Sin of Showing Partiality and Favoritism,
James 2:1-13
1. This passage begins a new section in James, a discussion of various temptations and trials that are common to all believers.
2. There are certain temptations and trials that are constantly confronting us.
3. One of the strongest is that of showing partiality or favoritism, of discriminating against people.
4. We will learn today of the two temptations spoken of in James 2: this is a most serious situation!
5. Don’t be guilty of this sin: for we will learn today that it is just as serious as adultery or murder~
6. Open your bibles today, and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord’s precepts
I. What does it mean to show partiality? (2:1)
a. It means to favor some people over others or to pay special attention to a person because of
i. his wealth, social standing, position, authority, popularity, looks, or influence.
ii. Note that this charge is given to believers...
1. to brothers
2. to those who have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ who is the Lord of glory
b. Of all people upon earth, the very people who should not show partiality are believers.
i. The reason is clearly stated in James 2:1.
ii. Everyone who is in the church is a brother—everyone stands on an equal footing before the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Wealth, status, social standing, position, appearance—
2. nothing matters except all men coming to the Lord Jesus Christ and worshipping Him.
iii. Everyone who has faith in our Lord Jesus Christ bows before Him as Lord.
1. This means that the person bows before Christ as a servant or slave.
2. Note exactly who Jesus Christ is: He is the Lord of glory.
3. The charge is clear: believers—those who truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory—are not to show partiality or favoritism. It is strictly forbidden.
a. “Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment; thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour” (Leviticus 19:15).
b. “He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons” (Job 13:10).
II. (2:2-3) the picture of partiality is clearly painted:
Two unbelievers visit the church.
a. One rich- One poor ~ tell story~
a. Note that the two men represent the extreme ends of wealth and poverty.
i. If partiality is not to be shown in this case, then it is never to be shown.
ii. There are to be absolutely no distinctions within the church, no distinctions of social class, standing, position, wealth, prestige, or recognition.
b. How often has a poor person visited a church and was not welcomed with open arms?
i. How many of us...
1. have felt uncomfortable and uneasy around him?
2. have ignored, neglected, and shunned him?
3. have failed to greet and welcome him?
c. This is not of Christ. It is wrong.
i. “Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy”(Psalm 82:3).
III. There are five things wrong with showing partiality and favoritism. (4-7)
1. Showing partiality sets one up as the judge of men (James 2:4).
ii. It makes one as God;
1. it says who can worship God and who cannot,
2. who is acceptable to God and who is not.
3. Only God Himself can determine who He will accept and not accept.
a. “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1).
b. “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way” (Romans 14:13).
c. “There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and destroy: who art thou that judgest another?” (James 4:12).
2. Showing partiality reveals evil thoughts (James 2:4).
i. It says that material things such as clothes and cars are more important than the person himself. This, of course, is foolishness.
1. “Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions” (Matthew 19:21-22).
2. “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth” (1 Cor. 10:24).
3. Showing partiality discriminates against the poor and lowly, a people who are loved by God (James 2:5).
a. “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him” (Psalm 12:5).
b. “I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor” (Psalm 140:12).
4. Showing partiality shows a disgraceful attitude (James 2:6a).
a. It dishonors, humiliates, shames, disgraces, and insults the poor and lowly person
b. . No believer is to ever make a person feel unwelcomed or of little value and worth.
i. (THOUGHT) Believers are to have open hearts and arms, welcoming everyone into their lives, homes, and churches.
ii. Believers—all believers—are to live as Christ lived:
to love and care for all and to reach out for all.
1. “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).
2. “The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matthew 11:5).
3. “The poor is hated even of his own neighbor: but the rich hath many friends” (Proverbs 14:20).
5. Showing partiality shows foolish behavior (James 2:6b-7).
a. Two things are said about the rich that need to be heeded.
i. The rich and high usually oppress the poor and they readily grab what they can, using the very laws of the land to do it.
ii. The rich and high usually blaspheme the name of Christ.
1. They blaspheme His name by denying, mocking, ridiculing, persecuting, neglecting, ignoring, and rejecting Him as the Savior of the world.
IV. The Warning against Partiality is Strong: there are three warnings (8-11)
1. Showing partiality is sin (8-9) It violates the royal law of Love!
a. The great law of God is the LAW OF LOVE
a. “thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Lev 19:18)
b. It is royal for three reasons;
a. It is the royal law of God’s kingdom
b. It is the great law that embraces or includes all other laws
c. It is the very commandment that leads to eternal life
2. Showing partiality makes one guilty of the whole law of God (10)
a. Men either follow God or not
a. We cannot pick or choose which we will follow
b. You do not become acceptable by only transgressing a few
3. Showing partiality is just as serious as committing adultery or murder (11)
a. This stresses the seriousness of partiality
V. The motivations against showing partiality. ( 12-13)
a. There are two things that should stir us to love and care for all people,
showing no favoritism whatsoever.
a. We shall face the judgment of God (James 2:12).
i. Therefore, we should speak and act like people who will stand before God and give account for what we have done.
1. We should speak love and kindness to all people.
2. We should do or show love and kindness to all people.
a. “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thes. 1:8)
b. We shall receive a reciprocal reward for our behavior.
i. God is going to treat us exactly as we have treated others.
ii. If we have shown mercy, then He will show mercy to us;
iii. if we have not shown mercy, then He will not show mercy to us.
iv. And note: there is only one thing that will rejoice victoriously over judgment and that is mercy.
1. The judgment of God is going to swoop down and consume a person who has not shown mercy.
2. Our only hope against the burning fire of God’s judgment is mercy.
3. Therefore, we must be merciful in order to escape the terrible judgment of God.
a. “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7).
b. “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15).
