"My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favouritism.2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3 If 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,' 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? "
James here is speaking to the believers of our Lord Jesus Christ, that favouritism is not the right attitude believers should display towards others.
Since God Himself does not show favouritism, we ought to also show the same consistencies and love to all people of status, class and positions.
Part 2 verse 5- 7
"5 Listen 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 loved him? 6 But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?"
James asked this 4 questions with affirmative answers. He explained the importance of not exploiting the poor and judge them unfairly. He said that the Lord uses the poor in the eyes of the world for the furtherance of His Kingdom.
Part 3 verse 8- 13
"8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, 'Love your neighbour as yourself', you are doing right. 9 But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For He who said, 'Do not commit adultery,' also said, 'Do not murder.' If you do not commit adultery but no commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy truimphs over judgement! "
There are some of us who would trivalise the fact that being prejudice is a small thing and would not be considered as breaking the law like those who committed murder or adultery.
But the bible tells us that this is no small matter as the person who commits murder or adultery is equally guilty as the one who breaks just one point of the law. That one small sin can also send us to the pit of hell unless we are saved in Christ.
The way to please God is to live a life of constant check as though one is going to be judged by the Law. Because sin brings bondage but obedience brings about freedom.The law od God is not meant to constraint us, but it serves as a means to free us from the deception and the consequences of sin.
God will not show mercy on a person who has not been merciful. And just as love truimphed over prejudice, God's mercy truimph over judgement!
Important Note :
I have chosen based on my study from 'The Bible Knowledge Commentary' by John F.Walvoord and Roy B.Zack and selectively re-typed some of the more important parts, together with some of my own additional explanation to make this study simpler to digest and understand. My re-phrasing does not show a different meaning to what was originally written.
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