how we live.
Benediction:
Benediction:
