The Sin Of Favouritism (Part 1)

In the Bible, there were 2 groups of people that the Jews hated. First, the Jews hated the Samaritans. During Jesus’ time, the Samaritans were the people living in the place known as Samaria, which is located in the middle of Israel. The Samaritans were racially half-Jews and half-Gentiles (non-Jews). Because they were mix, the pure Jews disdain this group and would avoid them (and not even talk to them) so that they won’t be defiled. If you read , Jesus breaks the cultural norm and talks to a Samaritan woman.

Second, the Jews hated the Romans.

Second, the Jews hated the Gentiles. This would have included the Romans and the Greeks because they were barbaric and ceremonially unclean.

There was a historical event back in . It was the beginning when the Jewish Christians recognize that the gospel of Jesus Christ, the message of salvation, was not exclusively for the Jews, but it was for everyone, including the Samaritans and the Gentiles.

Peter was invited by three Gentiles to go to the house of a Roman Soldier named Cornelius. When Peter entered his house, he said:

Acts 10:28 ESV

28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.

Acts

Cornelius then asked Peter to tell him all the things that God commanded Peter to tell Cornelius. Afterwards, Peter says:

Acts 10:34–35 ESV

34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

Acts 10:34 ESV

34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,

Afterwards, Peter preaches the gospel to the Gentiles for the first time, and the Gentiles received the gospel and were saved by God.

How often do we let our partiality and favouritism to hinder us from telling others about Jesus and hinder us from loving others?

Today, James will challenge us with this big idea:

In James, the passage points us to the central topic:

Today, James will challenge us with this big idea:

Big Idea: Christians Must Not Show Favouritism Because Favouritism Violates The Christian Faith. (v.1)

Big Idea: Christians Must Not Show Favouritism Because Favouritism Violates The Christian Faith.

READ v.1

In some of your Bible translations, partiality could also be translated as favouritism. To play favourites. To favour and prefer a specific group of people over others. For the lesson, I will use the word favouritism because it may be easier for us to understand than partiality, but it still carries the same meaning in the original language.

Favouritism - literally means “to accept a face.” In other words, you make distinctions and judgment of people simply by looking at their face or appearance. Based on their appearance, you treat that person better than others.

COURT OF LAW

The Old Testament has a law given to the Israelites on how they are to handle themselves in the court of law.

Leviticus 19:15 ESV

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.

Deuteronomy 16:19 ESV

19 You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous.

Deuteronomy 16:

Therefore, in the court of law, the judge must not favour one side of the party simply because the person is rich or because the person bribe the judge or because the person is good looking. If the judge is playing favourites, then justice is perverted.

Which is why later on in will mention that the rich drags the Jewish Christians into court.

The way James is talking about favouritism is not in the context of the court of law, but he is talking about favouritism in general. Favouritism is an act that violates the Christian faith. Favouritism goes completely contrary to our faith because God shows no partiality. If we claim to follow Jesus and hold the faith in Jesus Christ, then we are not to show favouritism.

James challenges us

Favouritism goes completely contrary to our faith because God shows no partiality.

James is instructing the Christians not to show partiality as they hold to the faith of

“as you hold the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.”

What favouritism does is that we place glory that belongs to Jesus alone

Jesus Christ deserves all glory and praise. This kind of glory belongs to Jesus alone. And when we play favouritism, we are in a sense placing glory to another person that we favour more.

When James uses the word, “partiality” or “favouritism,” he is using a plural form. In other words, James is talking about “ACTS” of partiality. Show no acts of favouritism. The reason why it is plural is because there are more than one act or one kind of favouritism that James is talking about.

When James talks about favouritism, he is not

REFLECTION: What other ways do we show favouritism, partiality or discrimination?

The meaning is very clear, “show no acts of partiality,” but man are there many applications to it. And so, James will give an example of what favouritism looks like, and it is found in verses 2-4.

In the context of the assembly as mentioned in verse 2. The assembly is the Jewish synagogue where the Jews come together to listen to God’s Word and worship the LORD. We could say that James is talking about favouritism in the church and in the youth group as we gather together to worship and listen to the teaching of God’s Word.

in the context of the assembly as mentioned in verse 2. The assembly is the Jewish synagogue where the Jews come together to listen to God’s Word and worship the LORD. Application wise, we could say that James is talking about favouritism in the church and in the youth group as we gather together to worship and listen to the teaching of God’s Word.

Christians must not show

1. Favouritism is a sin because...

It is discrimination.

a. It is judging people’s appearance at a surface level. (v.2-4)

In this example, the setting where favouritism takes place is in the assembly as mentioned in verse 2. The assembly is the Jewish synagogue where the Jews come together to listen to God’s Word and worship the LORD. We could say that James is talking about favouritism in the church and in the youth group as we gather together to worship and listen to the teaching of God’s Word.

Some think that James may be using a hypothetical example. I think what James is describing here happened in real life. The Christians were making judgment upon people’s physical appearance.

And verses 2-4 is a if and then statement. If you’re doing this, then this is the result.

V.2

They see a rich man walking into the Christian gathering. How do they know that he’s a rich man? Well, they just need to look at what he’s wearing. He’s wearing a gold ring and fine clothing (reminds me of Drake). The phrase, “fine clothing,” is a weak translation. I mean…I think we’re all wearing a “fine” clothing. The word literally means bright, glistening, shiny, and splendor. They’re the kind of clothings that celebrities wear when they go to the Oscars. And if you see someone wearing a gold ring in that culture, then you would immediately know that that person is wealthy and carries a special status in the society.

It fails to love. (v.9)

You can tell that someone is ballin with money if he’s wearing expensive brand of clothings and accessories, such as Lululemon, Nike, Apple and etc. I mean, you guys are teenagers, and I doubt most of you don’t wear expensive brands. But, if you see a guy dressing up like a k-pop star, or if you see a girl dressing up like Selena Gomez.

Now, they also see a poor man walking into the Christian gathering. They know that he’s poor because he’s wearing shabby or filthy clothings. And I think it is easy to tell that a person is poor based on the way they look, dress, smell, and behave. The poor that James may have in mind here is a person whose ribs are always showing or walking in rags

But, in that society, most people, including Christians were poor. If you remember back , there were both poor and rich Christians.

Show picture

V.3

The Christians would have to respond when a rich man and poor man enters into the Christian gathering.

James says this regarding the Christians’ behaviour towards the rich man, “if YOU PAY ATTENTION to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, ‘you sit here in a good place.’” The phrase “pay attention” means to look favourable upon someone or to show special attention to someone, and in this case, the rich man. And the rich gets to sit in a good place. It is the place of honour, and that place is usually located at the front. Nowadays, the place of honour is located at the back because that’s where cool kids sit.

Now, for the poor man, he does not get the seat of honour. Rather, he’s told to stand (most likely at the back of the meeting place) or he’s told to sit down at someone’s feet. The idea is that the poor man is to “sit down on the floor beside someone’s footstool.”

What this behaviour shows is that the Christians were showing their affection and love over the rich while treating the poor with disrespect and apathy. That is what favouritism looks like.

V.4

You may notice that verses 2-4 is a conditional statement. If you’re doing this, then this is the result. James has been building his “if” statements from verses 2-3. Now, in verse 4, James is going to land a blow on the Christians who are showing favouritism.

James is saying, “If you are favouring the rich man by giving him the seat of honour while you are treating the poor man with disrespect, then...” as James says in verse 4. READ.

This is a rhetorical question. You should have learned what it is in English class. It is a figure of speech in the form of a question that is asked to make a point rather than to bring an answer.

And in verses 4-7, James will ask four rhetorical questions. And the answer to all of them is a definite “YES!”

This is the blow that James is making here. By showing favouritism, you elevate yourself as the judge of a person based on his/her appearance. By judging them, you pick and choose who you want to favour and who you choose not to favour. By doing so, James is saying, your thoughts evil. This thought that you have is wicked, sinful, and harmful.

b. It fails to love. (v.8-9)

Applications For Resisting Favouritism

Christians

Favouritism is wrong and sinful because it fails to love your neighbour. James will talk about it in verse 9. If you show partiality or favouritism, then you have committed sin against God. If you choose not to love your neighbour, then you have broken the second greatest commandment that Jesus gave to us, which is, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”

I want to turn your attention to one of the events that happened in Jesus’ life. Many of you may know the story of the Good Samaritan.

Luke 10:25–29 ESV

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

The question that the lawyer asked in verse 29 is implying that his neighbours would be the ones who were righteous. He thinks that his neighbour would only be the religious leaders while he can choose not to love the wicked sinners, such as the tax collectors, prostitutes, Gentiles, and especially the Samaritans, as I mentioned in the beginning, who were most hated because they were the enemies of God.

The prevailing opinion among scribes and Pharisees was that one’s neighbors were the righteous alone. According to them, the wicked—including rank sinners (such as tax collectors and prostitutes), Gentiles, and especially Samaritans—were to be hated because they were the enemies of God.

That is another example of the sin of favouritism. You choose to love and favour whoever that fulfills your criteria of a friend while you can choose not to love the others.

REFLECTION: What other ways do you show favouritism, partiality or discrimination?

You Can Consider Other Ways We Show Favouritism.

You can judge people by their skin colour, their gender, by their personality, by their disability, by their popularity, by their age, by their body image, by their social status (if they’re wealthy or not) and by their religion.

Judging people by their skin colour.

Judging people by their gender.

Judging people by their personality.

Judging people by their disability.

Judging people by their popularity.

Do you judge people based on those categories at home, at school, or at church? Do you favour those who have the same skin colour as you or the same ethnicity? Do you favour only those who are good looking? Do you favour only those who you get along with or speak the same language as you are; hence you skip out the combined service and choose not go spend time with other age groups in the church?

while you can choose not to love the others.

Judging people by their age.

Judging people by their body image.

Judging people by their religion.

2. In general, God is gracious towards the poor. (v.5)

James will now teach us why favouritism towards the rich while discriminating the poor is a bad idea.

And James will give his 2nd rhetorical question. And the answer to this question is a resounding “YES.”

Christians must consistently welcome everyone.

Verse 5 is a rather difficult verse to understand because it makes it sound like God only chooses those who are poor for salvation and excludes the rich from God’s kingdom, but that is not what it is saying if you read the entire Scripture. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, whether if you are rich or poor. There were obviously rich Christian in the New Testament.

Skipping verse 5 (I’ll return to it at the end), James will give further reasons why favouritism towards the rich is a bad idea.

Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, whether if you are rich or poor.

Paul gave instructions to the rich Christians in

1 Timothy 6:17–19 ESV

17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

1 Timothy 6:7–9 ESV

7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

I want you to pay attention to this phrase, “Has not God chosen...” The Bible is clear that God has chosen His people for salvation before the foundation of the world (). This idea is known as the Doctrine of Election. I won’t go into detail about this because it is a deep subject. In brief, the doctrine of election teaches that before the universe was created and before you were born, God has already chosen some to be saved. Those some are the elect or God’s people.

If James were to suggest that only poor people can be chosen by God, then we would have to ignore the entire NT because there were rich Christians who supported the Apostles financially.

The Bible is clear that God has chosen to His people for salvation before the foundation of the world (). This is doctrine known as the Doctrine of Election. I won’t go into detail about this because it is a deep subject. In brief, the doctrine of election teaches that before the universe was created and before you were born, God has already chosen His people (also called the Elect)

What exactly is James implying when he says, “has not God chosen THOSE who are POOR in the world TO BE RICH IN FAITH and HEIRS of the kingdom?

Galatians 3:28 ESV

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

James is saying that the poor have a special place in God’s plan of salvation. I don’t think James is saying all poor people will be saved, but he is saying about the poor people who love God (as it says at the end of verse 5).

So, what is James talking about here.

To be rich in faith means that they are rich in an eternal sense because they are heirs of the kingdom. An heir means that a person would inherit a possession.

James declares that the poor have a special place in God’s economy of salvation. They are rich in an eternal sense because they are heirs of the kingdom

They are rich in an eternal sense because they are heirs of the kingdom. An heir means that a person would inherit a possession.

In the eyes of the world, the poor are the ones who are discarded by society. They are the people who do not have material possession, in a physical sense. At the same time, the poor, who are Christians and love God, are rich and wealthy in a spiritual sense.

Think about it. If you are a Christian, you are spiritually rich. You have everything in Christ because all you have is Christ.

Therefore, James is challenging the Christians and calling them to imitate God’s attitude towards the poor. They are to show a special concern and grace and love towards the poor and the helpless.

So, what is James talking about here.

Let us not dishonour the ones whom God honours. REPEAT.

If you dishonour the ones whom God honours, then you are in big trouble. So, let us not dishonour the ones whom God honours.

Let us not dishonour the ones whom God honours. REPEAT.

Christians must learn to care for the helpless.

Try

I want to give an additional comment about the rich. There is no doubt that there are rich Christians in the world who live out their faith. However, Jesus did comment that it is difficult for wealthy people to follow Jesus.

In general, God is gracious towards the poor. (v.5)

Mark 10:23–27 ESV

23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

Mark 10:23-

Regarding the rich:

3. Beware of favouring only those who:

Oppress you.

a. Abuse you. (v.6)

How did the rich abuse the Christians?

First, the rich do not deserve favouritism because they mistreat and oppress - to tyrannize - the Christians. It does not mean that the Christians cannot show kindness and love. It does mean that the Christians should not submit to the rich at the expense of caring for the helpless.

Second, the rich drags Christians into court. The rich people used their wealth and influence with the judicial court to pervert justice and secure a positive verdict against the poor. For instance, they forced the poor to forfeit their land for late payment of mortgages and increasing the interest rates.

I do not know what this may look like for you. Maybe some of you hangout with people who are genuinely kind and nice.

But, maybe some of you love to spend time with those who you favour, but do they take advantage of you? For instance, if you begin hanging out with a so and so group, then they would eventually ask for your lunch money and would not pay you back.

Those who hate Christ.

b. Hate Christ. (v.7)

Blasphemy means to slander against someone in such a way as to harm someone’s reputation. In this case, the rich speaks blasphemy against the name of God or Christ.

These rich people could be Jews who are non-Christians. They could have criticized the Christians for claiming that Jesus is the Messiah and Saviour. The Jews would say that Jesus is not the Messiah, he is not the Saviour, and we are still waiting for God to send the true Messiah to us.

These rich people could be Gentiles, non-Jews. They may have profanely mocked the God whom Christians claim to worship.

Whoever the rich may be, the point is that they dishonour the Lord Jesus Christ. They hate Christ. They speak blasphemy against God’s name.

Exodus 20:7 ESV

7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

This is the 3rd reason why discriminating the poor and favouring the rich is inexcusable.

Who are these rich?

Non-Jewish Christians?Criticizing Christian claims about Jesus.Gentile unbelievers?Profanely mocking the God whom believers claimed to worship.

I do not know what this may look like for you. Maybe some of you hangout with people who are genuinely kind and nice.

3. Applications For Resisting Favouritism

a. Christians must consistently welcome everyone.

I think we should make effort to welcome everyone. Perhaps not all of us know each other really well, but I want to encourage us to at least say hi and get to know someone whom you do not know.

b. Christians must learn to care for the helpless.

In general, God is gracious towards the poor. (v.5)

Conclusion

Let me remind you of the big idea for today’s lesson:

Big Idea: Christians Must Not Show Favouritism Because Favouritism Violates The Christian Faith.

We need to stop playing favourites, stop discriminating and holding prejudices against others who are different from us. If you guys ever go out for lunch or BBT as a youth group, then don’t exclude other youth members.

Consider Other Ways We Show Favouritism