James: No Favorites!
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Introduction
Introduction
Robert Cero on Power
English Standard Version Chapter 2
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 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
In 1922 James and Helen Roth purchased 49 acres on long Island to start a farm.
The land was all woodland and very rocky. So James and Helen, along with their 5 year old son (Jimmy) began the five year project of clearing the land.
It was only James and Helen and a team of Oxen who worked as long as they could each day to clear the land
For five years they worked the land trying to create for themselves a living.
As they cleared they discovered that the southern 15 ac. of the land was no good for farming, because the soil was too thin.
And by 1927 the farm began paying.
They had a 34 ac farm and it looked to provide them with a modest living.
However, that same year that the farm started making money (1927) they received a knock at the door from a representative from the Long Island State Park Commission of Robert Moses.
The Representative told the Roth’s that state was condemning 14 ac. out of the middle of the farm for the Northern State Parkway.
You see Robert Moses was was the President of the New York State Parks Commission and was a man of great, wealth, power, and influence.
The Northern State Parkway was Robert Moses’ project and was to be a scenic highway that serviced the communities on the north side of the Island. (See picture)
You see Robert Moses was was the President of the New York State Parks Commission and was a man of great, wealth, power, and influence.
When Robert Moses originally planned to build this road he didn’t want it go south at all, but to stay east and west along the north side of the Island.
However, as he planned out the route for the highway it was going to go through the golf corse on the massive estate of Otto Kahn, who was a very powerful man (and Robert Moses’ cousin)
Otto Kahn offered Robert Moses $10,000 to re-route his highway to go south..
the problem was just south of Kahn’s estate was another estate of Ogden Livingston Mills, another robber barren who had power, money, and influence.
And below Mill’s estate was another estate of yet another powerful man.
three different times Robert Moses moved the route of his highway south because the land belonged to wealthy, powerful men.
When it was all said and done Moses moved his highway 3 miles south right through the middle of James and Helen Roth’s farm.
James Roth pleaded with the parks commission to move the highway just 400 feet south into the part of his property that that he could not farm due to the thin soil.
Robert Moses refused. He refused to move it less than 1/10 of a mile for the Roth family.
So the highway was built right through the middle of their farm
The Roth family was unable to maintain the farm on two sides of a highway and losing 14 ac. So eventually they were not able to make any money on the farm.
And worse than that, they were unable to sell the farm because the land was worthless being on two sides of the highway.
You see, Robert Moses was a man who when faced with real power, like the robber barrens who owned the three estates, showed partiality.
He showed favoritism and listened to the requests of these men to not bring the highway through their estates.
Yet, when he came toe to toe with the far less powerful, far less wealthy, far less influential James Roth, he was happy to not move the highway even 400 more feet.
Thus destroying a families livelihood
This sort of action is detestable to God.
Time and again throughout scripture we see that God is not a God who shows favoritism.
Paul says it without ambiguity in Romans 2
11 For God shows no partiality.
God told Moses
When God speaks to Moses he
15 “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.
Even the wisdom of Solomon speaks to the evil of showing favoritism and partiality.
23 These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging is not good.
When we hear these verses we are hearing the heart and mind of God. And the heart and mind of God is one that does not show partiality or favoritism.
As followers of God we should seek to have the mind of Christ in all things, thus we ought never show favoritism or partiality.
However, this is harder than it sounds
In social gatherings its easy to treat people differently because of their status or wealth
its amazing how hard we work to impress people we don’t even like
I once had a job where I worked around a lot of celebrities, and it was amazing watching people change in order to try and impress this famous person.
People would constantly contradict their own moral or social standard just to get some recognition from someone they deemed more important.
Its easy to show favoritism toward those who you think will boost your ego, or make you feel important.
Its also easy to ignore those who don’t fit in socially, those who may keep you from being accepted by the so called important people.
Even the Apostle Peter fell headlong into partiality.
Remember when Peter was in Antioch, and he was eating with his gentile brothers and sisters.
And when James (the brother of Jesus) who was a well respected and influenctial Jew entered the room, Peter withdrew from eating with the gentiles because that was culturally looked down upon by Jews.
Peter himself shows favoritism by removing himself from the gentiles in order to have better standing with the Jews.
In our hearts we all know this struggle, in the efforts to be accepted, liked, or respected we often are willing to hurt others in order to gain that which we desire.
And as James is writing this letter to these young Christians, he has already heard that they are showing favoritism toward the rich, and here in James chapter is where he address the topic with this young church.
Look with me at verse one…
1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
There are three aspects of this verse that are a sort of theological outline for the passage.
Show no Partiality
Show No Partiality
Show No Partiality
Hold the Faith in Christ
Jesus is the Lord of Glory
Show No Partiality
Show No Partiality
James wants these young Christians to have nothing to do with showing favoritism.
He knows the seriousness of such thoughts and how partiality or favoritism is antithetical to the gospel and the character of God.
when we look at Scripture we see that we are to think God’s thoughts after him, which means our thoughts concerning any person, no matter social or economic standing, background, race, gender, ethnicity or age needs to align with God’s thoughts about that individual.
Now where do we see God’s thoughts toward people best displayed? on the cross!
Jesus did not die only for the rich,
he did not atone only for the privileged.
The beauty of the gospel is that its for all people!
every tribe, tongue, nation
every class, race, ethnicity, or socio or economic background
This was the promise to Abraham, that through his seed all the nations of the world would be blessed.
So for us to show partiality, to show favoritism, among the people of God, is to try and tear apart that which Christ died to sow together.
Jesus does not give grace nor withhold it based off of ones bank account
Jesus does not extend mercy nor judgment based off of success or influence
Jesus does not find himself being drawn to on culture over another
The gospel and all its blessings are poured out without distinction upon all those who are in Christ.
Favoritism or partiality is to set ourselves against that which God has accomplished by the gospel.
James says to show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus...
So what does it mean to hold the faith?
Hold the Faith
Hold the Faith
James is calling the men and women who have been driven from their homes to not lose their way, to not give up on what it means to faithfully follow Jesus
Let’s remember how difficult the circumstances were for this young church.
They are away from their homes, having been run out of town because of their belief in Christ. They now have to figure out what life looks like away from Jerusalem.
run out of town because of their belief in Christ, figure out what life looks like away from Jerusalem.
and now they are trying to make a living,
figure out what life looks like away from Jerusalem.
How tempting would it be to do whatever it takes to make life easy.
However, discriminating against people is inconsistent with true faith in Christ.
to live for Christ
make some compromises, loosen up on some of their convictions.
They can still affirm the truth of the gospel without having to live it out
Holding to the faith means to think, speak and act in accordance with the gospel.
As long as we believe, thats all that truly matters
this is a gnostic way of thinking. And James wants nothing to do with it
For James, there is no such thing as a faith that does not lace up the work boots and gets its hands dirty in the lives of the people around you.
So James implores them (this is an imperative verb) to hold to the faith.
To hold the faith is to
Don’t just say you believe in the gospel, but let the gospel works its way into your bones where everything you say do or think overflows from the reality of who Jesus is and what he has done.
And then the last part of the verse we see James call Jesus the Lord of Glory.
1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
The Lord of Glory
The Lord of Glory
Why does James add on this extra title, the Lord of Glory at the end of the verse?
James puts the title here to further illuminate the contradiction of showing favoritism as James describes it.
You see, James goes on to rebuke these Christians for showing favoritism (like Robert Moses did with the rich and power estate owners) toward the wealthy while neglecting the poor.
James knows that our hearts are always drawn toward glory, we crave it, we want it, even if we don’t realize it we are always seeking glory.
When the a rich man walks into the room along with a poor man, you are drawn to the glory of the rich man.
When celebrity walks into the room along with a homeless person you are drawn to the glory of the celebrity
And being glory seekers can look different for different people.
Some may be drawn to the glory of the victim, and seek to surround a victim with care and support so that they might receive the glory for being one who sides with the underdog
Some long for the glory of recognition, while others long for the glory of influence.
No matter what we are men and women wired to seek glory.
So why does James remind his readers that Jesus is the glorious one, the Lord of Glory?
because, until we see Jesus as the true glorious one,
the object of our affection,
the one who is worthy of all of our praise and allegiance,
we will constantly be looking for glory in all the wrong places.
It is not until we are satisfied in Christ that we ware able to truly love one another with not partiality.
Your riches means nothing compared to christ
Your influence means nothing compared to Christ
You reputation, social standing, or circle of friends means nothing compared to Christ.
SO when I am fully satisfied in Christ there is not reason to show favoritism.
However, these young Christians have lost focus of the glory of Christ. They have become impressed with the wealth of some who entered their church, and they began discriminating against the poor.
James then moves right into an example,
If a rich man enters your space
And a poor man enters your space
And you pay attention to the rich, give him special treatment, special care etc. while you ignore the poor, keep them away, or even make them feel unwelcome
What have you done?
You have made distinctions, or have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
So we want to ask the
Showing favoritism toward those who are wealthy, and treating the poor with contempt.
What makes this even worse, is that its happening in church.
Look with me at (we will come back to verse 1)
1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
2 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,
3 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,”
4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
2 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,
3 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,”
4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 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?
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?
7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
11 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.
12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.
13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
What makes this even worse, is that its happening in church.
2 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, 3 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,”
2 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, 3 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,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
2 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,
Why is it that these young Christians would be prone to show favoritism to the rich, by giving him a better seat, while the poor man is treated with zero dignity?
For one, in their society it was easy to treat the poor with contempt.
They were not influential, they were not connected, they were not going to help this young church become financially stable, or help the pastor get his blogs shared on social media.
The poor had zero power thus no recourse, people could literally walk by a poor women without a thought of helping, in fact, they were more of a nuisance than anything.
Yet, if a rich and powerful person comes into their church they are thinking that they might be the answer, maybe this person can help us, maybe this person can pay our bills, advocate our cause.
So in an effort to honor the rich man, they showed him favoritism and the poor man was despised.
Their society sounds a lot like our society.
We have cultural permission to judge people according to our own standards of worth.
We are always judging people as good or bad.
Some are worth investing in some are not
Like Robert Moses…
Sometimes our judgements are good, when we think the way God thinks about people. However, when we fall into showing favoritism and partiality, we are not judging with the mind of God, rather we are judging with our own evil thoughts.
Look with me at verse 4
4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
James is saying, if you making distinctions based off of wealth, you have become judges with evil thoughts.
Why? because God does not make these same distinctions.
The Law tells us to go above and beyond in taking care of the poor
Jesus ministry was marked by his love for the poor.
The Law goes above and beyond in taking care of the poor
he never showed favoritism toward those of influence, often because those of influence were not to be trusted.
After all, it was the rich, powerful, and influential who ushered Jesus to the cross.
So James is saying, when you show favoritism we judge with evil thoughts.
As Christians, we are to think God’s thoughts after him.
God has already thought about how we are to treat one another. And for us to live in way that bring glory to God, we are to think the way he thinks, about everything.
James, after telling them that they are judging with evil thoughts goes on to ask three rapid fire questions
5 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? 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?
5 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?
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
James
James
How dare you have contempt for those whom God loves?
It is not a good idea to be against that which God is for. And it is not good to despise that which God loves.
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?
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
5 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? 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?
James 2:
James is saying, how could you dishonor those whom God has honored as heirs of his kingdom?
How dare you have contempt for those whom God loves?
To be against God’s people is to be against God himself.
His second question shifts to who these rich ones are that you are showing favoritism toward
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?
James 2
His final question is similar to the last
7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
James
James is really getting to the heart of their foolishness
Why are you impressed by the men who oppress you?
Why are you trying to honor those who drag you into court?
It was the rich and powerful Jews who were persecuting the Christians
Why are you drawn toward those who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? Which is the name of christ?
In other words, you are you despising those God loves while honoring those who hate God and hate his people?
James is saying, hey! This is a big deal!
In this circumstance, and any circumstance, what is the best thing for this pastor to do?
He loves these young believers, and he does the most loving thing he can, he brings them to the scriptures.
Its a powerful thing to see the living and active word of God doing work on the hearts of God’s people.
Pauls says, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Being corrected or reproofed (which means convicted) is such a grace of God.
English Standard Version Chapter 3
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
If it were not for the power of the Spirit through the word of God we would never have conviction, no conviction, no repentance, no repentance, no experiencing God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness, love, etc.
It is through the painful process of convection that we are brought into the glorious realities of the triune God.
So James Goes to scripture to show these young Christians why this sort of favoritism is a big deal.
He starts by reminding them of the most fundamental aspect of the law.
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
8-
In other words, you cannot love your neighbor as yourself if you are showing partiality.
Therefore, showing partiality is a sin, and you are convicted by the law as a transgressor.
Now, many of them, like many of us, would say, oh come on! I know showing favoritism is not good, but its not that serious…
everyone does does.
10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
There are 613 laws in the OT, I keep most of them.
Is it really fair to call me a transgressor or violator of God’s holy, good, and perfect law? That seems a little harsh.
James answers this sort of objection in verse 10-11
But thats not it at all.
10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 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.
Though this is true of you, because you have shown favoritism you are a transgressor of the Law. And are deserving of condemnation.
The Law finds its end, its fulfillment in the person of Christ.
So who are you?
the law as like signposts pointing us toward the one who was to come.
one who is a violator of the law, a transgressor, one who deserves condemnation,
who are you to judge others with evil thoughts?
The Law was the revelation of God’s character to his people. To transgress the law was not to break God’s rules, but rather it was to sin against the God the Law reveals.
Who are you to show favoritism?
For you, James is saying, you know the gospel, you know what Jesus has done for you, how he has by mercy saved you from judgement.
So even if you show commit adultery, or murder, or favoritism, you have sinned against God, and thus you have broken the entire law.
How he has poured out his grace upon you
These young Christians know the truth of the gospel, they know about the cross of Christ and how their sins have been atoned for...
So now James is calling them to hold to that faith (like verse 1)
So, v. 12-13
12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
-13
12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.
It is God’s mercy that save us from judgement, we are spared for no other reason than God has given us mercy because of what Jesus did on the cross.
For Mercy triumphs over judgment.
1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
Show No Partiality
Show No Partiality
James wants these young Christians to have nothing to do with showing favoritism.
He knows the seriousness of such thoughts and how partiality or favoritism is antithetical to the gospel and the character of God.
We are to think God’s thoughts after him, which means our thoughts concerning any person, no matter social or economic standing, background, race, gender, ethnicity or age needs to align with God’s thoughts about that individual.
Now where do we see God’s thoughts toward people best displayed? on the cross!
Jesus did not die only for the rich, he did not atone only for the privileged.
The beauty of the gospel is that its for all people!
every tribe, tongue, nation
every class, race, ethnicity, or socio or economic background
This was the promise to Abraham, that through his seed all the nations of the world would be blessed.
So for us to show partiality, to show favoritism within the church, is to try and break apart that which Christ died to bring together.
Jesus does not give grace based off of ones bank account
Jesus does not extend mercy based off of clothing
Jesus does not find himself being drawn to on culture over another
The gospel and all its blessings are poured out without distinction upon all of God’s people.
Favoritism or partiality is to set ourselves against that which God has accomplished on the cross.
James says to show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus...
So what does it mean to hold the faith?
Hold the Faith
Hold the Faith
James is calling the men and women who have been driven from their homes to not lose their way, to not give up on what it means to faithfully hold the faith in Christ.
Let’s remember how difficult the circumstances were for this young church.
They are away from their homes, run out of town because of their faith in Christ, and now they are trying to make a living, figure out what life looks like away from Jerusalem.
As they would gather as young Christians to worship together it would be easy to buddy up to those who had more money, to show favor to those who had influence while neglecting the poor among them.
To hold to the faith is to live your life in allegiance to Jesus.
Holding to the faith means to
The Lord of Glory
The Lord of Glory
James then moves right into an example,
If a rich man enters your space
You see, at the cross every man women and child stands on level ground.
And a poor man enters your space
And you pay attention to the rich, give him special treatment, special care etc. while you ignore the poor, keep them away, or even make them feel unwelcome
What have you done?
You have made distinctions, or have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
So we want to ask the
No one has earned favor with God, all are sinners before him in need of his mercy and grace.
Every redeemed person is saved fully by the grace of God.
Therefore, we ought never show favoritism, for we are all one in Christ.
We must hold on to the faith, remembering that we are under the law of liberty, which is the law of Christ.
And we must constantly look to the glory of God, for when we see him for who he is we are left unimpressed with that which the world favors. And we will be able to treat everyone with the dignity of Christ.
May this be true of us by the power of the Spirit through the authority of the Word of God.
Lets pray
Why Favoritism is Foolish