“The Book of James 2:1-13
Pastor Mike Barnett, January 2006
James 2:1-13 says:
“My brothers, as
believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and
fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If
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," 4have
you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5Listen, my dear brothers: 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? 6But you have insulted the
poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are
dragging you into court? 7Are they not the ones who are
slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? 8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture,
"Love your neighbor as yourself,"[a] you are doing right. 9But
if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one
point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who
said, "Do not commit adultery,"[b] also said, "Do not murder."[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit
murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 12Speak and act as
those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who
has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! James 2:1-13
Livy, the Roman Historian
said:
Jesus said in Matthew
6:2-4:
2"So when you
give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in
the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth,
they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do
not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving
may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will
reward you. Matthew 6:2-4
·
James calls
Christians to avoid favoritism and to live by the law that gives freedom.
·
Jesus modeled
such a life and James faithfully preserved this model for us to follow.
Prov. 24:23 says:
3 These also are sayings
of the wise:
To show partiality in judging is not good:
Prov. 24:23
Malachi 2:9 says:
9
"So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people,
because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of
the law." Malachi 2:9
Romans 2:9-11 says:
9There
will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the
Jew, then for the Gentile; 10but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does
good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11For God does not show
favoritism. Romans 2:9-11
John
24Stop judging by mere
appearances, and make a right judgment." John 7:24
1 Peter 1:16-17 says:
16for it is written:
"Be holy, because I am holy."[a]
17Since you call on
a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers
here in reverent fear. 1 Peter 1:16-17
NOTE: If we expect God to
be fair and impartial with us, we should be fair and impartial with others,
just as we are to forgive others if we expect God to forgive us.
Matt
14For if you forgive men
when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Matt
·
James
stresses that the amount of __________________(partiality) that we show to
others or the lack of it, is another ______________(test)
of living _______________(faith).
REVIEW:
·
The first
test relates to how we respond to ______________________(trials). (1:3-12)
·
The second
test is how we respond to _______________________(temptation). (1:3-12)
·
The third
test is how we react to the ________________________(WORD) (
·
The fourth
test is partiality or _________________________(favoritism) (2:1-13)
·
James makes
it clear that favoritism is not simply discourteous and disrespectful, but a ____________________________(serious)
sin.
UNDERSTANDING VERSE 3
·
James uses an
illustration of two people who show up for a church service – one rich and one
poor.
·
In most
synagogues of that say, there were only a few benches to sit on, perhaps one or
two in the front – the “chief seats in the synagogue” that the scribes and
Pharisees coveted.
Matt 23:6 says:
“They love the place of
honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues”. Matt 23:6
·
Most of the
people either stood or sat cross-legged on the floor.
·
Occasionally,
someone would also have a footstool.
·
To ask
another person, especially a visitor or guest, to sit down by my footstool was
therefore a double show of disrespect.
·
The person on
a bench or in a chair not only would not give that seat to the visitor but
would not even allow him to sit on the footstool.
·
GOD STERNLY
OPPOSES THIS HUMAN LOGIC THAT DEMONSTRATED IMPARTIALITY AND FAVORITISM!
Romans 15:5-7 says:
5May the God who
gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves
as you follow Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7Accept one
another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:5-7
ILLUSTRATION:
Jay Leno and Donald Trump – How ridiculous that the rich eat free meals at restaurants
and receive special treatment. They both
said, it should be the opposite. The rich should pay more and the more should
eat for free.
James 2:5-7
5Listen, my dear
brothers: 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? 6But
you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they
not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7Are they not the ones who are
slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? James 2:5-7
·
In this
passage, James is pointing out the _________________________(inconsistency)
between God’s character and the attitude of a believer who is disrespectful of
poor people.
Prov 28:27 says:
27 He who gives to
the poor will lack nothing,
but he who closes his eyes to them
receives many curses. Prov 28:27
Prov. 31:9 says:
9 Speak up and judge
fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and
needy."
Prov. 31:9
Isa. 10:1-3 says:
1 Woe to those who
make unjust laws,
to those who issue oppressive decrees,
2 to deprive the
poor of their rights
and withhold justice from the oppressed of
my people,
making widows their prey
and robbing the fatherless.
3 What will you do
on the day of reckoning,
when disaster comes from afar?
To whom will you run for help?
Where will you leave your riches?
Isa. 10:1-3
·
In the Old
Testament sacrificial system, God made special provision for those who were too
poor to bring the prescribed offering.
·
If they could
not afford a bull, goat, or sheep, they could offer a dove or pigeon.
·
In addition
to that, every seventh year all debts would be cancelled, in order that a person
would not go permanently into debt that could never be repaid.
Deut 15:1-2 says:
1 At the end of
every seven years you must cancel debts. 2 This is how it is to be done: Every
creditor shall cancel the loan he has made to his fellow Israelite. He shall
not require payment from his fellow Israelite or brother, because the LORD's
time for canceling debts has been proclaimed.
Deut 15:1-2
WOW GOD: Crops in the
field were not to be completely harvested and vineyards were not to be
completely picked, in order that the poor could glean food for themselves.
Lev. 19:9-10 says:
9 " 'When you
reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or
gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second
time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the
alien. I am the LORD your God. Lev. 19:9-10
NOTE: As believers since we
have been reborn with God’s own nature, we are to reflect His great love and
care for those in need.
Rom
12For there is no
difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly
blesses all who call on him. Rom
Rom 13:8-10 says:
8Let no debt remain
outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his
fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "Do not commit
adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do
not covet,"[a] and whatever other commandment there may
be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."[b] 10Love does no harm to its neighbor.
Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Rom 13:8-10
·
GOD IS
OPPOSED TO THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD THAT GIVES THE WEALTHY, THE ENTERTAINTERS, THE SPORTSTARS AND THE FAMOUS
_________________________(SPECIAL) _________________________(PRIVELDEGES) OUT
OF _________________________(FAVORITISM) BECAUSE OF THEIR WEALTH, APPEARANCE
AND SOCIAL STATUS.
1 Cor. 1:18-29 says:
18For the message of the
cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved
it is the power of God. 19For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of
the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."[a]
20Where is the wise
man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God
made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the
world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness
of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs
and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block
to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both
Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the
foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is
stronger than man's strength.
26Brothers, think
of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human
standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God
chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak
things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this
world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things
that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 1 Cor. 1:18-29
·
James infers
that poverty leads to great _________________(faith) in God.
·
In James
illustration, the poor man received the same shabby _______________________(treatment)
from church members as he did from the world at large – for James this is a
tragedy and _________________________(hypocrisy) at it’s worst.
·
The wealthy
Christians inside the church were presumably bringing complaints against the
poor within the church just like in the world at large. Vs. 6-7
·
There is a
DOUBLE-MINDEDNESS HERE – Some professing Christians in the church were favoring
the very class of people who seek to harm the church…for it is the wealthy and
powerful who drag Christians to court (v. 6) and slander the name of Christ (v.
7)
Matthew
22:37-40 says:
37Jesus
replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind.'[a] 38This is the first and greatest
commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[b] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these
two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40
·
God’s Law
requires the believer to love God and to love people.
·
The Law of
God is fulfilled through _____________________(love).
·
Jesus showed
no favoritism because there is no favoritism in love.
NOTE: It made no
difference to Jesus whether the person he spoke and ministered to was a wealthy
Jewish leader or a poor Gentile beggar, a virtuous woman or a prostitute, a
high priest or a common worshipper, handsome or ugly, educated or ignorant,
religious or irreligious, law abiding citizen or criminal.
Gal
8There is neither Jew nor
Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:28
Mark 12:42-44 says:
42But a poor widow came
and put in two very small copper coins,[a]worth only a fraction of a penny.[b]
43Calling his
disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has
put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their
wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live
on." Mark 12:42-44
·
The Gospel is
the great equalizer – The ground at the foot of the cross is level.
JAMES 2:8-12 says:
8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture,
"Love your neighbor as yourself,"[a] you are doing right. 9But
if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one
point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who
said, "Do not commit adultery,"[b] also said, "Do not murder."[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit
murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12Speak
and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who
has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
Ephesians
29After all, no one ever
hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the
church— Eph 5:29
Phil 2:3-4 says:
3Do nothing out of
selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than
yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also
to the interests of others. Phil 2:3-4
The scriptures assume
that most people already love themselves, but don’t equally love others.
Romans 5:1-11 says:
1Therefore, since
we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which
we now stand. And we[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
3Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we
know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and
character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out
his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
6You see, at just
the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone
might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9Since we have now
been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath
through him! 10For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him
through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we
be saved through his life! 11Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God
through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received
reconciliation. Romans 5:1-11
·
Both Testaments
affirm that there is no grace in God’s Law.
·
Without
exception, breaking of his law requires judgment and appropriate _____________________________(punishment).
·
There is no
such thing as a ________________(small), inconsequential or unpunishable sin.
·
TO BREAK
_________________(ONE) OF GOD’S LAWS IS THE BREAK _________________(ALL) OF
GOD’S LAWS. V. 10
·
TO LOVE GOD
AND TO LOVE PEOPLE US TO UPHOLD THE LAW.
·
The admonition
to speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty is the
same as saying “live and act as a true believer who has been saved by God’s
grace.
NOTE: The gospel is the
law of freedom because it frees those who placed their faith in Jesus Christ
from the bondage, judgment and punishment of sin and brings them ultimately to
eternal freedom and glory.
·
When a man
lives without mercy to others in God’s world, he simply shows the fact that he
himself has never responded aright to the immeasurable mercy of god.
·
The mercy a
man has shown others as fruit of a life touched by God’s saving mercy will
triumph over judgment.
·
Partiality is
__________________________(inconsistent) with the Christian faith because the
Christian faith is consistent with the nature of God – and God is wholly __________________________(impartial)
and gives _____________________(grace) to all who seek it through the cross of
Christ.
·
If you come
before the judgment seat of Christ and He sees that you have lived a life that
is merciful to others, He will show mercy to you, because your mercy will
testify of your saving faith.
·
MERCY _________________________(TRIUMPHS)
OVER JUDGEMENT! V. 12
·
God expects
Christians to give the same _________________________(mercy) to others that He
has freely given to them.
Jesus said in Matthew
25:31-46 says:
37"Then the
righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or
thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and
invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or
in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King
will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of
these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41"Then he
will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the
eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you
gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was
a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not
clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44"They also
will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or
needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply,
'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these,
you did not do for me.'
46"Then they
will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal
life." Matthew 25:31-46
Hosea 6:6 says:
6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than
burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6
Jesus said in Matthew 5:7:
7Blessed are the
merciful,
for they will be shown mercy. Matt 5:7
Jesus said in Luke 6:36:
36Be merciful, just as
your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36