5. Our Text
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man
wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your
assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes
in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine
clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while
James 2:1-13 5
6. Our Text
you say to the poor man,“You stand over there,” or, “Sit
down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions
among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those
who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of
the kingdom, which.
James 2:1-13 6
7. Our Text
he has promised to those who love him? But you have
dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who
oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are
they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by
which you were called? If you really fulfill the royal law
according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor
James 2:1-13 7
8. Our Text
as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality,
you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as
transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails
in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who
said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not
James 2:1-13 8
9. Our Text
murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder,
you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and
so act as those who are to be judged under the law of
liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has
shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment
James 2:1-13 9
10. Does your life reflect that you are living under the Law of Liberty?
First introduced James 1:25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty,
and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his
doing. Bought about by James 1:21 (ESV)…receive with meekness the implanted word,
which is able to save your souls. James 2:8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the
Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. James 2:12 So
speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. Introduced by
Jesus less than 24 hours before his death John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you,
that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. James
1:25–27 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres,
being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 26 If
anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this
person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father
is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from
the world.
10
11. Another Command
My brothers, show no partiality
as you hold the faith in our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
James 2:1 11
13. We hear a lot about this
Prejudice
Bigoted
Bias
Phobic
Racist
Favoritism
13
14. Specific Example
For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine
clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor
man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you
pay attention to the one who wears the fine
clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,”
James 2:2-4 14
15. Specific Example
while you say to the poor man, “You stand over
there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not
then made distinctions among yourselves and
become judges with evil thoughts?
James 2:2-4 15
18. Remember
Let the lowly brother boast in his
exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation,
because like a flower of the grass he will
pass away.
James 1:9–10 18
19. Illegal Court
have you not then made distinctions
among yourselves and become judges
with evil thoughts?
James 2:4 19
21. The Sin of Partiality
Christian love shows no partiality
An insult to the price paid
An insult to God
Blasphemes the name of Jesus
21
22. Start With Yourself
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone
among you not to think of himself more highly
than he ought to think, but to think with sober
judgment, each according to the measure of
faith that God has assigned.
Romans 12:3 22
23. Think of Others
Do nothing from selfish ambition or
conceit, but in humility count others more
significant than yourselves.
Philippians 2:3 23
24. Think of Jesus
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in
Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God,
did not count equality with God a thing to be
grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of
a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Philippians 2:5–7 24
26. Popular Kids
But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not
the rich the ones who oppress you, and the
ones who drag you into court? Are they not the
ones who blaspheme the honorable name by
which you were called?
James 2:6-7 26
27. Break it down
The rich were oppressing the early church.
Kicking them out of the synagogues.
Paul talks about being prosecuted by Jews and
Greeks.
Denying Jesus is the Messiah
27
28. Remember the Law
If you really fulfill the royal law according
to the Scripture, “You shall love your
neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
James 2:8 28
29. Old Testament Citation
You shall not take vengeance or bear a
grudge against the sons of your own
people, but you shall love your neighbor as
yourself: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 19:18 29
30. A Quotation and a Concept
Leviticus 19 Be holy because God is Holy. Review
some of the 10 Commandments. Giving to the
Lord. Providing for the poor. Do justice. No
partiality in court. Love your neighbor.
Explanatory of the 10 Commandments. Jesus links
Loving God with everything and your neighbor as
yourself.
30
31. God’s Law
But if you show partiality, you are committing
sin and are convicted by the law as
transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole
law but fails in one point has become guilty of
all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit
James 2:9-11 31
32. God’s Law
adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do
not commit adultery but do murder, you have
become a transgressor of the law.
James 2:9-11 32
33. But I’ve never killed anybody!
Transgressor- to step over a known boundary
Breaking the least
Stealing is stealing regardless of the value.
Anger same as murder. Looking with lust.
Showing partiality is sin!
33
34. Application
So speak and so act as those who are to be
judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is
without mercy to one who has shown no mercy.
Mercy triumphs over judgment.
James 2:12-13 34
35. Judgment vs. Mercy:
We face a choice about how we will be judged by God
in the future. According to James, the mercy we show
to others will be the determining factor for the mercy
we will be shown by God. Practically speaking, we
determine our own future regarding mercy versus
judgment. Those of us who show mercy now will be
shown mercy later. Those opting for judgment now
will face merciless judgment in the future.
35
36. Jesus said
Judge not, and you will not be judged;
condemn not, and you will not be
condemned; forgive, and you will be
forgiven; give, and it will be given to you.
Good measure, pressed down, shaken
together, running over, will be put into your
lap. For with the measure you use it will be
measured back to you.”
Luke 6:37–38 36
Editor's Notes
James 2:1-13
Hipster or Hobo? Camo pants, Army jacket,…
James 2:9 …if you show partiality, you are committing sin…
Let’s Stand For The Reading of God’s Word
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while
you say to the poor man,“You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which.
he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor
as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not
murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment
Does your life reflect that you are living under the Law of Liberty?
First introduced James 1:25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. Bought about by James 1:21 (ESV)…receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 2:8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. James 2:12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. Introduced by Jesus less than 24 hours before his death John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. James 1:25–27 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
James 2:1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
Social Status
Race
Sex
Looks
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Colossians 3:11 circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Prejudice- to judge without knowledge
Bigoted- unreasonable attachment to an opinion about the members of a particular group
Bias- prejudice in favor or against a person or group that is considered unfair.
Phobic – irrational fear or aversion to something
Racist- showing prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism against a person or people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group,
Favoritism - the practice of giving unfair preferential treatment to one person or group at the expense of another.
James 2:2-4 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,”
while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
soon·ag·o·gay συναγωγή
I looked this passage up in 32 modern translations of the Bible
29- Meeting, Assembly, Gathering, Worship Service
3- Synagogue
Transliterated- Sunagoge
57 times in NT and 55 times as Synagogue
A Jewish Synagogue that is worshipping Jesus as the Messiah
Rich with all the trimmings. Gold fingered
Poor with nothing
Rich best seat- The "best seat" in a synagogue is in front, with one's back to the chest that holds the Torah.
Reaction- have the best seat. Go stand in the back
James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
God has chosen the poor to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom
James 1:9–10 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.
James 2:4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Distinctions- To judge there is a distinction. We all make judgments. Meaning to judge the goodness or badness of the distinction.
Judges- one who presides over the court and pronounces judgment.
To think or reason with completeness and thoroughness
Evil- same root as pornos, if a definite article is placed in front it is a title for Satan, Evil, sick or diseased.
Christian love shows no partiality – Jesus loves us all the same. We follow his example
An insult to the price paid. Are you saying that Jesus’ blood bought something inferior?
An insult to God. God sent his son for everyone
Blasphemes the name of Jesus. Our actions can cause others to judge Jesus. Our actions speak louder than our words
Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Philippians 2:5–7 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
The rich were oppressing the early church.
Kicking them out of the synagogues.
Paul talks about being prosecuted by Jews and Greeks.
Denying Jesus is the Messiah
James 2.8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
Leviticus 19:18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
The rich were taking them to court
Many would say that relieves them of their responsibility to uphold the second part of that scripture
Do unto others and then run! NO
Turn the other cheek. Go the extra mile. Pray for those who despitefully use you. Your doing good is not dependent on the other person doing good first or in return.
James 2:9-11 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit
adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
Transgressor- to step over a known boundary
Breaking the least
Stealing is stealing regardless of the value.
Anger same as murder. Looking with lust.
Showing partiality is sin!
Whole vs. Part: James has some harsh news for anyone who judges others’ behavior without considering how they themselves will be judged: Keeping most of the law will not suffice in God’s eyes. When we choose not to show mercy to others and yet we stumble in our own obedience to the law, we will experience the same lack of mercy from God. James challenges us to correct how we treat others by considering how our behavior will influence our judgment by God.
James 2.12-13 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
We face a choice about how we will be judged by God in the future. According to James, the mercy we show to others will be the determining factor for the mercy we will be shown by God. Practically speaking, we determine our own future regarding mercy versus judgment. Those of us who show mercy now will be shown mercy later. Those opting for judgment now will face merciless judgment in the future.
Luke 6:37–38 Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
That mercy triumphs over judgment. Everyone falls short of fulfilling all aspects of God’s law; this is a given. But James reminds us that we can expect to face judgment as transgressors if we judge others by the same laws we have broken. James challenges us to let the coming judgment influence how we treat others now. His closing thought in verse 13 offers us hope: “Mercy triumphs over judgment.” And based on the magnitude of mercy that God has displayed to us through new life in Christ Jesus, the least we can do is extend this same mercy to others. What we do today, James reminds us, will influence our treatment tomorrow. We should live in such a way that this is not a scary thought.
