The Book of James Study (Part IV)
James 2:1-13
Many consider this second chapter of James to be the heart of his message. Because here he gives a description of the character of faith. He shows us that the expression of his kind of faith is that which pleases God in our lives.
The Christian has two relationships—a vertical one with God and a horizontal one with Man. Neither of these can be ignored nor practiced without the other. Jesus stated the two in commenting on the first and second greatest commandments—The first is to love the Lord God with all our being and the second is like unto it, “love thy neighbor as thy self.” A mature Christian seeks to treat all persons with respect, and, particularly, “to love the brethren,” as John says in 1 John. Sometimes we respond to those around us based on unworthy criteria, such as age, gender, socio-economic status, education, money, power, and race. Prejudice and partiality or unbecoming a Christian and forbidden by the Scriptures. James contrasts the treatment of two individuals in a church assembly—a rich man and a poor man.
I. Let’s Examine the Precept that James Sets Forth (2:1)
a. Probably the most common sin among believers is the sin James spells out in this passage – showing favoritism.
i. James is saying in effect “Do not hold to the Christian faith which sees every believer as saved by grace through faith, not of works – and at the same time practice discrimination between different classes of people in the fellowship
b. James is saying let there be an agreement between what you profess has taken place on the inside and what you express on the outside.
i. James is simply reiterating the general them of his epistle “Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only”
II. James Provides an Illustration of this Precept (vv. 2-4)
a. James paints the picture of two men coming into the church
i. One is a rich man finely and elaborately dressed, and the other is a poor man, dressed in rags
ii. Then James shows, hypothetically, how we might treat these two worshippers in the church assembly.
iii. From the description of the men given, it is unlikely that either was a believer
1. Yet when they arrived, the richly dressed man was shown great respect, not because of his true worth, but because of his outward appearance of wealth and position
2. In contrast, the poor was treated harshly, with no warmth or compassion.
iv. Paul referred to the problem in his letter to the Romans, using the words “respect of persons,” reminding them that “there is no respect of persons with God” (Ro. 2:11).
God is not impressed with skin color, degrees on the wall, large bank accounts, etc. and neither should we. He treated Nicodemus and the Samaritan Woman the same. He paid respect to the woman with the issue of blood as with Jarius, the ruler of the synagogue. He received Blind Bartimaeus like He received the rich young ruler. The “Lord of Glory,” who condescended to come to the earth was not condescending with those He met and ministered to. Whether the persons in His ministry had power and prestige or were poor and unlearned, He looked on each of them with compassion. He looked beyond their faults and saw their needs.
A Sample of the Problem (vv. 2-3)—“For if there come into your assembly”
The prosperous man—“ a man with a gold ring”
- “Gold ring” is translated from the Greek word chrusodaktulios, literally “a gold-ringed” person.
There is nothing wrong with wearing gold rings, but the man let it be known by his actions that he wore a gold ring.
- He, also, had on “goodly” apparel, a translation of the word lampros, meaning “bright, shining.” It was used to describe the gorgeous robe thrown over Jesus shoulders by Herod’s soldiers. Cornelius used the word to describe the resplendent clothing which adorned the holy angel which visited him.
Talk about “dressing for success,” the man mentioned by James looked the part.
The poor man—“a poor man in vile raiment” (KJV)
- This man is presented as destitute, as Lazarus, the beggar, who sat at the gate of the rich man, who sought only the crumbs from the rich man’s table..
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- “Vile raiment” (KJV) suggests that the man wore shabby/dirty clothing and was down on his luck.
The prejudiced man—“ye have respect to him”
- The usher looks at the appearance of both men and directs each to a place according to his own bias
The rich man was invited to sit in “a good place” while the poor man was treated abruptly and guided to sit in an undesirable place, to stand or to sit at the feet of the usher.
b. James then makes an application (v.4)
i. James is saying that it is wrong to honor the rich at the expense of the poor.
1. Both stand on the same level before God and should be treated accordingly.
ii. James says that when we do this we are at odds within ourselves.
1. There is a wide difference between PROFESSION & PRACTICE.
IS IT GODLY TO BE POOR OR RICH?
The poor are worthy servants
Most of the apostles, prophets, and godly people of the Bible were poor. Not only poor people serve God in the Bible, but the lowly, the anonymous, the uneducated, and the foolish. In fact, Paul says that such people are chosen on purpose, in order that God might get all the glory (1 Co. 1:27-29)
Moses was a prince in Egypt and wealthy, but chose, rather, the suffer affliction with his people, the slaves in Egypt. David began his life as a poor shepherd boy, he, like many in the Bible, was “rich in faith.”
Throughout history, the poor have been chosen for great work for the Lord. Think of D. L. Moody, John Bunyan, and George Muller. The rich in faith have always been able to sing:
I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, and an alien by birth!
But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown.
In James’ day, the Christians were “despising” the poor, i. e. treating them “shamefully.” The word used elsewhere in the NT conveys that thought (Ac. 5:41—“counted worthy to suffer shame”; and Lk. 20:11—one of God’s messengers was treated shamefully).
The rich are bullies (vv. 6-7)
“Do not rich men oppress you?”
People with money often allow it to change their character and they believe that what they can’t buy, they can belittle or bully.
The word “oppress” means to exercise power over someone.” It is used to describe some of those whom Jesus healed, being “oppressed of the devil” (Ac. 10:38).
These people often “blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called.” Many who are rich and powerful have no time for Christ or His church, but live ungodly and decadent lifestyles.
If your rich use your gifts for the Lord if your poor use your gifts for the Lord. We can not look down our nose at someone for being better, equal or lower in money than us these next verses look at this.
III. Why having respect of Persons is Sinful (vv. 5-11)
a. In verse 5 James sets forth three blessings that God has bestowed upon the poor.
i. They are chosen of God. God chose them through his Spirit, convicted them of sin, and drew them with love toward himself.
ii. God has made the poor “rich in faith.” Their true wealth is not found in gold rings or fine clothing, but in faith.
iii. He says that they are “Heirs of the Kingdom”’, they possess, and have become a part of the kingdom of God.
b. James becomes very practical in Verse 6
i. Of course this is NOT a blanket condemnation of all rich people, but on the whole this was the case.
ii. It was the rich that attacked Jesus ad was attacking the believers (v. 7)
c. Partiality is a violation of the “royal law”
i. What is the royal law? “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”
ii. Why is this law royal? Because Christ the true king is the disseminator.
“If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, . . . ye do well.” This is a quote of Le. 19:17-18, concerning the treatment due one’s neighbor. James had, no doubt, heard his half-brother, Jesus, talk about the second great commandment being, “love thy neighbor as thy self.”
The church is to be a place where people of all differences can come and be received with respect. This does not mean that sins should not be corrected, but that sinners should not be rejected.
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” Break even one of the Ten Commandments and the entire law is broken. No matter how many of them are kept, if one does not treat others with impartiality, that one has broken all the Law (vv. 10-11).
We are all judged by the “law of liberty.” The Mosaic was God’s standard of behavior to be accepted before Him.
- It was so strenuous that no one ever kept it but Jesus. Jesus kept it and paid the penalty for it, and in its place put the law of liberty. This law judges us with mercy if we extend mercy to others in our dealings with them.
- If a person does not offer mercy then he will not receive mercy. God’s law of the harvest demands that we “reap what we so.” If we sow bad seed then we reap bad seed, but if we sow good seed then we reap what we sowed and more than we sowed (Ga. 6: 7-9).
Jesus gave the parable of the Unmerciful Servant wherein He explained the idea of mercy toward others in no uncertain words (Mt. 18:21-35).
- When the servant was about to be sold into slavery to pay off a $20 million debt to his king, he begged for mercy. The king not only cancelled the order for retribution but forgave the entire debt.
- Later, the servant was approached by a friend who owed him a $20 debt. When the friend asked for mercy, the servant had him thrown into debtor’s prison. When the matter was reported to the king, he was so angry at the servant’s lack of mercy after receiving so much mercy from him, that he withdrew his pardon and had the merciless servant thrown into prison until all was paid.
If God can forgive of us a $20 million debt on the cross, then we had better be able to forgive our fellow humans a $20 debt of some infraction against us. James is quite adamant about the sin of prejudice and God’s view of it for Christian and non-Christian, alike.
In vv. 12-13 James gives both an appeal and a warning
- The appeal is that obedience to the royal law be expressed in both speech and action
- The warning comes when James reminds us that those who show no mercy will find none at God’s Judgment.
So how do we please God? By showing mercy and love to all people regardless pf their station in life.
