Favoritism Forbidden
2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[Lev. 19:18 ] you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[Exodus 20:14; Deut. 5:18] also said, “You shall not murder.”[Exodus 20:13; Deut. 5:17] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Faith and Deeds (Works)
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[d]? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” [Gen. 15:6] and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
NOTES:
2:1–13 In the Christian community there must be no discrimination
or favoritism based on status or wealth (Jas 2:2–4; cf. Mt 5:3; 11:5; 23:6; 1
Cor 1:27–29). Divine favor rather consists in God’s election and promises (Jas
2:5). The rich who oppress the poor blaspheme the name of Christ (Jas 2:6–7).
By violating one law of love of neighbor, they offend against the whole law
(Jas 2:8–11). On the other hand, conscious awareness of the final judgment
helps the faithful to fulfill the whole law (Jas 2:12).
2:4 When Christians show favoritism to the rich they are guilty
of the worst kind of prejudice and discrimination. The author says that such
Christians set themselves up as judges who judge not by divine law but by the
basest, self-serving motives.
2:5 The poor, “God’s poor” of the Old Testament, were seen
by Jesus as particularly open to God for belief in and reliance on him alone
(Lk 6:20). God’s law cannot tolerate their oppression in any way (Jas 2:9).
2:8 Royal: literally, “kingly”; because the Mosaic law came
from God, the universal king. There may be an allusion to Jesus’ uses of this
commandment in his preaching of the kingdom of God (Mt 22:39; Mk 12:31; Lk
10:27).
2:12–13 The law upon which the last judgment will be based
is the law of freedom. As Jesus taught, mercy (which participates in God’s own
loving mercy) includes forgiveness of those who wrong us (see Mt 6:12, 14–15).
2:14–26 The theme of these verses is the relationship of
faith and works (deeds). It has been argued that the teaching here contradicts
that of Paul (see especially Rom 4:5–6). The problem can only be understood if
the different viewpoints of the two authors are seen. Paul argues against those
who claim to participate in God’s salvation because of their good deeds as well
as because they have committed themselves to trust in God through Jesus Christ
(Paul’s concept of faith). Paul certainly understands, however, the
implications of true faith for a life of love and generosity (see Gal 5:6,
13–15). The author of James is well aware that proper conduct can only come
about with an authentic commitment to God in faith (Jas 2:18, 26). Many think
he was seeking to correct a misunderstanding of Paul’s view.
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