INTRODUCTION
The author of this Epistle was probably the Lord’s brother, mentioned with Joses, Simon and Judah, and often in the Acts of the Apostles. See Mar_6:3; Act_12:17; Act_15:13; Act_21:18. He was bishop, or president, of the church at Jerusalem, and this letter was probably written from that city. The emphasis laid on the nearness of our Lord’s advent points to a date near A.D. 70. The Epistle may have been written in Hebrew, and was addressed to the Hebrew section of the Church. It lays great emphasis on the sublime ideal of character which Christianity had raised, and to maintain which demanded the constant diligence of all professing Christians.
OUTLINE OF THE EPISTLE OF JAMES
THE MEASURE OF A CHRISTIAN
The Hypocrisy of Class Distinctions
4. What is the royal law?
THE SIN OF PARTIALITY
My fellow believers, do not practice your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of partiality [toward people–show no favoritism, no prejudice, no snobbery].
For if a man comes into your meeting place wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes also comes in,
and you pay special attention to the one who wears the fine clothes, and say to him, “You sit here in this good seat,” and you tell the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down [on the floor] by my footstool,”
have you not discriminated among yourselves, and become judges with wrong motives?
Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters: has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and [as believers to be] heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
But you [in contrast] have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress and exploit you, and personally drag you into the courts of law?
Do they not blaspheme the precious name [of Christ] by which you are called?
If, however, you are [really] fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF [that is, if you have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit]” you are doing well. [Lev_19:18]
But if you show partiality [prejudice, favoritism], you are committing sin and are convicted by the Law as offenders.
For whoever keeps the whole Law but stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of [breaking] all of it.
For He who said, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” also said, “DO NOT MURDER.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you have become guilty of transgressing the [entire] Law. [Exo_20:13-14; Deu_5:17-18]
Speak and act [consistently] as people who are going to be judged by the law of liberty [that moral law that frees obedient Christians from the bondage of sin].
For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; but [to the one who has shown mercy] mercy triumphs [victoriously] over judgment.
Comments by
F.B.Meyer
on
James 2:1-13
AVOID SERVILITY TO THE RICH
This sin of making distinctions in God’s house is as rife today as ever; and wherever it is practiced the divine Spirit departs. God’s love is impartial, so far as outward appearances might affect it; and in His Church the only real differences must be those of humility, purity and righteousness.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,” whether they be rich in this world’s goods or not. But it is easier for a poor man to be rich in faith and an heir of the Kingdom, because he can give more of his attention to the things of the Spirit.
The law of love must be supreme with us; and we must love our fellows, whatever their position or property, as ourselves, for Christ’s sake. If we fail in this, we show that we have never entered into the heart of the Christian faith. A man may observe all the laws of health; but if he inhale one whiff of poison he may die; so we may be outwardly obedient to the entire Decalogue, but delinquency in love will invalidate everything.
Choose a Sermon on
James
by
Pastor Jeff Arthur.
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